Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yoga – Yoga of Contemplation on Self: Verse 18
अन्तवन्त इमे देहा नित्यस्योक्ता: शरीरिण: ।
अनाशिनोऽप्रमेयस्य तस्माद्युध्यस्व भारत ॥
antavanta ime dehā nityasyoktā: śarīriṇa:
anāśino’prameyasya tasmād-yudhyasva bhārata – 2.18
But these bodies in which dwells the eternal, indestructible and immeasurable Self, are said to be terminable. Hence fight, O descendent of Bharata!
Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yoga – Yoga of Contemplation on Self - Verse 18
Ma Gurupriya
While the all-permeating presence is indestructible, the bodies it permeates are subject to birth, growth, decline and death. In fact, the body, if not permeated by the indestructible Soul, would not be present at all. Body and Soul thus are complementary.
Anything born and growing will have decline and death too. Thus birth and death enable and fulfill each other. While Soul is indestructible, bodies are destructible.
All the warriors assembled here have come with their individual resolve to fight and kill others or get killed by them. They cherish death in the battlefield as the most creditable, rewarding.
The war is fought between bodies, not between souls. Soul is just one, all-permeating. It cannot fight or get involved in fight. Know this well and fight with poise and resolve. That is the characteristic as well as the merit of a kshatriya. Do not condemn or disclaim it.
