"Jise tum mrityu samajhte ho, vahi toh jeevan hai." – Bhagavad Gita’s Profound Truth on Death and Rebirth
Nidhi | Mar 08, 2025, 15:15 IST
( Image credit : Pexels, Timeslife )
The Bhagavad Gita challenges our understanding of life and death, revealing that what we perceive as the end is, in fact, a transformation. This article delves into the eternal nature of the soul, the illusion of worldly attachments (Maya), and how embracing change leads to spiritual liberation. Through Gita’s timeless wisdom, discover why death is not an end but a passage to another existence.
"नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः।
न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः॥"
(Bhagavad Gita 2.23)
We live under an illusion—an illusion that we own our bodies, relationships, and lives. But the Bhagavad Gita reveals a truth that is both unsettling and liberating: death is not an end, nor is life a beginning. Everything we perceive is part of a continuous cycle, a reality far beyond what our senses can comprehend. What if the fears, desires, and struggles that consume us are merely shadows on a transient stage? What if clinging to life itself is the greatest delusion?
Let’s dismantle these illusions and uncover the wisdom that has guided seekers for millennia.
Everything you identify with—your name, your body, your achievements—is bound by time. But Krishna reminds us that the soul was never created and can never be destroyed. It exists beyond birth and death, untouched by fire, water, or wind. So why mourn the loss of something that was never truly "alive" in the first place?
The moment you accept that your existence is beyond this physical frame, the fear of death dissolves. It is not an ending, just a transition—a door from one state to another, much like waking from a dream. The real question isn’t "What happens after death?" but rather, "What happens when we realize we were never just this body?"
"मोह मायाजाल में फंसे मानव, यह सोचते हैं कि उन्होंने कुछ पाया।
परंतु जो पाया है, वह तो मात्र एक भ्रम है, जो समय की धारा में बह जाएगा।"
We spend our lives accumulating—money, relationships, power—believing they define us. But the Bhagavad Gita shatters this illusion: nothing truly belongs to you, because you, yourself, are passing through.
Imagine a traveler mistaking an inn for his eternal home. He decorates it, clings to its walls, and weeps when forced to leave. This is how humans live—obsessing over temporary attachments while forgetting their eternal nature. The true self is like the sky—untouched by the passing clouds of possessions and losses. To find peace, one must detach—not in renunciation, but in wisdom.
"जन्म मरण का यह चक्र, अनंत काल से चलता आ रहा है।
जो इसे समझ गया, वही मुक्त हो गया।"
Everything in the universe is in motion. Stars collapse, rivers shift course, civilizations rise and fall. Yet, humans resist change, hoping to freeze moments in time. Why? Because attachment blinds us to reality.
The Gita teaches that suffering is not caused by change, but by our refusal to accept it. The wise do not lament the past or fear the future. They embrace the present as it is—fluid, impermanent, ever-evolving. To resist change is to fight the very nature of existence. To flow with it is to align with the cosmic rhythm.
Krishna tells Arjuna that the world we see is Maya—an illusion. But what does this mean? It means that everything we chase—status, beauty, power—is fleeting, a mirage that disappears the moment we reach for it.
Think of a child building sandcastles on the shore. The waves erase them, yet he builds again, convinced this time it will last. Adults are no different—we build identities, relationships, and wealth, believing they are permanent. But like sandcastles, everything we construct is swept away by time. The only difference? Some wake up from the illusion, and some never do.
Why do people suffer? Not because of life’s events, but because of how the mind reacts to them. The Bhagavad Gita reveals that our greatest enemy is not fate, but our own uncontrolled thoughts.
Desires, fears, regrets—they chain the soul to an endless cycle of sorrow and craving. But the moment we stop being ruled by the mind and start observing it, we become free. Just as a river cannot drown the sky, thoughts cannot trap the eternal self.
Krishna urges us to rise above these mental chains, to master the mind instead of being enslaved by it. True liberation is not found in escape, but in awareness.
Most people live as if they are racing toward an endpoint—some final achievement, relationship, or legacy that will give their life meaning. But the Bhagavad Gita teaches that there is no finish line, only movement.
The wise do not ask, "Where am I going?" but rather, "How am I traveling?" They understand that no single moment defines them, just as no single wave defines the ocean. Life is not about reaching a conclusion, but about evolving, learning, and surrendering to the greater cosmic dance.
Krishna’s words to Arjuna carry one of the most powerful truths: "Do your duty, but surrender the results." Why? Because the moment you attach yourself to an outcome, you become its slave.
A person who clings to success fears failure. A person who clings to love fears loss. But the one who lets go—who gives their best without worrying about what they will receive—experiences true freedom.
Imagine walking through life without fear, without regret, without expectation. That is the path of the awakened soul.
If you strip away everything temporary—your name, your achievements, your fears—what remains? The eternal self. That is the core message of the Bhagavad Gita. Life is not meant to be clung to. Death is not meant to be feared. Existence is a journey, and you are the traveler, not the road.
The next time you find yourself resisting change, mourning loss, or fearing the future, ask yourself:
"Am I clinging to the illusion, or awakening to the truth?"
Because in the end, nothing ever truly dies—only the dreamer wakes up.
न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः॥"
(Bhagavad Gita 2.23)
We live under an illusion—an illusion that we own our bodies, relationships, and lives. But the Bhagavad Gita reveals a truth that is both unsettling and liberating: death is not an end, nor is life a beginning. Everything we perceive is part of a continuous cycle, a reality far beyond what our senses can comprehend. What if the fears, desires, and struggles that consume us are merely shadows on a transient stage? What if clinging to life itself is the greatest delusion?
Let’s dismantle these illusions and uncover the wisdom that has guided seekers for millennia.
1. You Were Never Born, So How Can You Die?
New Born
( Image credit : Pexels )
The moment you accept that your existence is beyond this physical frame, the fear of death dissolves. It is not an ending, just a transition—a door from one state to another, much like waking from a dream. The real question isn’t "What happens after death?" but rather, "What happens when we realize we were never just this body?"
2. The Greatest Tragedy is Not Death, But the Illusion of Possession
Krishna-Mahabharata
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )
"मोह मायाजाल में फंसे मानव, यह सोचते हैं कि उन्होंने कुछ पाया।
परंतु जो पाया है, वह तो मात्र एक भ्रम है, जो समय की धारा में बह जाएगा।"
We spend our lives accumulating—money, relationships, power—believing they define us. But the Bhagavad Gita shatters this illusion: nothing truly belongs to you, because you, yourself, are passing through.
Imagine a traveler mistaking an inn for his eternal home. He decorates it, clings to its walls, and weeps when forced to leave. This is how humans live—obsessing over temporary attachments while forgetting their eternal nature. The true self is like the sky—untouched by the passing clouds of possessions and losses. To find peace, one must detach—not in renunciation, but in wisdom.
3. Change is the Only Constant, Yet We Resist It the Most
Change is the only Constant
( Image credit : Pexels )
"जन्म मरण का यह चक्र, अनंत काल से चलता आ रहा है।
जो इसे समझ गया, वही मुक्त हो गया।"
Everything in the universe is in motion. Stars collapse, rivers shift course, civilizations rise and fall. Yet, humans resist change, hoping to freeze moments in time. Why? Because attachment blinds us to reality.
The Gita teaches that suffering is not caused by change, but by our refusal to accept it. The wise do not lament the past or fear the future. They embrace the present as it is—fluid, impermanent, ever-evolving. To resist change is to fight the very nature of existence. To flow with it is to align with the cosmic rhythm.
4. What We Call "Reality" is a Dream Disguised as Life
Time
( Image credit : Pexels )
Krishna tells Arjuna that the world we see is Maya—an illusion. But what does this mean? It means that everything we chase—status, beauty, power—is fleeting, a mirage that disappears the moment we reach for it.
Think of a child building sandcastles on the shore. The waves erase them, yet he builds again, convinced this time it will last. Adults are no different—we build identities, relationships, and wealth, believing they are permanent. But like sandcastles, everything we construct is swept away by time. The only difference? Some wake up from the illusion, and some never do.
5. The Mind is a Prison, and You Hold the Key
Free Yourself
( Image credit : Pexels )
Why do people suffer? Not because of life’s events, but because of how the mind reacts to them. The Bhagavad Gita reveals that our greatest enemy is not fate, but our own uncontrolled thoughts.
Desires, fears, regrets—they chain the soul to an endless cycle of sorrow and craving. But the moment we stop being ruled by the mind and start observing it, we become free. Just as a river cannot drown the sky, thoughts cannot trap the eternal self.
Krishna urges us to rise above these mental chains, to master the mind instead of being enslaved by it. True liberation is not found in escape, but in awareness.
6. Life is Not a Destination, But a Passage
Life is not about Winning
( Image credit : Freepik )
The wise do not ask, "Where am I going?" but rather, "How am I traveling?" They understand that no single moment defines them, just as no single wave defines the ocean. Life is not about reaching a conclusion, but about evolving, learning, and surrendering to the greater cosmic dance.
7. Freedom Begins the Moment You Let Go
Let Go
( Image credit : Pexels )
A person who clings to success fears failure. A person who clings to love fears loss. But the one who lets go—who gives their best without worrying about what they will receive—experiences true freedom.
Imagine walking through life without fear, without regret, without expectation. That is the path of the awakened soul.
Waking Up From the Illusion
The next time you find yourself resisting change, mourning loss, or fearing the future, ask yourself:
"Am I clinging to the illusion, or awakening to the truth?"
Because in the end, nothing ever truly dies—only the dreamer wakes up.