Supreme Truth cannot be defined in words – Bhagavad Gita Chapter II

Know that all-pervading self is eternally existent. Nobody can destroy it. But the body through which this eternal, indestructible, spirit express is perishable. So why don’t you fight? One who thinks that the Spirit kills or that the Spirit is killed is a fool.

The spirit does not kill, nor can it ever be killed. It knows neither birth nor death. It cannot come to exist or cease to exist.

It is unborn, eternal, changeless and ancient. It is not slain when the body is slain. When one knows the self to be indestructible, eternal and changeless, tell me, Arjuna, who kills whom?

Just as we discard old clothes and put on new ones, the embodies casts off its useless body taking a new one. Weapons do not injure the Self. Fire does not burn It. Water does not drench it. Wind does not dry it. Thus the self cannot be affected by anything. It, at all times, remains as ever-lasting, all pervading, stable, immovable and ancient. It cannot be perceived by the naked eye. It cannot be defined in words. It cannot be changed by time. When you know the nature of the soul, where is the scope for grief?

– Bhagavad Gita Chapter II

Source - Gita for Children by Swami Chinmayananda

Explanation:

In the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu scripture, the concept of the spirit is portrayed as eternal and indestructible. Here's an expansion:

In the profound teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, the essence of the spirit is elucidated as transcendent and timeless. Far beyond the realm of mortality, it is depicted as an immutable force, untouched by the transient cycles of life and death. The spirit, often referred to as the Atman, is described as the eternal essence dwelling within every being, serene and unchanging amidst the fluctuations of existence.

Unlike the physical body, which is subject to decay and dissolution, the spirit remains invulnerable to the ravages of time. It neither inflicts harm nor succumbs to it, for its nature is beyond the duality of creation and destruction. Birth and death are mere illusions in the realm of the spirit, for it exists beyond the confines of temporal reality.

Immutable and everlasting, the spirit transcends the limitations of space and time. It is not bound by the constraints of worldly phenomena, being neither created nor destroyed. Instead, it is the essence of pure consciousness, eternally shining forth in its luminous brilliance.

In understanding the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, one comes to realize that the spirit is the ultimate source of inner strength and resilience. By recognizing the eternal nature of the self, one can attain liberation from the cycle of birth and death, embracing the boundless freedom of the immortal spirit. 

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This excerpt (it is unborn...changeless) from the Bhagavad Gita beautifully encapsulates the timeless wisdom regarding the nature of the soul and its relationship with the physical body. Let's delve deeper into its profound meanings.

"The soul is unborn, eternal, changeless, and ancient." This statement emphasizes the transcendental nature of the soul, which exists beyond the confines of time and space. Unlike the physical body, which is subject to birth, change, and decay, the soul remains untouched by these temporal phenomena. It is eternal and unchanging, existing across lifetimes and beyond.

"It is not slain when the body is slain." Here, the Gita teaches us about the immortality of the soul. Even when the physical body perishes, the soul continues its journey unaffected. Death is merely a transition for the soul, a shedding of one temporary vessel to move on to another or to merge back into the divine.

"When one knows the self to be indestructible, eternal, and changeless, tell me, Arjuna, who kills whom?" This question posed to Arjuna by Lord Krishna challenges the conventional understanding of life and death. If one truly comprehends the indestructible nature of the soul, then the concept of killing becomes obsolete. From this perspective, no one truly kills or is killed, for the essence of life, the soul, remains unscathed.

In essence, the Bhagavad Gita teaches us to transcend our identification with the ephemeral physical body and recognize our eternal nature as souls. By understanding this truth, we attain a profound sense of inner peace and freedom from the fear of death, realizing that our true essence is beyond birth and death, eternal and changeless.