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← Chapter 2: The Yoga of Knowledge

Verse 2.28

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

अव्यक्तादीनि भूतानि व्यक्तमध्यानि भारत। अव्यक्तनिधनान्येव तत्र का परिदेवना॥

Transliteration (IAST)

avyaktādīni bhūtāni vyakta-madhyāni bhārata avyakta-nidhanāny eva tatra kā paridevanā

Word-by-Word Meanings

avyakta-ādīni-unmanifest in the beginning
bhūtāni-beings
vyakta-madhyāni-manifest in the middle
avyakta-nidhanāni-unmanifest at death
paridevanā-lamentation

Translation

All beings are unmanifest before birth, manifest between birth and death, and unmanifest again after death. What cause is there for lamentation?

Commentary

Krishna presents the cosmic perspective: manifestation is merely a brief interlude between two states of non-manifestation. Like waves rising from and returning to the ocean, beings appear and disappear. Grief over this natural process is as futile as grieving over a wave returning to the sea.

Themes

jnanaatmantime