Few concepts are as foundational to Krishna’s Gita teachings as the soul. Many religions use the word ‘soul’ primarily in a non-literal sense: as a metaphorical reference to one’s non-material essence. However, Krishna uses it primarily in the literal sense: the soul is a concrete being, an indestructible spark of consciousness, an eternal part of the Divine.
Intriguingly, Krishna sometimes uses the soul non-literally, as, for example, in the sixteenth chapter: pandering to lust, anger and greed kills the soul (16.21: nashanam atmanah). Given that the soul is indestructible (02.17), what does killing the soul mean? This non-literal usage refers to the killing of the awareness of the soul and even the inclination to become aware of the soul — the ungodly kill their souls when they let their consciousness be consumed by lust, anger and greed. Krishna’s usage echoes the Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.20.17) and Ishopanishad (3), both of which talk about atma-ha, killers of the soul.
Such soul-killers will live in spiritual blindness for many lifetimes, going through the consequences of their actions. And if they are in powerful positions in the world, they will tempt or threaten many others into similar soul-killing ignorance.
Krishna wants to protect the world from such people and even protect such people — like Duryodhana — from destroying their souls. Frequently, the only way to stop them from their soul-killing actions is to strip them of the powerful positions that have brazenly emboldened them. Since many of them — like Duryodhana — won’t give up their position voluntarily as long as they are alive, they may need to be removed forcibly by being killed. Though death will be painful for them, it will be far less painful than the karmic consequences they will incur over many lifetimes if they continue their soul-killing spree in their present lifetime. Moreover, being deprived of the positions that made them arrogant, they are more likely in their next life to act less unwisely.
One-sentence summary:
Krishna’s non-literal usage of killing the soul underscores the grave plight and the grim destination of the ungodly.
Think it over:
- How is Krishna’s usage of the word ‘soul’ different from that of many religions?
- What does ‘killing the soul’ mean?
- In the Gita’s sixteenth chapter, why does Krishna use the word ‘soul’ non-literally?
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16.21: There are three gates leading to this hell – lust, anger and greed. Every sane man should give these up, for they lead to the degradation of the soul.
To know more about this verse, please click on the image
Srila Prabhupada has translated nashanam as “destructive”(tending to destroy..but not actually get distroyed), and his translataion likewise says “degradation” of the soul which is in keeping with the Krsna’s statements about the soul’s indestructible eternal state always.
Good observation, dear Deeena ji. ‘Nasha’ literally means ‘destruction’; the BBT Gita synonyms and translations of ‘nasha’ seem to be non-literal.
Moreover, Krishna’s non-literal usage in ‘nashanam atmanah’ has many parallels, as in Bhagavatam 11.20.17 and Ishopanishad 3, both of which talk about ‘atma-ha’, killers of the soul.
Keeping your comment in mind, I have added a sentence about the parallels in the article itself, Thank you for your help in improving it.
LUST is the main gate to ills.