Imagine living without fear of death, loss, or change. A life where you understand that your essence is eternal and untouched by the transience of the material world. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna imparts this profound truth to Arjuna:
"Aatma na paida hoti hai, na marti hai"—the soul is neither born nor does it die. This message of the eternal nature of the soul transcends time and culture, offering not just spiritual wisdom, but a life-changing perspective that can help us live fearlessly.





"वसांसि जीर्णानी यथा विहाय,
नवानी गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि,
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णानि,
अण्यानि संयाति नवानी देहि।।"
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 22:




"Just as a person casts off worn-out garments and puts on new ones, similarly, the soul casts off the old body and accepts a new one."



Why is the Soul Unborn and Undying?Let’s dive deeper into Krishna’s teachings on why the soul is unborn and undying:



1. The Soul Is Beyond Birth and Death

• The soul (Aatma) is eternal and not bound by the cycle of birth and death. While the body is born, grows, decays, and ultimately dies, the soul remains unaffected by these transitions. It is eternal, untouched by the physical processes of life.

"न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचन,
नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः,
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो,
न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे।।"




Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 20





"The soul is never born, nor does it ever die; it is eternal, imperishable, and beyond the scope of destruction. It is not slain when the body is slain."




2. The Soul Is Independent of the Body

• Krishna teaches that the soul is independent of the physical body. The body is a temporary vessel, while the soul remains unchanged. When the body dies, the soul simply leaves and moves on to another body, much like how we change clothes.

"वसांसि जीर्णानी यथा विहाय,
नवानी गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि,
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णानि,
अण्यानि संयाति नवानी देहि।।"




Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 22:





"Just as a person casts off worn-out garments and puts on new ones, similarly, the soul casts off the old body and accepts a new one."








3. The Soul Transitions and Is Eternal

• The soul’s essence doesn’t perish with the death of the body. Instead, it transitions from one body to the next in an endless journey. Krishna uses the metaphor of changing clothes to help us understand that the soul, much like clothes, transitions from one form to another, but it remains eternal.

4. The Soul Is Not Bound by Time or Space

• Krishna teaches that the soul transcends both time and space. While the body is bound by time—aging, decaying, and dying—the soul is eternal and unaffected by these physical constraints. It is outside of the limitations of the material world.

"मात्रा स्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय,
शीतोष्ण सुखदुःखदाः,
आगमापायिनोऽनित्याः,
तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत।।"




Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 14:





"O son of Kunti, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed."

• This verse suggests that all material phenomena, including the physical body, are temporary. It teaches us that life’s cycles—happiness and sorrow—are transient, and we should tolerate them with equanimity, as the soul is unaffected by them.

5. The Soul Is Pure and Immutable

• While the body undergoes changes, illnesses, and eventual decay, the soul remains untouched by any such transformations. It is pure and immutable. The physical world may alter, but the soul remains constant and unscathed.

"देहि नित्यं मयि जीवो देहे,
अहं नित्यं च द्रव्यं,
किमादिश्ये किमायतं,
शरीरं येन सर्पयेत्।।"




Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 30:





"The body is perishable, but the soul within the body is imperishable. It remains unchanged amidst all changes and remains forever unaffected by the physical form."








6. The Soul is a Reflection of the Divine

• Krishna emphasizes that the soul is a part of the divine. It is made in the image of God and shares the same eternal, divine essence. Just as God is timeless, the soul also transcends time and remains immortal.

7. Understanding the Soul Helps Free Us From Fear

• Once we realize that the soul is eternal, we no longer need to fear death, loss, or impermanence. We can live without the anxiety of these temporary experiences, knowing that the soul continues its journey beyond the physical realm.

Life Lessons: Embracing the Eternal Nature of the Soul




Krishna’s teachings about the soul’s immortality offer several life lessons that we can apply to live peacefully and purposefully:




1. Recognize that Everything Is Temporary

• The material world—our possessions, wealth, relationships—is temporary. Krishna reminds us that these things are not permanent, and when we understand that, we are free from fear of loss and attachment.

2. Embrace Detachment

• Detachment doesn’t mean indifference; it means understanding that our happiness doesn’t depend on external circumstances. When we detach from the temporary, we find peace in the eternal nature of the soul.

3. Understand Change as a Part of the Soul’s Journey

• Change is inevitable. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one or the passage of time, Krishna teaches us that the soul simply transitions, and change is part of its eternal journey. Embracing this allows us to live with grace and wisdom.

4. Focus on the Present Moment

• Time is an illusion for the soul. Krishna teaches us to focus on the present, as the soul is eternal and not bound by past or future. By living in the moment, we connect with the eternal truth of our being.

5. Let Go of the Fear of Death

• Fear of death is a result of ignorance. Understanding that the soul is undying removes the fear of death. The soul’s journey is endless, and we are not defined by the body’s limitations. This knowledge brings freedom and peace.

The Eternal Essence Within YouUnderstanding that the soul is unborn and undying transforms how we view ourselves and the world. Krishna’s teachings in the Bhagavad Gita remind us that everything in the material world is temporary, but the soul is
eternal—beyond birth, death, and decay. Once we grasp this truth, we can live free from fear and attachment, focusing on the spiritual journey that transcends time and space.




"Aatma na paida hoti hai, na marti hai." The soul is timeless, and it is this knowledge that empowers us to live life with peace, wisdom, and acceptance. Live as the eternal soul you are, free from the fleeting worries of the material world, and embrace the cosmic flow of existence.