Chapter 2, Verse 11 (Bhagavad Gita 2.11)
Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yog – Transcendental Knowledge
Sanskrit Shloka
श्री भगवानुवाच अशोच्यानन्वशोचस्त्वं प्रज्ञावादांश्च भाषसे। गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः
Transliteration
śhrī bhagavān uvācha aśhochyān-anvaśhochas-tvaṁ prajñā-vādānśh cha bhāṣhase gatāsūn-agatāsūnśh-cha nānuśhochanti paṇḍitāḥ
Word Meanings
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha—the Supreme Lord said; aśhochyān—not worthy of grief; anvaśhochaḥ—are mourning; tvam—you; prajñā-vādān—words of wisdom; cha—and; bhāṣhase—speaking; gata āsūn—the dead; agata asūn—the living; cha—and; na—never; anuśhochanti—lament; paṇḍitāḥ—the wise
Translation
The Blessed Lord said: You grieve for those who should not be grieved for, yet you speak words of wisdom. The wise grieve neither for the living nor for the dead.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse marks the transition from worldly lamentation to spiritual awakening by distinguishing between the perishable body and the eternal soul. Krishna teaches that true wisdom lies in realizing that the essence of life, the Atman, is beyond birth and death, rendering grief over physical transitions illogical. By pointing out Arjuna's intellectual wisdom contrasted with his emotional turmoil, the Lord encourages us to align our inner understanding with our external actions. Practicing this detachment allows one to remain equanimous amidst life's inevitable losses and changes. Ultimately, this teaching liberates the mind from the bondage of past attachments and future anxieties, centering the self in the eternal present.