2-12 Sankhya Yoga (सांख्य योग) 12th verse

न त्वेवाहं जातु नासं न त्वं नेमे जनाधिपाः |
न चैव न भविष्याम: सर्वे वयमत: परम् ||2-12||

na tvevāhaṁ jātu nāsaṁ na tvaṁ neme janādhipāḥ
na chaiva na bhaviṣhyāmaḥ sarve vayamataḥ param

Word to Word Meaning: aham = I; jātu = at any time; na āsam  = never existed; na tu eva  = however certainly not; tvam = you; na = nor (you did not exist); ime = these; jana-adhipāḥ = kings; na = never; ataḥ param = here after; vayam sarve = all of us; na bhaviṣhyāmaḥ  = neither in future, shall not exist in future; (iti) cha— also (not); na eva = not;

Literal Meaning: (Arjuna!) There was no time when neither you, nor I, nor these kings did not exist. This is so in future as well.  (We exist in all times. The soul is eternal. It does not perish with the fall of the body).

Commentary:1.  

1.  Human Struggles Are Similar: Let’s momentarily set aside the idea of the soul’s permanence and consider how, across time and space, the struggles faced by every individual remain remarkably similar to those encountered by Arjuna. Despite cultural differences or geographical distance, human problems echo across the world. This suggests that the profound and enigmatic questions that perplexed humanity in the times of the Ramayana and Mahabharata in India, or during the era of the Bible, continue to haunt us today. 

Universal Human Consciousness: It's no coincidence that the Bible, though originating elsewhere, offers solace to individuals in India, just as the Bhagavad Gita, renowned globally, does. These teachings resonate with people universally, transcending cultural boundaries. Perhaps this verse from the Bhagavad Gita indicates that human consciousness has eternally remained the same. The Gita sheds light not just on metaphysical concepts but also on the nature of psychological time and space. 

Eternal Insight: The challenges arising from human experiences, preserved as memories and magnified by relentless thought, leading to cycles of toil, are beautifully encapsulated in timeless poem below by Annamacharya: 

“తలఁచినంతనె యెంతదవ్వయినఁ గాన్పించు 

తలఁపు మరచినమతికి దట్టమౌఁ దమము

పొలసి మతిమరఁగుననె పుట్టుటలుఁ బోవుటలు

పలు చంచల వికారభావ విూ గుణము”

talachinaMtane yeMtadavvayina gAnpiMchu

talapu marachinamatiki daTTamau damamu

polasi matimaragunane puTTuTalu bOvuTalu

palu chaMchala vikArabhAva vi guNamu  

Meaning: "Imagination is endless; the more you pursue it, the more it expands. Peace begins where thought ends. Memories carry impressions of birth and death, born of recollection. The restless mind distorts our feelings, leaving us bewildered and confused." 

This verse emphasizes how our mind traps us in cycles of thought, preventing us from touching the peace that lies beyond them. 

Chance to Experience the Eternal: We will delve deeper into the concept of "What is eternal?" in later verses. For now, this verse allows us to appreciate the possibility that every individual can touch the eternal, offering a glimpse of a reality beyond the transience of present existence. 

Layers of Human Consciousness: The renowned philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti frequently emphasized that humanity, in its current state of consciousness, only experiences the superficial layers of reality. He suggested that many deeper layers remain hidden within each individual, and that the entire world is, in fact, concealed within every person. 

A Continuous Phenomenon: This suggests that existence is a continuous flow, with our present life being just a small segment of a greater whole, unfolding in phases under divine will (Refer 2-28, 13-17). Our presence here is not by accident but with purpose. Remarkably, the teachings of Lord Krishna, the insights of Annamacharya, and the philosophy of Jiddu Krishnamurti converge on this same eternal truth.

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