“Two persons exist in this world: the perishable and the imperishable; all beings are perishable, the unchanging is called imperishable.”
Key Teaching: The world contains perishable beings and the imperishable soul.
Theme: Guidance, Jnana Yoga, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga.
Description:
Krishna introduces two types of persons: the perishable (all beings) and the imperishable (the unchanging soul). This verse, continuing 15.15, addresses Arjuna’s quest (2.9, 13.1). The themes of guidance, as Krishna clarifies existence, Jnana Yoga, as he emphasizes wisdom, and Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, as he points to liberation, are central.
In the Mahabharata, Arjuna’s mortality (1.28–46) contrasts with the soul’s eternity, unlike Duryodhana’s ignorance (1.3–11). The teaching aligns with Jnana Yoga (2.20), emphasizing the soul’s nature, and builds on divine knowledge (15.15). Krishna introduces the Purushottama concept.
Philosophically, the verse distinguishes material and spiritual, a theme refined with teachings on the soul (2.20). Arjuna’s path is clarified by understanding imperishability. The theme of Moksha Sannyasa Yoga underscores the Gita’s focus on liberation through wisdom.
Sanjaya’s narration ensures objective clarity. This verse serves as a metaphor for life’s duality, where the soul is eternal. Krishna’s teaching prepares readers to discern the imperishable, aligning with liberation.
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