Now why they can’t destroy the soul is described in next verse:

BG 2.24

acchedyo ‘yam adahyo ‘yam

akledyo ‘soshya eva ca

nityah sarva–gatah sthanur

acalo ‘yam sanatanah

SYNONYMS

acchedyah — unbreakable; ayam — this soul; adahyah — unable to be burned; ayam — this soul; akledyah — insoluble; asoshyah — not able to be dried; eva — certainly; ca — and; nityah — everlasting; sarva–gatah — all-pervading; sthanuh — unchangeable; acalah — immovable; ayam — this soul; sanatanah — eternally the same.

TRANSLATION

“This individual soul is unbreakable and insoluble, and can be neither burned nor dried. He is everlasting, present everywhere, unchangeable, immovable, and eternally the same.”

Verse 24 (a), (b) discusses 4 characteristics of the soul, as described in verse 24.a and 24.b which explains the 4 statements of 23. Let’s examine each of these characteristics in detail:

  1. Unbreakable and Insoluble: The soul is described as unbreakable and insoluble, implying that it cannot be destroyed or disintegrated. Just as a pill encapsulated within a capsule remains unaffected when put in water, the soul is indestructible. It is beyond the influence of any external factors that may cause harm or dissolution.
  2. Impenetrable and Inflammable: The verse states that the soul cannot be penetrated or burned. These descriptions emphasize the soul’s invulnerability to any external forces. The soul cannot be pierced by weapons (nainaṁ chindanti śastrāṇi) and cannot be consumed by fire (nainaṁ dahati pāvakaḥ). These statements highlight the soul’s imperishable nature.
  3. Cannot be Dried Away: The soul is described as incapable of being dried away. It does not wither or deteriorate under any circumstances. Just as water cannot dry or evaporate the soul, it remains unaffected by external factors that might cause drying or decay.
  4. Everlasting and Present Everywhere: The soul is eternal and omnipresent. It transcends time and space and exists eternally. It is not limited by the boundaries of a particular body or location. The statement “sarva-gatah” suggests that the soul has the capacity to go everywhere and live everywhere, rather than being present simultaneously in all places. The soul can acquire different bodies suitable for various climates and environmental conditions on different planets.

It is important to note that the description of the soul as present everywhere does not mean that the soul pervades all things. Instead, it signifies the soul’s ability to move and reside in different places according to its acquired body. This understanding aligns with the explanation provided by Srila Prabhupada, Srila Baladev Vidya Bhusan, and Srila Viswanath Chakravartipad.

Regarding the possibility of life on other planets, the passage mentions that scientists assume specific conditions such as the presence of oxygen, water, and suitable temperatures. However, it is suggested that life may exist in forms that can withstand extreme conditions, such as extremophiles or organisms capable of surviving in harsh environments. Examples of such organisms include fire bacteria and visible organisms found deep in the ocean and under the earth’s surface, consuming nitrogen dioxide and nourishing themselves from rocks. These examples challenge the simplistic assumptions about the requirements for life.

The passage raises questions about the wastefulness of creating vast expanses of space if life were to exist only on Earth. It implies that life may exist in ways that are inconceivable to us and not limited to specific conditions or locations. The understanding of the soul as unchangeable and immovable does not contradict the idea of the soul transitioning from one body to another. The immovability of the soul refers to its resistance to material influences, while its transition between bodies is guided by its own will. Lord Krishna states in the 14th Ch; “urdha gachantii satvata, madhe tisthanti rajasa..” reflects the agility of the soul to potentially travel from one level to another level of existence within the universe. The word “achala” implies soul can’t be forced to move by any material means, it only travels by its own will.

Additionally, the passage clarifies that the use of “he” when referring to the soul is a convention and does not imply a specific gender. The soul is beyond gender distinctions, although in the spiritual world, the soul’s spiritual form may manifest with a particular gender. However, these gender distinctions are purely spiritual and transcendental. For instance: In the spiritual world, the soul has a Svarupa, and in that Svarupa soul has some form; wherein there are some particular gender like Gopis (the part of divine feminine) and Gopas (the part of divine masculine) .

In summary, the passage describes the soul as an unbreakable, insoluble, and indestructible entity. It cannot be penetrated, burned, or dried away. The soul is eternal, present everywhere, and capable of transitioning between different bodies. It is unaffected by material influences and has no inherent gender.