BhG 2.18

antavanta ime dehā nityasyoktāḥ śarīriṇaḥ
anāśino ‘prameyasya tasmād yudhyasva bhārata

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analysis

syntax

nityasya (of the eternal) anāśinaḥ (of the indestructible) aprameyasya (of the immeasurable) śarīriṇaḥ (of the embodied one) ime (these) dehāḥ (bodies) anta-vantaḥ (temporary) uktāḥ (are said).
he bhārata (O descendant of Bhārata!), tasmāt (therefore) yudhyasva (fight).

grammar

antavantaḥ	–	anta-vant 1n.3 m. – temporary, having an end (from: anta – end, limit, border; -mant / -vant – suffix denoting one who possesses);
ime	–	idam sn. 1n.3 m. – these;
dehāḥ	–	deha 1n.3 m. – bodies (from: √dih – to anoint, to smear, deha – a form, shape, body);
nityasya	–	nitya 6n.1 m. – of continual, eternal;
uktāḥ	–	ukta (√vac – to speak) PP 1n.3 m. – are said, spoken;
śarīriṇaḥ	–	śarīrin 6n.1 m. – of the embodied one (from: √śri – to lean on, to rest on; or from: √śṝ – to break, to crush, śarīra – easy to be destroyed, the body);
anāśinaḥ	–	a-nāśin 6n.1 m. – of the indestructible (from: √naś – to destroy, to vanish, nāśin – perishable);
aprameyasya	–	a-pra-meya (pra-√mā – to measure) PF 6n.1 m. – of the immeasurable;
tasmāt	–	av. – therefore (from: tat sn. 5n.1 m. – from that);
yudhyasva	–	√yudh Imperat. Ā 2v.1 – fight;
bhārata	–	bhārata 8n.1 m. – O descendant of Bhārata;

textual variants

anāśino → vināśino (destructible);
anāśino ‘prameyasya → vināśam avyayasyāsya (destruction of the unchangeable);

commentaries

Śāṃkara

The key:
an excerpt from the commented verse
quotes from the scriptures
starting polemic

What, then, is the unreal (asat), whose existence is not constant? Listen:		kiṃ punas tad asat yat svātma-sattāṃ vyabhicaratīti, ucyate –
These bodies of the embodied (Self) who is eternal, indestructible and unknowable, are said to have an end. Do fight therefore, O descendant of Bharata.		*antavanta ime dehā nityasyoktāḥ śarīriṇaḥ* \| anāśino ’prameyasya tasmād yudhyasva bhārata \|\|2.18\|\|
It is said by the enlightened that these bodies of the Self, who is eternal, indestructible and unknowable, have an end, like those seen in dreams or produced by a juggler. – The end of such objects as the mirage consists in the cessation – as the result of investigation into their nature by proper tests of truth – of the idea of reality which has been associated with them. So also these bodies have an end.		antaḥ vināśaḥ vidyate yeṣāṃ te antavantaḥ \| yathā mṛga-tṛṣṇikādau sad-buddhiḥ anuvṛttā pramāṇa-nirūpaṇānte vicchidyate, sa tasyā antaḥ \| tathā ime dehāḥ* svapna-māyā-dehādi-vat ca antavantaḥ* \| *nityasya śarīriṇaḥ* śarīra-vato ’nāśino ’prameyasya* ātmano ’ntavanta iti uktāḥ vivekibhir ity arthaḥ* \|
[No tautology is involved in the use of both ‚eternal’ and ‚indestructible;’ for, two kinds of eternality and of destruction are met with in our experience.		nityasya anāśinaḥ iti na punar uktam \| nityatvasya dvividhatvāt loke nāśasya ca \|
The physical body, for instance, entirely disappearing when reduced to ashes, is said to have been destroyed. The physical body, while existing as such, may be transformed owing to sickness or such other causes, and it is then said to have ceased to be (something) and to have become (something else). „Eternal” and ‚indestructible’ here imply that the Self is subject to neither sort of destruction.		yathā deho bhasmī-bhūto ’darśanaṃ gato naṣṭa ucyate \| vidyamāno ’pi yathā anyathā pariṇato vyādhyādi-yukto jāto naṣṭa ucyate \| tatra anāśino nityasya iti dvividhenāpi nāśena asaṃbandho ’syety arthaḥ \|
Otherwise, the eternality of Atman, the Self, might perhaps be understood to be like that of clay or other material objects. It is the denial of this which is conveyed by the two epithets.		anyathā pṛthivy-ādivad api nityatvaṃ syāt ātmanaḥ \| tat mā bhūd iti nityasya anāśinaḥ ity āha \|
The Self is unknowable, – not determinable by the senses (pratyaksha) or any other means of knowledge.		*aprameyasya* na prameyasya pratyakṣādi-pramāṇaiḥ aparicchādyasyety arthaḥ \|
(Objection): – The Self is determined by the Agama or Revelation, and by perception &c. prior to Revelation, (Answer): – The objection is untenable, for the Self is self-determind (svatas-siddha). When the Self, the knower (pramātṛ), has been determined, then only is possible a search for proper authorities on the part of the knower with a view to obtain right knowledge.		nanu āgamena ātmā paricchidyate pratyakṣādinā ca pūrvam \| na \| ātmanaḥ svataḥ siddhatvāt \| siddhe hi ātmani pramātari pramitsoḥ pramāṇānveṣaṇā bhavati \|
In fact, without determining the Self – ‚I am I’ – -none seeks to determine the knowable objects. Indeed the Self is unknown (aprasiddha) to nobody.		na hi pūrvam ittham aham iti ātmānam apramāya paścāt prameya-paricchedāya pravartate \|
And the Scripture (Śāstra) which is the final authority obtains its authoritativeness regarding the Self, as serving only to eliminate the adhyaropaṇa or superimposition (on the Self) of the attributes alien to Him, but not as revealing what has been altogether unknown.		na hi ātmā nāma kasyacit aprasiddho bhavati \| śāstraṃ tu antyaṃ pramāṇam atad-dharmādhyāropaṇa-mātra-nivartakatvena pramāṇatvam ātmanaḥ pratipadyate, na hy ajñātārtha-jñāpakatvena \|
The śuti also describes the Self thus: „That which is the Immediate, the Unremote, the Brahman, which is the Self, which is within all.” (Bṛh-up 2.4.1).		tathā ca śrutiḥ – yat sākṣād aparokṣād brahma ya ātmā sarvāntaraḥ (Bṛh-up. 3.4.1) iti \|
Because the Self is thus eternal (nitya) and immutable (avikriya), therefore, do thou fight, – do not abstain from fighting.		yasmād evaṃ nityo ’vikriyaś cātmā tasmād yudhyasva, yuddhād uparamaṃ mā kārṣīḥ ity arthaḥ \|
Here the duty of fighting is not enjoined. Arjuna had already been engaged in lighting. But overpowered by grief and delusion he abstained from fighting. It is only the removal of obstructive causes (pratibandha, viz., grief and delusion) that is here attempted by the Lord. Wherefore in the words ‚do thou fight‚ the Lord issues here no new command (vidhi); He only refers to what is commonly known already.		na hy atra yuddha-kartavyatā vidhīyate, yuddhe pravṛtta eva hi asau śoka-moha-pratibaddhaḥ tūṣṇīm āste \| ataḥ tasya pratibandhāpanayana-mātraṃ bhagavatā kriyate \| tasmād yudhyasva* iti anuvāda-mātram, na vidhiḥ* \|\|2.18\|\|

Rāmānuja

dehānāṃ tu vināśitvam eva svabhāva ity āha—
diha upacaye ity upacaya-rūpā ime dehā antavantaḥ vināśa-svabhāvāḥ | upacayātmākā hi ghaṭādayo’ntavanto dṛṣṭāḥ | nityasya śarīriṇaḥ karma-phala-bhogārthatayā bhūta-saṃghāta-rūpā dehāḥ puṇyaḥ puṇyena [bṛ.ā.u. 4.4.5] ity ādi-śāstrair uktāḥ karmāvasāna-vināśinaḥ |
ātmā tv avināśī | kutaḥ ? aprameyatvāt | na hy ātmā prameyatayā upalabhyate, api tu pramātṛtayā | tathā ca vakṣyate—etad yo vetti taṃ prāhuḥ kṣetrajña iti tad viduḥ [gītā 13.1] iti | na cānekopacayātmaka ātmopalabhyate | sarvatra dehe aham idaṃ jānāmīti dehasya cānyasya ca pramātṛtayaika-rūpeṇopalabdheḥ |
na ca dehāder iva pradeśa-bhede pramātur ākārabheda upalabhyate | ata eka-rūpatvena anupacayātmakatvāt pramātṛtvād vyāpakatvāc ca ātmā nityaḥ | dehas tu upacayātmakatvāt śarīriṇaḥ karma-phala-bhogārthatvād aneka-rūpatvād vyāpyatvāc ca vināśī |
tasmād dehasya vināśa-svabhāvatvād ātmano nitya-svabhāvatvāc ca ubhāv api na śoka-sthānam iti śastra-pātādi-paruṣa-sparśād avarjanīyān svagatān anya-gatāṃś ca dhairyeṇa soḍhvā amṛtatva-prāptaye anabhisaṃhita-phalaṃ yuddhākhyaṃ karmārabhasva

Śrīdhara

āgamāpāya-dharmakaṃ sandarśyati antavanta iti | anto vināśo vidyate yeṣāṃ te antavantaḥ | nityasya sarvadaika-rūpasya śarīriṇaḥ śarīravataḥ | ataevānāśino vināśa-rahitasya aprameyasyaparicchinnasyātmana ime sukha-duḥkhādi-dharmaka-dehā uktās tattva-darśibhiḥ | yasmād evam ātmano na vināśaḥ, na ca sukha-duḥkhādi-sambandhaḥ, tasmān mohajaṃ śoktaṃ tyaktvā yudhyasva | svadharmaṃ mā tyakṣīr ity arthaḥ

Madhusūdana

nanu sphuraṇa-rūpasya sataḥ katham avināśitvaṃ tasya deha-dharmatvād dehasya cānukṣaṇa-vināśād iti bhūta-caitanya-vādinas tān nirākurvann āsato vidyate bhāva ity etad vivṛṇoti antavanta iti | antavanto vināśina ime ‚parokṣā dehā upacitāpacita-rūpatvāc charīrāṇi | bahu-vacanāt sthūla-sūkṣma-kāraṇa-rūpā virāṭ-sūtrāvyākṛtākhyāḥ samaṣṭi-vyaṣṭy-ātmanaḥ sarve nityasyāvināśina eva śarīriṇa ādhyāsika-sambandhena śarīravataekasyātmanaḥ sva-prakāśa-sphuraṇa-rūpasya sambandhino dṛśyatvena bhogyatvena coktāḥ śrutibhir brahma-vādibhiś ca | tathā ca taittirīyake ‚nnamayādyānandamayānantān pañca kośān kalpayitvā tad-adhiṣṭhānam akalpitaṃ brahma pucchaṃ pratiṣṭhā [TaittU 2.5] iti darśitam | tatra pañcīkṛta-pañca-mahābhūta-tat-kāryātmako virāṇ-mūrta-rāśir anna-maya-kośaḥ sthūla-samaṣṭiḥ | tat-kāraṇī-bhūto ‚pañcīkṛta-pañca-mahā-bhūta-tat-kāryātmako hiraṇyagarbhaḥ sūtram amūrta-rāśiḥ sūkṣma-samaṣṭiḥ trayaṃ vā idaṃ nāma rūpaṃ karma [BAU 1.6.1] iti bṛhad-āraṇyakokta-try-annātmakaḥ sarva-karmātmakatvena kriyā-śakti-mātram ādāya prāṇa-maya-kośa uktaḥ | nāmātmakatvena jñāna-śakti-mātram ādāyamanomaya-kośa uktaḥ | rūpātmakatvena tad-ubhayāśrayatayā kartṛtvam ādāya vijñāna-maya-kośa uktaḥ | tataḥ prāṇa-maya-mano-maya-vijñāna-mayātmaika eva hiraṇyagarbhākhyo liṅga-śarīra-kośaḥ | tat-kāraṇībhūtas tu māyopahita-caitanyātmā sarva-saṃskāra-śeṣo ‚vyākṛtākhya ānanda-maya-kośaḥ | te ca sarva ekasyaivātmanaḥ śarīrāṇīty uktam | tasyaiṣa eva śārīra ātmā yaḥ pūrvasya [TaittU 2.3.4] iti | tasya prāṇa-mayasyaiṣa eva śarīre bhavaḥ śārīra ātmā yaḥ satya-jñānādi-lakṣaṇo guhā-nihitatvenoktaḥ pūrvasyānna-mayasya | evaṃ prāṇa-maya-mano-maya-vijñāna-mayānanda-mayeṣu yojyam |
athaveme sarve dehās trailokya-varti-sarva-prāṇi-sambandhina ekasyaivātmana uktā iti yojanā | tathā ca śrutiḥ –
eko devaḥ sarva-bhūteṣu gūḍhaḥ
sarva-vyāpī sarva-bhūtāntarātmā |
karmādhyakṣaḥ sarva-bhūtādhivāsaḥ
sākṣī ceto kevalo nirguṇaś ca || [ŚvetU 6.11]
iti sarva-śarīra-sambandhinam ekam ātmānaṃ nityaṃ vibhuṃ darśayati |
nanu nityatvaṃ yāvat-kāla-sthāyitvaṃ tathā cāvidyādivat kālena saha nāśe ‚pi tad-upapannam ity ata āha anāśina iti | deśataḥ kālato vastutaś caparicchinasyāvidyādeḥ kalpitatvenānityatve ‚pi yāvat-kāla-sthāyi-svarūpam aupacārikaṃ nityatvaṃ vyavahriyate yāvad-vikāraṃ tu vibhāgo lokavat [Vs 2.3.7] iti nyāyāt | ātmanas tu pariccheda-traya-śūnyasyākalpitasya vināśa-hetv-abhāvān mukhyam eva kūṭastha-nityatvaṃ na tu pariṇāmi-nityatvaṃ yāvat-kāla-sthāyitvaṃ cety abhiprāyaḥ |
nanv etādṛśe dehini kiṃcit pramāṇam avaśyaṃ vācyam anyathā niṣpramāṇasya tasyālīkatvāpatteḥ śāstrārambha-vaiyarthyāpatteś ca | tathā ca vastu-paricchedo duṣpariharaḥ śāstra-yonitvāt [Vs 1.1.3] iti nyāyāc ca | ata āha aprameyasyeti | ekadhaivānudraṣṭavyam etad apramayaṃ dhruvam [BAU 4.7.2] apramayam aprameyam |
na tatra sūryo bhāti na candra-tārakaṃ
nemā vidyuto bhānti kuto ‚yam agniḥ | [KaṭhU 5.15]
tam eva bhāntam anubhāti sarvaṃ
tasya bhāsā sarvam idaṃ vibhāti [ṃuṇḍU 2.2.10]
iti ca śruteḥ sva-prakāśa-caitanya-rūpa evātmātas tasya sarva-bhāsakasya svabhānārthaṃ na svabhāsyāpekṣā, kintu kalpitājñāna-tat-kārya-nivṛtty-arthaṃ kalpita-vṛtti-viśeṣāpekṣā | kalpitasyaiva kalpita-virodhitvāt | yakṣānurūpo baliḥ iti nyāyāt | tathā ca sarva-kalpita-nivartaka-vṛtti-viśeṣotpatty-arthaṃ śāstrārambhaḥ, tasya tattvam asy ādi-vākya-mātrādhīnatvāt | svataḥ sarvadābhāsamānatvāt sarva-kalpanādhiṣṭhānatvād dṛśyamātra-bhāsakatvāc ca na tasya tucchatvāpattiḥ | tathā caikam evādvitīyaṃ satyaṃ jñānam anantaṃ brahmety ādi-śāstram eva sva-prameyānurodhena svasyāpi kalpitatvam āpādayati anyathā sva-prāmāṇyānupapatteḥ |
kalpitasya cākalpita-paricchedakatvaṃ nāstīti prāk-pratipāditam | ātmanaḥ svaprakāśatvaṃ ca yuktito ‚pi bhagavat-pūjyapādair upapāditam | tathā hi – yatra jijñāsoḥ saṃśaya-viparyaya-vyatireka-pramāṇānām anyatamam api nāsti tatra tad-virodhi jñānam iti sarvatra dṛṣṭam | anyathā tritayānyatamāpatteḥ | ātmani cāhaṃ vā nāhaṃ veti na kasyacit saṃśayaḥ | nāpi nāham iti viparyayo vyatirekaḥ pramā veti tat-svarūpa-pramā sarvadāstīti vācyaṃ tasya sarva-saṃśaya-viparyaya-dharmitvāt | dharmyaśe sarvam abhrāntaṃ prakāre tu viparyayaḥ iti nyāyāt | ata evoktam –
pramāṇam apramāṇaṃ ca pramābhāsas tathaiva ca |
kurvanty eva pramāṃ yatra tad-asambhāvanā kutaḥ || [Bṛhad-vāmanaP 1.4.874]
pramābhāsaḥ saṃśayaḥ | sva-prakāśe sad-rūpe dharmiṇi pramāṇāpramāṇayor viśeṣo nāstīty arthaḥ | ātmano ‚bhāsamānatve ca ghaṭa-jñānaṃ mayi jātaṃ na vety ādi-saṃśayaḥ syāt | na cāntara-padārthe viṣayasyaiva saṃśayādi-pratibandhakatva-svabhāvaḥ | bāhya-padārthe k ptena virodhi-jñānenaiva saṃśayādi-pratibandha-saṃbhava āntara-padārthe svabhāva-bheda-kalpanāyā anaucityāt | anyathā sarva-viplavāpatteḥ | ātma-mano-yoga-mātraṃ cātma-sākṣātkāre hetuḥ | yasya ca jñāna-mātre hetutvād ghaṭādi-bhāne ‚py ātma-bhānaṃ samūhālambana-nyāyena tārkikāṇāṃ pravareṇāpi durnivāraṃ | na ca cākṣuṣatva-māna-sattvādi-saṅkaraḥ | laukikatvālaukikatvavad aṃśa-bhedenopapatteḥ | saṅkarasyādoṣatvāc cākṣuṣatvāder jātitvānabhyupagamād vā | vyavasāyamātra evātmabhāna-sāmagryā vidyamānatvād anuvyavasāyo ‚py apāstaḥ | na ca vyavasāya-bhānārthaṃ sa tasya dīpavat sva-vyavahāre sajātīyānapekṣatvāt | na hi ghaṭa-taj-jñānayor iva vyavasāyānuvyavasāyayor api viṣayatva-viṣayitva-vyavasthāpakaṃ vaijātyam asti vyakti-bhedātirikta-vaidharmyānabhyupagamāt | viṣayatvāvacchedaka-rūpeṇaiva viṣayitvābhyupagame ghaṭa-taj-jñānayor api tad-bhāvāpattir aviśeṣāt |
nanu yathā ghaṭa-vyavahārārthaṃ ghaṭa-jñānam abhyupeyate tathā ghaṭa-jñāna-vyavahārārthaṃ ghaṭa-jñāna-viṣayaṃ jñānam abhyupeyaṃ vyavahārāsya vyavahartavya-jñāna-sādhyatvād iti cet | kānupapattir udbhāvitā devānāṃ-priyeṇa sva-prakāśa-vādinaḥ | nahi vyavahartavya-bhinnatvam api jñāna-viśeṣaṇaṃ vyavahāra-hetutāvacchedakaṃ gauravāt | tathā ceśvara-jñānavadyogi-jñānavat prameyam iti jñānavac ca svenaiva sva-vyavahāropapattau na jñānāntara-kalpanāvakāśaḥ | anuvyavasāyasyāpi ghaṭa-jñāna-vyavahāra-hetutvaṃ kiṃ ghaṭa-jñāna-jñānatvena kiṃ vā ghaṭa-jñānatvenaiveti vivecanīyam | ubhayasyāpi tatra sattvāt | tatra ghaṭa-vyavahāre ghaṭa-jñānatvenaiva hetutāyāḥ k ptatvāt tenaiva rūpeṇa ghata-jñāna-vyavahāre,pi hetutopapattau na ghaṭa-jñāna-jñānatvaṃ hetutāvacchedakaṃ gauravān mānābhāvāc ca | tathā ca nānuvyavasāya-siddhir ekasyaiva vyavasāyasya vayvasātari vyavaseye vyavasāye ca vyavahāra-janakatvopapatter iti tripuṭī-pratyakṣa-vādinaḥ prābhākarāḥ |
aupaniṣadāstu manyante sva-prakāśa-jñāna-rūpa evātmā na svaprakāśa-jñānāśrayaḥ kartṛ-karma-virodhena tad-bhānānupapatteḥ | jñāna-bhinnatve ghaṭādivaj-jaḍatvena kalpitatvāpatteś ca | svaprakāśa-jñāna-mātra-svarūpo ‚py ātmāvidyopahitaḥ san sākṣīty ucyate | vṛtti-mad-antaḥkaraṇopahitaḥ pramātety ucyate | tasya cakṣur-ādīni karaṇāni | sa cakṣur-ādi-dvārāntaḥ-karaṇa-pariṇāmena ghaṭādīn vyāpya tad-ākāro bhavati | tato ghaṭāvacchinna-caitanyaṃ pramātra-bhedāt svājñānaṃ nāśayad aparokṣaṃ bhavati | ghaṭaṃ ca svāvacchedakaṃ sva-tādātmyādhyāsād bhāsayati | antaḥ-karaṇa-pariṇāmaś ca vṛttyākhyo ’tisvacchaḥ svāvacchinnenaiva caitanyena bhāsyata ity antaḥ-karaṇa-tad-vṛtti-ghaṭānām aparokṣatā | tad etad ākāra-trayam ahaṃ jānāmi ghaṭam iti | bhāsaka-caitanyasyaika-rūpatve ‚pi ghaṭaṃ prati vṛtty-apekṣatvāt pramātṛtā | antaḥkaraṇa-tad-vṛttīḥ prati tu vṛtty-anapekṣatvāt sākṣiteti vivekaḥ | advaita-siddhau siddhānta-bindau ca vistaraḥ |
yasmād evaṃ prāg-ukta-nyāyena ntiyo vibhur asaṃsārī sarvadaika-rūpaś cātmā tasmāt tan-nāśa-śaṅkayā svadharme yuddhe prāk-pravṛttasya tava tasmād uparatir na yukteti yuddhābhyanujñayā bhagavān āha – tasmād yudhyasva bhārateti | arjunasya svadharme yuddhe pravṛttasya tata uparati-kāraṇaṃ śoka-mohau | tau ca vicāra-janitena vijñānena vādhitāv ity apavādāpavāda utsargasya sthitir iti nyāyena yudhyasvety anuvādo na vidhiḥ | yathā kartṛ-karmaṇoḥ kṛti [Pāṇ 2.3.65] ity utsargaḥ | ubhaya-prāptau karmaṇi [Pāṇ 2.3.66] ity apavādaḥ | akākārayoḥ strī-pratyayayoḥ prayoge neti vaktavyam iti tad-apavādaḥ | tathā ca mumukṣor brahmaṇor jijñāsety atrāpavādāpavāde punar utsarga-sthiteḥ kartṛ-karmaṇoḥ kṛtīty anenaiva ṣaṣṭhī | tathā ca karmaṇi ceti niṣedhā-prasārād brahma-jijñāseti karma-ṣaṣṭhī-samāsaḥ siddho bhavati | kaścit tv etasmād eva vidher mokṣe jñāna-karmaṇoḥ samuccaya iti pralapati | tac ca yudhyasvety ato mokṣasya jñāna-karma-samuccaya-sādhyatvāpratīteḥ | vistareṇa caitad agre bhagavad-gītā-vacana-virodhenaiva nirākariṣyāmaḥ

Viśvanātha

nāsato vidyate bhāvaḥ ity asyārthaṃ spaṣṭayati antavanta iti | śarīriṇo jīvasyāprameyasyāti-sūkṣmatvād durjñeyasya | tasmād yudhyasva iti śāstra-vihitasya svadharmasya tyāgo ‚nucita iti bhāvaḥ

Baladeva

antavanto vināśi-svabhāvāḥ, śarīriṇo jīvātmanaḥ | aprameyasyātisūkṣmatvād vijñāna-vijñātṛ-svarūpatvāc ca pramātum aśakyasyety arthaḥ | tathā cedṛśa-svabhāvatvāj jīva-tad-dehau na śoka-sthānam iti jīvātmano deho dharmānuṣṭānuṣṭhāna-dvārā tasya bhogāya mokṣāya ca pareśena sṛjyate | sa ca sa ca dharmeṇa bhavet tasmād yudhyasva bhārata

translations

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