तरी मी आणि तू। आणि हे नृपनाथ समस्तू। येथ नसू ऐसे नव्हतू। मागांही कधीं॥
"Neither I, nor you, nor these kings, were ever non-existent in the past."
💡 Meaning
It is not that I, you, or these kings did not exist in the past.
तरी मी आणि तू। आणि हे नृपनाथ समस्तू। येथ नसू ऐसे नव्हतू। मागांही कधीं॥
"Neither I, nor you, nor these kings, were ever non-existent in the past."
It is not that I, you, or these kings did not exist in the past.
In this verse, Saint Dnyaneshwar interprets Krishna's words regarding the beginningless nature of the soul. He emphasizes that the soul (Atman) transcends time. The physical forms we see are temporary, but the consciousness within has always existed and will continue to exist. This is the fundamental teaching of Sankhya Yoga to remove the fear of death.
This teaching can be applied to overcome the fear of loss. For example, when facing a major life change, remembering that our core identity is beyond physical circumstances provides stability.
Krishna addresses Arjuna's grief by explaining the concept of the eternal soul.
म्हणोनि कर्मे जे जे कीजे । ते ते ब्रह्मचि असे जाणिजे । जेथ वेदु हा साजे । प्रत्यक्षु पैं ॥ १५ ॥
"Therefore, whatever actions are performed, know them all to be Brahman; for in them, the Veda is clearly manifest."
Therefore, whatever action is performed should be known as Brahman itself, for in that action, the Veda is directly manifest.
In this verse, Saint Dnyaneshwar emphasizes that all righteous actions originate from the Supreme Brahman. Since the Vedas, which provide the blueprint for human conduct, emerged from the Imperishable Divine, any action performed in accordance with these principles is essentially an expression of the Divine. He suggests that a seeker should view their duties not as mundane tasks but as a manifestation of the ultimate reality, thereby transforming work into worship.
Approach your daily professional or personal tasks with the mindset that 'Work is Worship'. For example, a teacher educating students should view the act of teaching as a divine service to knowledge rather than just a means of livelihood.
Saint Dnyaneshwar explains the divine origin of action and its inseparable connection to the Supreme Reality (Brahman) and the Vedas.
योगसंन्यस्तकर्माणं ज्ञानसंछिन्नसंशयम् । आत्मवन्तं न कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनञ्जय ॥
जया कर्माचां ठायीं । संन्यासु योगें जाहला पाहीं । आणि ज्ञानानें संशयाचीं कांहीं । उरली नाहींत मुळें ॥
"One who has renounced actions by Yoga, whose doubts are destroyed by knowledge, and who is poised in the Self, actions do not bind him, O Dhananjaya."
Actions do not bind one who has renounced the fruits of action through Yoga and whose doubts are dispelled by knowledge.
Dnyaneshwar Maharaj elucidates that a seeker who has unified their intellect with the Divine (Yoga) loses attachment to the fruits of action. In the light of self-realization, all doubts and dualities are eradicated. Such a person remains poised in their true Self. Even while performing worldly duties, because the ego of 'doership' is absent, they are not bound by the merits or demerits of their actions. They attain true spiritual freedom.
In daily life, focus on the process rather than the outcome. For example, a professional who performs their duty with full dedication but without being obsessed with praise or blame remains mentally free and efficient.
Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna how a person established in self-knowledge and yoga remains untouched by the bondage of actions.