Verse 11
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ
prajñā-vādāṁś ca bhāṣase
gatāsūn agatāsūṁś ca
nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ
Word-by-Word Meaning:
- śrī-bhagavān uvāca — The Blessed Lord said
- aśocyān — those not worthy of sorrow
- anvaśocah — you are grieving over
- tvaṁ — you
- prajñā-vādān — wise words / words of wisdom
- ca — and
- bhāṣase — you speak
- gatāsūn — for the dead
- agatāsūn — and the living
- ca — and
- na anuśocanti — do not grieve
- paṇḍitāḥ — the wise / the learned
The Blessed Lord said: You are grieving for those who should not be grieved for, yet you speak words of wisdom. The wise grieve neither for the living nor for the dead.
Expanded Meaning:
Krishna begins his divine discourse by gently but firmly correcting Arjuna’s emotional confusion. Arjuna, overwhelmed with grief and compassion, has presented his arguments in the language of dharma and ethics. Krishna now points out that Arjuna is mistaking emotional attachment for wisdom.
Contextual Analysis:
- “Aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ” — You Grieve for the Ungrievable
- Arjuna mourns the loss of life, especially of respected elders like Bhishma and Drona.
- But Krishna reminds him that the self is eternal, and hence there is no cause for such lamentation.
- “Prajñā-vādān ca bhāṣase” — You Speak as if You’re Wise
- Arjuna’s arguments are philosophical and moral, yet they miss the truth of the eternal soul.
- Krishna is pointing out the difference between seeming wisdom and true knowledge.
- “Na anuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ” — The Wise Do Not Grieve
- The truly wise understand the impermanence of the body and the eternity of the ātman (Self).
- They are unattached to life and death — not cold, but spiritually detached.
Philosophical Interpretation:
- Distinction Between the Self and the Body
- The verse introduces the Vedantic view of the eternal soul (ātman).
- Life and death belong to the body, not the Self, which is unborn, undying.
- Prajñā vs Emotion
- Prajñā (wisdom) is not intellectualism; it is rooted in realization.
- Arjuna’s sorrow stems from emotional confusion, not enlightened understanding.
- Real Wisdom Is Unaffected by Dualities
- Grief and joy, gain and loss, life and death — the wise transcend these dualities.
- Krishna introduces stoic equanimity (samattvam) as a spiritual ideal.
Spiritual Symbolism:
| Symbol | Inner Meaning |
|---|---|
| Aśocyān | That which is eternal and beyond change — the Self |
| Anvaśocas | Mourning based on illusion or ignorance |
| Prajñā-vādāḥ | The appearance of wisdom without true realization |
| Gatāsūn / Agatāsūn | The physically dead / living — both seen as impermanent states |
| Paṇḍitāḥ | Those who have true jñāna (wisdom) and see beyond life and death |
Modern-Day Relevance:
In a world filled with constant change, loss, and uncertainty:
- People often grieve excessively over temporary things — relationships, jobs, possessions.
- This verse challenges us to re-examine our attachments and to realize the impermanence of all material things.
- The “wise” today would be those who stay composed, who act without losing inner peace, even amidst crisis.
Reflection Questions:
Are there situations in your life where you are grieving for things that are inherently impermanent?
Are your decisions based on emotional attachment or inner wisdom?
How do you define wisdom — is it intellectual brilliance or spiritual insight?
Can you begin cultivating the detachment that Krishna speaks of, without losing compassion?
Conclusion:
This verse marks the first true teaching of Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. He begins not by consoling Arjuna, but by challenging his understanding. This is a gentle spiritual wake-up call.
The verse teaches that true wisdom lies in seeing beyond birth and death, beyond joy and sorrow. It reorients the seeker from emotionalism to realization, from illusion to clarity.
Krishna is preparing Arjuna — and all of us — to look deeper than the surface, to uncover the eternal Self that does not grieve, that cannot be harmed, and that is ever free.