Srimad Bhagavad Gita -Ramanujacharya 31

Srimad Bhagavad Gita -Ramanujacharya

Chapter-2 Sankhya Yogaḥ

antavanta ime dehā nityasy-oktāḥ śarīriṇaḥ | anāśino’prameyasya tasmāt yuddhyasva bhārata || 18 || 18. These bodies of the jīva (the embodied Self) are said to have an end, while the jīva itself is eternal, indestructible and incomprehensible. Therefore, fight O Bharata (Arjuna). Commentary The root 'di˙' means 'to grow’, hence bodies are known as dehas, because they are characterised by growth [and are compounds]. They have an end because they are naturally perishable; just as jars and such other things which are characterised by being compounds are seen to have an end. The bodies of the embodied jīva, which are made of a combination of elements, serve the purpose of experiencing the effects of Karmas, as stated in Brh. Up. 4:4:5; Auspicious embodiments are obtained through good actions Such bodies perish when the Karmas are exhausted. Furthermore the jīva is imperishable. Why? Because it cannot be quantified, it is the subject of all knowledge and can never be conceived of as the object of knowledge. Besides, the jīva is not composed of any parts, because when one perceives:— 'I am the knower' — there is an awareness of unity throughout the body which is composed of different parts. It therefore follows that something other than the body is the perceiver and experiencer of the body and other external objects. Therefore the jīva or Self is considered as eternal because:— (1) It is not a compound (2) It is the knowing subject (3) It pervades everything The body on the contrary is perishable, because:— (1) it is a compound, (2) it is an instrument for experiencing the fruits of Karma (3) it undergoes constant change, and (4) it can be pervaded.