43. Bonds of Birth and Death
K rishna says that the wise use their balanced intellect and renounce the fruits of action to reach a state beyond polarities and get liberated from the bonds of birth and death (2.51). At first glance, this verse seems to contradict our understanding that we undergo birth and death. This assumption arises from observing the birth and death of physical life forms around us. Therefore, the verse must be understood in its proper context. For a long time, humanity believed that the Sun rotates around a stationary Earth. Subsequently, it was discovered that it is the Earth which is rotating around the Sun. Finally, our understanding aligned with the existential truth. This implies that it was a misinterpretation of truth arising from the illusion caused by the limitations of our senses. Same is the case with our illusion about birth and death. Krishna starts the Gita by explaining about ‘ dehi’ (the one who lives in the body - atma ) which pervades all and is unborn, etern...