Verse 13
dehino ’smin yathā dehe
kaumāraṁ yauvanaṁ jarā
tathā dehāntara-prāptir
dhīras tatra na muhyati
Word-by-Word Meaning:
- dehinaḥ — of the embodied soul
- asmin dehe — in this body
- yathā — just as
- kaumāram — childhood
- yauvanam — youth
- jarā — old age
- tathā — in the same manner
- deha-antara-prāptiḥ — attainment of another body (rebirth)
- dhīraḥ — the wise one, one of steady mind
- tatra — in that matter
- na muhyati — does not get deluded or bewildered
Just as the embodied soul continuously passes in this body from childhood to youth to old age, similarly it passes into another body at death. The wise are not deluded by this.
Expanded Meaning:
Krishna deepens the teaching of the soul’s immortality by comparing bodily change within life to the change that occurs after death. He reminds Arjuna that as we don’t mourn the loss of childhood when we grow into youth, so too we shouldn’t overly grieve when the soul shifts bodies.
Contextual Analysis:
- Continuity of Change
- Every person has experienced bodily transformations: from a baby to a youth to an elder.
- Yet, throughout these stages, the same self experiences all — showing that the soul remains unchanged while the body changes.
- Death as a Natural Transition
- Death is not an end but a transition to another body, just as aging is a transition within this one.
- Just like growing old, rebirth is a continuation, not annihilation.
- Perspective of the Wise (Dhīraḥ)
- The wise person sees beyond surface-level changes.
- They understand the flow of life and are not shaken by the death of the body.
Philosophical Interpretation:
- The Concept of Dehī (Embodied Soul)
- “Dehin” refers to the soul wearing the body, like clothes.
- The soul uses the body as an instrument, but is never limited by it.
- Evolution Through Bodies
- The soul evolves through karma — each life is a lesson, each body a school.
- Death is graduation, and rebirth is enrollment in the next appropriate class.
- Dhīraḥ – The Spiritually Stable One
- True wisdom lies in remaining unshaken amid the tides of time and transition.
- Such a person understands impermanence and rests in eternal awareness.
Spiritual Symbolism:
| Symbol | Inner Meaning |
|---|---|
| Kaumāram (childhood) | Innocence, beginning of self-exploration |
| Yauvanam (youth) | Passion, strength, identity formation |
| Jarā (old age) | Wisdom, detachment, natural decay |
| Dehāntara-prāptiḥ | Rebirth, transformation, continuation of soul’s journey |
| Dhīraḥ | One who sees truth beyond illusion — grounded in spiritual reality |
Modern-Day Relevance:
- We often fear aging and death, yet accept growing from child to adult without resistance.
- This verse reminds us: Just as aging is natural and not feared, so should death be — for it is just another chapter.
- Understanding this leads to:
- Less attachment to physical form
- More focus on inner growth
- Acceptance of death as a sacred transition
Reflection Questions:
Do you perceive yourself as the same person through all your life’s stages?
Why does death scare us, but aging does not — when both are just transitions?
What practices can help cultivate the dhīraḥ mindset — steady and undeluded?
How would your life change if you truly saw the soul as eternal?
Conclusion:
With this verse, Krishna introduces the soul’s journey through multiple bodies using a relatable metaphor — the body’s changes through life. His message is timeless:
“Don’t mourn the body’s end — just as you don’t mourn the end of youth.”
The wise, those of unwavering understanding, see this truth and remain centered in it. This teaching is not abstract theology — it is a call to live with fearlessness, detachment, and soul-consciousness.