Verse 28
avyaktādīni bhūtāni vyakta-madhyāni bhārata
avyakta-nidhanāni eva tatra kā paridevanā
Word-by-Word Meaning:
| Sanskrit | Meaning |
|---|---|
| avyaktādīni | unmanifest in the beginning |
| bhūtāni | all created beings |
| vyakta-madhyāni | manifest in the middle (of their existence) |
| bhārata | O descendant of Bharata / Arjuna |
| avyakta-nidhanāni | become unmanifest again at the end |
| eva | indeed / certainly |
| tatra | in that situation / case |
| kā | what / why |
| paridevanā | lamentation / grieving |
Beings are unmanifest in their beginning, manifest in their interim state, and unmanifest again upon death. So why lament over this inevitable process, O Arjuna?
Expanded Commentary:
Lord Krishna continues to guide Arjuna through a rational understanding of existence. He now presents a cosmological and metaphysical perspective:
- All beings emerge from an unmanifest source.
- During life, they become manifest — visible, named, and perceived through form.
- After death, they return to the unmanifest, merging again with the formless source.
This cosmic cycle is constant and inevitable.
Krishna’s core message:
Why grieve for a process that is entirely natural and beyond one’s control?
Symbolic Meaning:
| Term | Symbolizes |
|---|---|
| Avyakta (Unmanifest) | The subtle, unseen state before and after existence (Brahman or potential form) |
| Vyakta (Manifest) | The physical, material presence — name, form, and identity |
| Nidhanāni (End) | Dissolution back into the formless essence |
| Paridevanā (Grief) | Emotional attachment to the temporary, mistaking it for permanent |
Philosophical Insights:
- Existence is Cyclical:
- Life is not linear with a fixed beginning and end.
- It is a cyclical dance from the formless to the formed and back.
- Reality of the Self vs. the Body:
- The Self (Atman) does not die; it merely withdraws from its temporary body.
- What is grieved is the form, not the eternal essence.
- Futility of Grief:
- Since beings emerge from and dissolve into the same unmanifest reality, grief is misplaced.
- We mourn because we attach to form, not realizing it is only temporary.
- Alignment with Cosmic Rhythm:
- True wisdom is in flowing with this rhythm, not resisting it.
- Acceptance brings peace; resistance causes suffering.
Practical Application:
- Handling Death: Instead of mourning the passing of a loved one as a loss, recognize it as a return to the unmanifest — a transition, not an end.
- Detaching from Appearances: Do not overly identify with the body or external forms — they are temporary expressions.
- Living Mindfully: Understand that everything you see, including your own life, is just a phase in a greater cosmic play.
Reflection Questions:
Am I aware of the difference between the real Self and the temporary body?
How often do I attach to forms and appearances, forgetting their impermanence?
Can I begin to view death not as a tragedy but as a transformation?
Conclusion:
Krishna draws Arjuna’s attention to the deeper truth of cosmic impermanence — everything arises from the invisible, lives briefly in the visible, and dissolves back into the invisible. This applies to people, things, emotions, and even universes.
To grieve over the inevitable is to miss the greater truth. Krishna urges us to rise above such sorrow, to anchor ourselves in wisdom and detachment. The wise do not weep over shadows; they recognize the unchanging light behind them.
When we see through the cycle of avyakta–vyakta–avyakta (unmanifest–manifest–unmanifest), we discover the eternal Self that is never born and never dies. That is the true reality. And in that realization, grief has no place.