Bhagavad Gita · Sankhya Yoga — The Yoga of Knowledge

Chapter 2, Verse 28

"Bhagavad Gita 2.28" — meaning and explanation.

अव्यक्तादीनि भूतानि व्यक्तमध्यानि भारत | अव्यक्तनिधनान्येव तत्र का परिदेवना

avyaktādīni bhūtāni vyaktamadhyāni bhārata . avyaktanidhanānyeva tatra kā paridevanā

Meaning

2.28 Beings are unmanifested in their beginning, manifested in their middle state, O Arjuna, and unmanifested again in their end. What is there to grieve about?

।।2.28।। हे भारत ! समस्त प्राणी जन्म से पूर्व और मृत्यु के बाद अव्यक्त अवस्था में रहते हैं और बीच में व्यक्त होते हैं। फिर उसमें चिन्ता या शोक की क्या बात है ?

Explanation

2.28 अव्यक्तादीनि unmanifested in the beginning? भूतानि beings? व्यक्तमध्यानि manifested in their middle state? भारत O Bharata? अव्यक्तनिधनानि unmanifested again in the end? एव also? तत्र there? का what? परिदेवना grief.Commentary The physical body is a combination of the five elements. It is seen by the physical eyes only after the five elements have entered into such combination. After death? the body disintegrates and the five elements go back to their source it cannot be seen. Therefore? the body can be seen only in the middle state. The relationship as son? friend? teacher? father? mother? wife? brother and sister is formed through the body on account of attachment and Moha (delusion). Just as planks unite and separate in a river? just as pilgrims unite and separate in a public inn? so also fathers? mothers? sons and brothers unite and separate in this world. This world is a very big public inn. People unite and separate.There is no pot in the beginning and in the end. Even if you see the pot in the middle? you should think and feel that it is illusory and does not really exist. So also there is no body in the beginning and in the end. That which does not exist in the beginning and in the end must be illusory in the middle also. You must think and feel that the body does not really exist in the middle as well.He who thus understands the nature of the body and all human relationships based on it? will not grieve.

Life Lesson

Study Bhagavad Gita 2.28 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.

Context

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, verse 28, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.

Bhagavad Gita 2.28

This page presents the Sanskrit verse, transliteration, Hindi meaning, English meaning, and a simple explanation for study. For a fuller understanding, read this shloka in sequence with the rest of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bhagavad Gita 2.28 mean?

2.28 Beings are unmanifested in their beginning, manifested in their middle state, O Arjuna, and unmanifested again in their end. What is there to grieve about?

What is the life lesson of this verse?

Study Bhagavad Gita 2.28 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.

What is the context of this verse?

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, verse 28, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.