I am grieving a loss
Losing someone or something precious can feel unbearable, and no words remove that pain at once. These verses offer a wider view of life and death that many have found steadying in their hardest days.
Read them slowly. Pick the one that touches you most and try its practice today.
Krishna said अशोच्यानन्वशोचस्त्वं प्रज्ञावादांश्च भाषसे।गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः ॥2.11॥
aśocyānanvaśocastvaṃ prajñāvādāṃśca bhāṣasegatāsūnagatāsūṃśca nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ
Krishna says: you grieve for those who need no grief, and yet you speak words that sound wise. The truly wise do not grieve for those who have died or for those who live.
Try this todayCatch one moment today when your words sound wise but are really covering worry. Say instead, simply and honestly, what you feel.
Krishna said देहिनोऽस्मिन्यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा।तथा देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्धीरस्तत्र न मुह्यति ॥2.13॥
dehino'sminyathā dehe kaumāraṃ yauvanaṃ jarātathā dehāntaraprāptirdhīrastatra na muhyati
Krishna explains: just as the embodied self passes through childhood, youth and old age in this body, it likewise passes into another body. A steady person is not shaken by this.
Try this todayLook at an old photo of yourself today. Notice how much has changed and what has not, and let that ease one fear about getting older.
Krishna said मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः।आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत ॥2.14॥
mātrāsparśāstu kaunteya śītoṣṇasukhaduḥkhadāḥāgamāpāyino'nityāstāṃstitikṣasva bhārata
Krishna says: the senses meeting their objects bring cold and heat, pleasure and pain. These come and go; they do not last. Learn to bear them patiently, Arjuna.
Try this todayWhen something uncomfortable happens today, like heat, a delay or a harsh remark, silently say "this will pass" and wait one minute before reacting.
Krishna said न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचि न्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः।अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे ॥2.20॥
na jāyate mriyate vā kadāci nnāyaṃ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥajo nityaḥ śāśvato'yaṃ purāṇo na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre
Krishna says: the self is never born and never dies. It did not come into being, and it will not stop being. Unborn, eternal, everlasting and ancient, it is not killed when the body is killed.
Try this todayRead this verse slowly once this morning and once at night. Between the readings, notice one fear that loses a little of its grip.
Krishna said वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि।तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही ॥2.22॥
vāsāṃsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya navāni gṛhṇāti naro'parāṇitathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇā nyanyāni saṃyāti navāni dehī
Krishna gives an image: just as a person throws away worn-out clothes and puts on new ones, the embodied self leaves worn-out bodies and enters new ones.
Try this todayAs you change clothes today, pause for a breath and recall this verse. Let it soften one worry about loss or change in your life.
Krishna said जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च।तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि ॥2.27॥
jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyurdhruvaṃ janma mṛtasya catasmādaparihārye'rthe na tvaṃ śocitumarhasi
Krishna says: death is certain for whatever is born, and birth is certain for whatever dies. So you should not grieve over what cannot be avoided.
Try this todayWrite down one thing you cannot change and one thing you can. Spend today's energy only on the second.
Krishna said अव्यक्तादीनि भूतानि व्यक्तमध्यानि भारत।अव्यक्तनिधनान्येव तत्र का परिदेवना ॥2.28॥
avyaktādīni bhūtāni vyaktamadhyāni bhārataavyaktanidhanānyeva tatra kā paridevanā
Krishna says: beings are unseen before birth, seen in the middle, and unseen again after death. Arjuna, what is there to lament in this?
Try this todaySpend ten minutes today giving full attention to someone you love, without your phone. Value the visible middle while it is here.
Also on your mind?
If you are in deep distress or having thoughts of harming yourself, please talk to someone you trust or call India's free Tele-MANAS helpline on 14416.