In the previous section, Lord Krishna introduced the law of transmigration of the soul – as the embodied soul experiences childhood, youth, and old age in this body, it similarly acquires a new body at death.
Although we are spirit souls experiencing changes associated with our bodies, all our interactions tend to be expressed in terms of our bodies. Would this not cause us pain if the very framework of interactions is temporary? Krishna helps us out in this regard by giving us a practical tip.
Indeed (tu), contacts with the material sense objects (mātrā-sparśās) give rise to (dāḥ) perceptions like heat and cold (śītoṣṇa), and happiness and distress (sukha-duḥkha). They come and go (āgamāpāyino) – they are temporary (anityās). We must tolerate (titikṣasva) them (tāṁs). (BG 2.14) Indeed, tolerating an experience is easy when we know it is temporary. However, Krishna points out a much loftier goal for tolerating our experiences. A wise (dhīraṁ) person (puruṣaṁ) to whom (yaṁ) these [temporary perceptions of happiness and distress] (ete) indeed (hi) do not (na) cause pain (vyathayanty) and who is equal in distress and happiness (sama-duḥkha-sukhaṁ) is eligible (kalpate) for immortality (so ’mṛtatvāya). (BG 2.15)
