2-13 Sankhya Yoga (सांख्य योग) 13th verse

                                    देहिनोऽस्मिन्यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा |

तथा देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्धीरस्तत्र न मुह्यति ||2-13||

dehino ’smin yathā dehe kaumāraṁ yauvanaṁ jarā
tathā dehāntara-prāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati

Word to Word Meaning: dehinaḥ = for the embodied; asmin dehe  = in this body; kaumāram = childhood; yauvanam = youth; jarā = old age; yathā = as happens; tathā = similarly; deha-antara prāptiḥ  = getting another body (happens); tatra = thereupon; dhīraḥ = the wise; na muhyati—are not deluded.

 

Literal Meaning: just as the embodied soul continuously passes from childhood to youth to old age, similarly, at the time of death, the soul passes into another body. The wise are not deluded by this.

Commentary:

1.   Death is an inevitable aspect of life, yet we humans take many actions to prevent it. There are numerous explanations on death and life after that. But none of them have been affirmed. It is futile to discuss them.

 

2.   The term "Dhira" (brave) mentioned here doesn't refer to heroic valour in the conventional sense. Instead, it signifies one who bravely submits his life and body to forces of nature without resistance. Thus, he accepts whatever transformation that that may occur.

 

3.   Upon observation, we humans tend to strongly resist changes to our current state. We often exert effort to maintain the status quo, creating barriers such as possessiveness with phrases like "This is mine" and "That is not mine." In a sense, we find ourselves in a state of inertia, striving to remain where we are.

4.    The mind burdened by imagined accumulations and bondages, behaving like an inertial mass, is indeed something to ponder. This state, unable to swiftly respond to the forces of nature, arises from internal resistance to change, largely stemming from the concept of the self, or "I". Consequently, we are susceptible to mental anguish and decline. The degradation of our minds is not merely a theoretical concept; it is a truth that anyone can confirm through observation and introspection.

 

5. To wholeheartedly accept our current form and state of mind without judgment requires true courage. The psychological boundaries that separate our inner world from the external world are inherently misleading. Living righteously is the only living, everything else is not.  In this verse, the Bhagavad Gita challenges us to choose the path of righteousness with courage.

 

6. In essence, it should be recognized that all actions undertaken by human beings are either counteractions or reactions, leading individuals to become ensnared in a cycle of tribulations. This entanglement is subtly referred to as the chains of bondage. Further explanation of this verse can also be found in 2-69. Wholeheartedly accepting change leads to a life of fulfilment, whereas resistance leads to degradation and ultimately, death. It's important to note that this fulfilment is not materialistic; it transcends worldly desires and attachments.

Implied Meaning: The brave is the one who observe the mental responses to change from one state to another and accept them as they are, rather than focusing solely on the physical changes occurring in body over time.

Discussion on Implied meaning: "Gnothi seauton," an ancient Greek aphorism, translates to "know yourself" in English, but it also implies "know that which knows change." As discussed earlier, internal resistance poses a universal challenge for humanity. True bravery lies in abstaining from unnecessary arguments. When we connect with the essence that gives life, further discussion becomes irrelevant.