Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 - Samkhya Yoga - Sloka 24

The entire content of this mail is from Swami Chidbhavananda's translation of  The Bhagavad Gita, published by Ramakrishna Mission.


Atman is Super Mundane- 23 - 25

1 Gita Sloka every day - Chapter 2 - Samkhya Yoga - Sloka 24

Vamana Avatara

Achedyah ayam adhayoh ayam akledyah ashoshyah eva cha I

Nityah sarva gatah sthanuh achalah ayam sanatanah II sloka 24

अछेद्यः अयं अदाःयः अयं अक्लेध्यः  अशोष्यः एव च ।

नित्यः सर्व गतः स्थाणुः अचलः अयं सनातनः ।। श्लोक २४ 

This self is uncleavable, incombustible, and neither wetted nor dried. It is eternal, all pervading, stable, immovable and everlasting. 

Atman cannot be cleaved; therefore it is eternal. That which exists in one place and not in another cannot be called eternal, because of its absence in one place. Being eternal it is all pervading. Like Akasa, Atman is everywhere; so It is stable. That which changes place is mobile; but Atman being present everywhere, It is immovable. Time gains no access to Atman; It is for this reason held as everlasting.

The indescribable Atman is sought to be described in innumerable ways. Through varieties of definitions and explanations some vague concept of Him is formed in the mind. But to the extent the mind gets purified, cognition of Him becomes lucid. And the cessation of misery is ever in direct proportion to one's being anchored in the Self. Misery is an unwanted state of mind got into through ignorance. Sreyas  is not where misery is. The Lord throws light on the glory of the Atman in order to cure Arjuna of the despondency meaninglessly assumed by him.