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Chapter 2
Related and Noteworthy
In this section from the eleventh to the thirtieth verses, it is explained that the soul, which is imperishable and real, is different from a body which is perishable and unreal. Unless, one can discriminate between the soul and the body, one cannot follow anyone of the disciplines, either of Disinterested Action, Knowledge or Devotion. Not only this, but also one who wants to go to heaven should know, the distinction between the two. After the death of a body, who will go to heaven? Therefore, all the philosophers who are believers, in spite of having different opinions about philosophy, agree with the fact, that the soul is different from the body. Here the Lord wants to explain this distinction clearly.
This is everyone's own experience also, that a body changes from babyhood to youth and then to old age. But, there is an unchangeable one that knows this change. That one, is the soul. Therefore, the changeable and the unchangeable, can never be identified. In this section, Lord Krsna, has not used a philosophical terminology, because people think that philosophy is a subject for study only. So he has used such words as, the real and the unreal, the perishable and the imperishable etc. One, who can discriminate between the two, is not grieved in the least, while, one who merely studies philosophy, is grieved.
A man may study the six systems of philosophy and may possess knowledge about the Absolute, the soul, the Nature and the world. But, his knowledge is purely theoritical. On the other hand, a striver or a devotee may be concerned who wants to realize his identity with God or who wants to surrender himself to God, by renouncing his assumed affinity for prakrti, and the world, his knowledge is practical. There is a vast difference in these two sorts of knowledge.
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