Dealing with Death of a Loved One - Texts from Bhagwad Gita

The texts from the Bhagwad Gita are curated to help deal with the feelings of death of a loved one. The Sanskrit texts and their corresponding translations are given below.

Take time to read and understand their core meaning and message, and I hope this helps in elevating the issues with the death of a loved one.

Chapter 2 - Text 13

देहिनोस्मिन्यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा

तथा देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्धीरस्तत्र न मुह्यति

As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from childhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul Is not bewildered by such a change.

Chapter 2 - Text 20

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचि न्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः

अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे

For the soul, there is neither birth nor death. Nor, having once been, does it ever cease to be. It is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, undying, and primeval. It is not slain when the body is slain.

Chapter 2 - Text 22

वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय नवानि गृह्णाति नरोपराणि

तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देहि

As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, similarly the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.

Chapter 2 - Text 25

अव्यक्तोयमचिन्त्योयमविकार्योयमुच्यते

तस्मादेवं विदित्वैनं नानुशोचितुमर्हसि

It is said that the soul is invisible, inconceivable, immutable, and unchangeable. Knowing this, you should not grieve for the body.

Chapter 2 - Text 27

जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च

तस्मादपरिहार्येर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि

For one who has taken birth, death is certain, and for the one who is dead, birth is certain. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament.