Verse 2.13

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 2.13:

देहिनोऽस्मिन् यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा ।
तथा देहान्तर-प्राप्तिर् धीरस् तत्र न मुह्यति ॥ १३ ॥

dehino'smin yathā dehe kaumāraṃ yauvanaṃ jarā |
tathā dehāntara-prāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati || 13 ||

dehinaḥ–of the embodied soul; asmin–in this; yathā–just as; dehe–in the body; kaumāram–boyhood; yauvanam–to youth; jarā–to old age; tathā–in the same way; deha-antara–another body; prāptiḥ–achieving; dhīraḥ–an intelligent person; tatra–in this situation; na muhyati–he is not bewildered.

Just as the embodied soul gradually passes within this gross physical body from boyhood to youth and to old age, similarly, the soul receives another body at death. An intelligent person is not bewildered by the destruction and rebirth of the body.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

The following point may be raised: Since the soul is associated with the body, the body will also be an object of our love. Furthermore, those who are related to the body, such as sons, brothers, relatives and grandsons, will also be the objects of our love. When they die, therefore, we will certainly feel grief.

Śrī Bhagavān speaks this verse beginning with dehinaḥ in answer to this. “The soul (ātmā) within the body attains boyhood; at the end of boyhood he attains youth; and at the end of youth, he enters old age. Similarly, upon losing his body, he attains another body. One does not grieve at the close of boyhood and youth, which are objects of love due to their relationship with the ātmā. Therefore, one should not grieve for the loss of the body itself, which is also an object of love due to its relationship with the ātmā. A person laments when he passes from youth into old age, yet he felt happy when he passed from boyhood to youth. You should feel happy, because when Bhīṣma and Droṇa lose their old bodies, they will attain new ones. Or you should consider that just as the body grows and attains various stages, the same jīva also attains different types of bodies.”

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

The word dehī means ‘the soul’, or jīva, which is unchangeable. The body, however, is subject to transformation. Even when the body undergoes changes from boyhood to youth to old age and finally death, the embodied soul does not undergo any change; it remains ever the same. Therefore, it is not proper to lament for the loss of the body. Just as when one advances from boyhood to youth, one feels happiness instead of grief, similarly, after death one attains a new, able and beautiful body. Why, then, should one feel distress? Rather, one should only feel happiness.

King Yayāti became old in his youth because he was cursed by his father-in-law, Śukrācārya. In great distress, he humbly begged forgiveness at the feet of Śukrācārya. To please his daughter, who was married to the king, Śukrācārya gave him the boon that he could exchange his old age for the youth of any of his young sons. His eldest son, Yadu, refused because he wanted to worship the Lord, but his youngest son, Puru, gave his youth and accepted the old age of his father. In this way, Yayāti again became young and enjoyed with his queens (Devayānī and others). In the company of his sons and grandsons, he considered himself very happy. Finally, however, he understood that all these pleasures were temporary and the cause of unlimited misery. He returned his son’s youth to him and went to the forest to perform internal worship (bhajana) of Bhagavān (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 9.18.1–51). Therefore, at the loss of an old, weak and withered body, it is appropriate to feel happy, knowing that a healthy, strong and beautiful new body will soon be obtained.