Grief & loss

श्री भगवानुवाच अशोच्यानन्वशोचस्त्वं प्रज्ञावादांश्च भाषसे। गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः॥

Lord Shri Krishna said: Why grieve for those for whom no grief is due, yet professing wisdom? The wise grieve neither for the dead nor the living.

Simple meaning

Krishna gently tells Arjuna that he is talking wisely but grieving for what doesn't deserve grief. The wise don't lose themselves in grief for the living or the dead, because the true self doesn't end.

In real life

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचि न्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः। अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे॥

It was not born; it will never die, nor, once having been, can it cease to exist. Unborn, eternal, ever-enduring, yet most ancient, the spirit does not die when the body is dead.

Simple meaning

Krishna describes the soul: it is never born and never dies. It is eternal and ancient, and it does not die when the body dies. Your deepest self is beyond loss.

In real life

जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च। तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि॥

For death is certain for that which is born, just as birth is certain for that which is dead. Therefore, do not grieve for what is inevitable.

Simple meaning

Krishna says that whatever is born will die, and whatever dies will be born again. Since this is unavoidable, don't drown in grief over what cannot be changed.

In real life