1 · Learn3 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.

700 verses37 detailed

Or browse by chapter

Chapter

Chapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized · 72 verses

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72

Deep profile← → keys move between verses

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.

Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›

Soul & knowledgeChapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized

2.21 2.23

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.22

The eternal soul beyond bodily death

Jīva · The soul

वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय

नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि ।

तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा-

न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही ॥ २२ ॥

vāsāṁsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya

navāni gṛhṇāti naro ’parāṇi

tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇāny

anyāni saṁyāti navāni dehī

Translation

As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

The Soul Changes Bodies

1
The soul gives up old, useless bodies and accepts new ones, just as a person changes clothes.
2
By the Supersoul’s grace, the soul moves to another body. The Supersoul fulfills the soul’s desires like a friend.
3
Forgetting Kṛṣṇa as our master leads to changing bodies. Accepting His guidance frees us from sorrow.

Key points from the purport

Krishna gives an analogy — For the soul, death is simply a change of clothes

Rebukes Arjuna’s lamentation that Bhishma and Drona will lose their current bodies, which are the source of enjoyment – Krishna establishes that they will get fresh bodies

Opinion of modern scientist on change of body

They accept the continuous changes of the body which appears from boyhood to childhood to youth to old age

They accept the heart as the source of all energies, and we also say that the soul is present in the region of the heart

How transference of atomic soul to another body is made possible

Grace – By the grace of the Supersoul

Desires and past deeds – Supersoul fulfils the desires of the soul like a friend

Supporting References – Soul and Supersoul are compared to two friendly birds sitting on the same tree (Ref. Mundaka and Svetasvatara Upanisads)

Cause of changing bodies

Forgetfulness of servant-master relationship by the atomic soul with the Supersoul FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORT 2.22 continued…

Analogy of two birds explained

One of the birds (atomic soul) – is captivated and eating the fruits of the tree

Other bird (Krishna) – simply witnesses the activities of his friend (atomic soul)

Although they are friends one is still the master (Krishna as Supersoul) and the other is servant (atomic soul)

How to become free from all lamentations – By voluntary surrender unto the master bird or unto Krishna, the Supreme spiritual master

If somehow one turns his face to Krishna and knows His glories, at once he becomes free from all anxieties

How does this verse help Arjuna to overcome lamentation and material compassion

Arjuna should be happy to kill the bodies of grandfather and teacher in a righteous fight so that they can be cleansed of all reactions and get fresh bodies (fresh garments)

One who lays down his life on the sacrificial alter or in the proper battlefield, is at once cleansed of bodily reactions and promoted to a higher status