With the stage perfectly set, Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, now speaks the first verse of the Bhagavad Gita’s actual philosophy. He begins not by directly answering Arjuna’s arguments, but by going to the very root of the problem: the nature of Arjuna’s grief itself. The Sri Bhagavan Uvaca Asocyan Anvasocas Tvam Prajna-vadams Ca Bhasase verse is a gentle but firm diagnosis of Arjuna’s spiritual ignorance, establishing the foundational principle upon which all subsequent knowledge will be built.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच
अशोच्यानन्वशोचस्त्वं प्रज्ञावादांश्च भाषसे ।
गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः ॥ ११ ॥Transliteration
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ prajñā-vādāṁś ca bhāṣase
gatāsūn agatāsūṁś ca nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥWord for Word Translation
śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; aśocyān — those not worthy of grief; anvaśocaḥ — you are lamenting; tvam — you; prajñā-vādān — words of wisdom; ca — also; bhāṣase — you are speaking; gata-asūn — for the living; agata-asūn — for the dead; ca — and; na anuśocanti — do not lament; paṇḍitāḥ — the wise.
English Translation
The Supreme Lord said: While speaking learned words, you are mourning for what is not worthy of grief. The wise lament neither for the living nor for the dead.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
Krishna’s opening salvo is brilliant and disarming. He points out a fundamental contradiction in Arjuna’s behavior, separating his words from his actions.
- Prajñā-vādāṁś ca bhāṣase: “You are speaking words of wisdom.” Krishna acknowledges that Arjuna’s arguments were sophisticated. He spoke of sin, family duty, social order, and compassion. These are all valid points from a worldly, intellectual perspective. In this, Krishna validates Arjuna’s intelligence and sincerity.
- Aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ: “But you are lamenting for what is not worthy of grief.” This is the core of the diagnosis. Krishna states that the entire foundation of Arjuna’s sorrow is based on a misunderstanding. The objects of his grief—the impending deaths of his kinsmen and the destruction of their bodies—are not, from an ultimate perspective, things to be mourned. This statement directly challenges the material conception of life and death.
- Nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ: “The wise do not lament.” Krishna introduces the standard of a `paṇḍita`, a truly wise person. A pandit is not merely someone who can speak learned words, but someone whose vision is clear. Such a person does not lament for the body, whether it is living or dead, because they know the body is temporary and distinct from the true self. This sets up the Gita’s first great topic: the distinction between the body and the soul.
With this statement, Krishna reframes the entire problem. He is telling Arjuna, “You sound like a scholar, but you are acting out of ignorance.” The problem is not with Arjuna’s compassion, but with the object of his compassion. He is grieving for the temporary flesh, a fundamental error for one who is supposed to uphold the principles of Dharma.
Conclusion
This first verse of instruction is the seed of all the wisdom to follow. It establishes a clear distinction between worldly intelligence (speaking `prajñā-vādān`) and true spiritual wisdom (the vision of a `paṇḍita`). Krishna gently informs Arjuna that his pain, though deeply felt, is rooted in an illusion. He has mistaken the temporary, perishable body for the eternal, imperishable self. Before any solution can be given, the patient must first understand the true nature of his disease. This verse provides that initial, crucial diagnosis.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 – Verse 12 – Na Tv Evaham Jatu Nasam
