Transcendental Knowledge · 2.22
The Soul Changes Bodies Like Garments
वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय
नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि।
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा-
न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही॥
vāsāṁsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya
navāni gṛhṇāti naro 'parāṇi
tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇāny
anyāni saṁyāti navāni dehī
Translation
As a person puts on new garments, giving up old and worn ones, similarly, the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.
Meaning
Through a vivid analogy, Krishna makes the cycle of birth and death concrete and approachable. The soul is the person; the body is the garment. We do not grieve when we change clothes — why grieve when the soul changes bodies? This verse dissolves the terror of death through a simple, powerful image.
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