Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 26 (BG 2.26) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

2.26 अथ now? च and? एनम् this (Self)? नित्यजातम् constantly born? नित्यम् constantly? वा or? मन्यसे thinkest? मृतम् dead? तथापि even then? त्वम् thou? महाबाहो mightyarmed? न not? एवम् thus? शोचितुम् to grieve? अर्हसि (thou) oughtest.Commentary Lord Krishna here? for the sake of argument? takes up the popular supposition. Granting that the Self is again and again born whenever a body comes into being? and again and again dies whenever the body dies? O mightyarmed (O Arjuna of great valour and strength)? thou shouldst not grieve thus? because birth is inevitable to want is dead and death is inevitable to what is born. This is the inexorable or unrelenting Law of Nature.

Commentaries

Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.

This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.

Modern

**BG 2.26** In verses 26 and 27, Lord Sri Krishna presents the perspective of materialist thinkers solely for the sake of logical discourse. According to this school of thought, only direct perception serves as the means of knowledge—that is, only what is known to the senses is true. Accepting this view, they must concede that life is merely a stream or flow of countless births and deaths. Things are constantly arising and perishing, and according to their doctrine, this itself is life. Sri Krishna says: Even if this endless cycle of birth and death were indeed life itself, O mighty Arjun, you should still not grieve. For—