Lord Krishn sings in Bhagavad Gita:
nā’sato vidyate bhāvo nā’bhāvo vidyate sataḥ,
ubhayor api dṛṣṭo’ntas tv anayos tattvadarśibhiḥ“
The unreal has no being and the real has no non-being;
and the truth about both has also been seen
by
men who know the reality.’’
The unreal has no existence; it has no being and so bringing it to an end is out of the question.
On the other hand, there is no absence of the real in all time-past, present or future.
Arjun then asks Sri Krishn whether he is saying this as an incarnation of God.
Lord Krishn’s reply to this is that the distinction
between
the real and the unreal has also been revealed to sages
who have realized the true nature of the human Soul
as
identical with the Supreme Spirit pervading the universe.
That is to say that Lord Krishn of the Geeta is a seer
who has gained an insight into reality.
What, after all, are true and false, real and unreal?
Lord Krishn adds:
avināśi tu tad viddhi yena sarvam idam tatam,
vināśam avyayasyā’sya na kaścit kartum arhati
“Know that since the Spirit which pervades the universe is imperishable and immutable,
no one can effect his destruction.”
That which spreads through and is present in every atom of the universe is indestructible.
No one is capable of destroying the imperishable principle.
But what is the name of this deathless amrit? Who is he?
Lord Krishn sings:
antavanta ime dehā nityasyo’ktāḥ śarīriṇaḥ,
anāśino’prameyasya tasmād yudhyasva bhārata
“Fight, O Bharat (Arjun),
because while the bodies which clothe the Soul are said to come to an end,
the embodied Spirit itself is for ever,
indestructible,
and boundless.’’
Arjun is exhorted to get up and fight
because all these physical bodies that embody the indwelling, boundless,
and
eternal Spirit are said to be ephemeral.
This Spirit, the Self, is imperishable, and it cannot be destroyed at any time.
The Self is real, whereas the physical body is subject to death,
and
so unreal and nonexistent at all times.
_/l\_
_/l\_