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.
नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः । न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः ॥
हें शस्त्रें न तोडवे । अग्नीनें न जळवे । पाणीनें न भिजवे । वारा न शोषी ॥ २२३ ॥
"This cannot be cut by weapons, nor burnt by fire; it cannot be wetted by water, nor dried by the wind."
This soul cannot be cut by weapons, nor burnt by fire; it cannot be wetted by water, nor dried by the wind.
In this verse, Dnyaneshwar Maharaj emphasizes the eternal nature of the Self (Atman). He explains that the Soul is beyond the reach of the five elements. Weapons cannot cleave it, fire cannot consume it, water cannot drench it, and wind cannot wither it. This highlights that the core essence of a human being is transcendental and cannot be destroyed by any physical means, encouraging a shift from body-consciousness to soul-consciousness.
In daily life, understanding that our true self is indestructible helps us remain calm during physical illness or material loss. Example: Maintaining mental balance even when facing physical hardships, knowing they only affect the body and not the inner self.
Saint Dnyaneshwar explains the indestructibility of the Soul while commenting on the Bhagavad Gita.
म्हणोनि तूं आतां । धरीं धीर पांडुसुता । सांडीं हे व्याकुळता । मानसींची ॥ २१५ ॥
"Therefore, O son of Pandu, now hold your courage; cast away this distress of the mind."
Therefore, O Arjuna, now hold your courage and discard this distress of your mind.
In this verse, Saint Dnyaneshwar captures the essence of Krishna's motivation to Arjuna. Having established that the soul is indestructible and the physical body is temporary, Krishna points out that Arjuna's grief is logically unfounded. He addresses him as 'Pandusuta' (Son of Pandu) to remind him of his lineage and duties. The instruction to 'hold courage' and 'discard distress' is a call for emotional intelligence—the ability to stabilize the mind despite external turmoil. It emphasizes that mental agitation is the primary obstacle to righteous action.
In daily life, when faced with sudden bad news or a challenging situation, instead of panicking, one should practice mindfulness to regain composure. For example, if a project fails, focus on the solution rather than the loss.
After explaining the eternal nature of the soul, Lord Krishna urges Arjuna to abandon his mental grief and regain his composure to fulfill his duty.