Death is one of life’s greatest mysteries. The Bhagavad Gita, a timeless scripture revealed by Lord Krishna to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, provides profound insights into life after death. Far from being the end, death is described as a transition, a gateway to the next phase of our soul’s eternal journey. This teaching is further illuminated by stories from the Mahabharat and the Puranas, which bring the Gita’s philosophical truths to life.
1. The Soul is Eternal — Only the Body Dies
Bhagavad Gita Verse:
“na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ ajo nityaḥ śāśvato ’yaṁ purāṇo na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre”
(Bhagavad Gita 2.20)
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Translation:
The soul is never born and never dies. It is eternal and indestructible. The soul does not perish when the body perishes.
Story from the Mahabharat: The Death of Abhimanyu
After the brutal and unjust slaying of Abhimanyu in the Chakravyuha on the 13th day of the Mahabharata war, Arjuna was devastated. He had lost not only a son but also a brave warrior, his pride, and a shining hope for the future. Though Lord Krishna had taught Arjuna about the immortality of the soul during the beginning of the war, the overwhelming grief of a father still pierced his heart.
Overcome by sorrow, Arjuna fell at Krishna’s feet and made an impossible request:
“O Madhava, please bring Abhimanyu back to me. Just once. Let me see him. Let me hear his voice again. I beg you.”
Moved by Arjuna’s pain, and knowing that this moment would serve as a spiritual turning point, Lord Krishna agreed. By His divine power, He summoned the soul of Abhimanyu from the higher celestial realms. In a glowing, radiant form, Abhimanyu appeared before his grieving father, surrounded by divine light.
But what followed was not the reunion Arjuna had expected.
The Soul Speaks: "You Are Not My Father"
As Abhimanyu appeared, Arjuna wept and rushed to embrace him. But the soul of Abhimanyu, now free from bodily attachments, stood still and spoke words that startled everyone:
“O Arjuna, why do you lament for this body that has perished? I am not your son, nor are you my father. In many lifetimes, you have been my son, and I have been yours. These bodily relations are fleeting. You grieve for that which never belonged to you in the first place.”
Abhimanyu’s soul reminded Arjuna of the eternal truth that Krishna had revealed earlier in the Gita:
“The wise lament neither for the living nor for the dead.”
— Bhagavad Gita 2.11
He explained that he was a soul, not the body of Abhimanyu. His temporary role as Arjuna’s son was part of the karmic play (leela) in this life, but the eternal self is beyond such identifications.
Lesson:
We are not the body, but the eternal soul. Just as we change clothes, the soul changes bodies. Grief at the passing of a loved one should be softened with the knowledge that the soul lives on, untouched by death.
2. The Soul Migrates to Another Body
Bhagavad Gita Verse Reference:
“vāsāṁsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya navāni gṛhṇāti naro ’parāṇi tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇāny anyāni saṁyāti navāni dehī”
(Bhagavad Gita 2.22)
Read the verse
Translation:
As a person discards worn-out clothes and puts on new ones, the soul discards old bodies and takes on new ones.
The Story of King Jalandhara’s Death and Rebirth:
The concept of the soul’s migration to another body is a crucial teaching in the Bhagavad Gita, where Lord Krishna explains that the soul is eternal, imperishable, and ever-moving, passing from one body to another as part of its ongoing journey. This transition happens based on the soul's actions, desires, and attachments accumulated over previous lifetimes. A powerful example of this principle is found in the story of King Jalandhara, who was killed by Lord Shiva and then reborn in another form due to his actions and devotion.
King Jalandhara was born as the son of Varuna, the ocean god, and Vrihati, the wife of the sage Bhrigu. He became a powerful and mighty king, but he was also proud and arrogant. Jalandhara opposed the gods, and even Lord Shiva, which eventually led to his downfall. Despite his immense strength, Jalandhara's pride and his enmity with the gods caused great suffering in the heavenly realms.
Ultimately, Lord Shiva, after being provoked by Jalandhara, killed him in battle. However, his soul did not disappear. According to the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, death is not the end of the soul but a transition to another form. Even though Jalandhara’s physical body was destroyed, his soul migrated to a new form and was reincarnated in a higher state due to the divine impressions left by his devotion to Lord Shiva.
Despite Jalandhara's negative actions as a demon king, he had, in his earlier years, performed penances and shown devotion to Lord Shiva. This devotion, though overshadowed by his pride and arrogance, played a crucial role in his rebirth. Lord Shiva, recognizing the purity of Jalandhara’s devotion, allowed his soul to take birth again as a Vidyadhara, a divine being in the heavenly realm, with greater wisdom and spiritual potential.
The Soul’s Migration: Bhagavad Gita Perspective
The story of Jalandhara vividly demonstrates the core teaching of the Bhagavad Gita that the soul is eternal and cannot be destroyed. In fact, the soul migrates from one body to another according to its actions (karma), desires, and spiritual inclinations.
Lord Krishna speaks about this process in the Bhagavad Gita:
“dehino ‘smin yathā dehe kaumāraṁ yauvanam jarā tathā dehāntara-prāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati”
— Bhagavad Gita 2.13
“Just as the boyhood, youth, and old age come to the embodied Soul in this body, in the same manner, the attaining of another body is due to the soul's migration.”
The soul does not cease to exist when the body dies. It simply leaves the physical body and moves to another, based on the desires, actions, and spiritual progress the soul has accumulated. In Jalandhara’s case, even though his body was destroyed due to his pride and arrogance, his soul migrated to another higher form because of his devotion to Lord Shiva, which ultimately purified him.
3. Death is Not the End — It Is a New Beginning
Bhagavad Gita Verse Reference:
“jātasya hi dhruvo mṛityur dhruvaṁ janma mṛitasya ca”
(Bhagavad Gita 2.27)
Read the verse
Translation:
For one who has taken birth, death is certain, and for one who has died, rebirth is inevitable.
Story from the Mahabharat: The Yaksha Prashna
When Yudhishthir was questioned by the Yaksha about the greatest wonder, he replied, "Every day, people die, yet those who live think they will live forever." This highlights the illusion we live under and the importance of preparing for death through self-realization.
Lesson:
Understanding the certainty of death helps us live purposefully and spiritually. Preparation for death through dharma leads to higher rebirth or even liberation.
4. The Next Birth is Determined by One’s State of Mind at Death
Bhagavad Gita Verse Reference:
“anta-kāle ca mām eva smaran muktvā kalevaram yaḥ prayāti sa mad-bhāvaṁ yāti nāsty atra saṁśayaḥ”
(Bhagavad Gita 8.5)
Read the verse
Translation:
Whoever at the end of life remembers Me alone attains My nature. There is no doubt about this.
The story of King Bharata, as recounted in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, offers a profound lesson on the influence of one's state of mind at the time of death and the perils of misplaced attachment.
King Bharata's Renunciation and Spiritual Pursuit
King Bharata, after whom the land of Bhārata (India) is named, was a monarch who, upon fulfilling his worldly responsibilities, renounced his kingdom to lead a life devoted to spiritual practice. He immersed himself in the worship of Lord Vāsudeva (Krishna), residing in a secluded hermitage and engaging in deep meditation and ascetic practices.
The Emergence of Attachment
One day, while performing his rituals by the river, Bharata witnessed a pregnant deer give birth and then die, leaving behind a helpless fawn. Moved by compassion, he rescued the orphaned deer and brought it to his hermitage. Over time, his affection for the deer grew, and he became increasingly preoccupied with its well-being, gradually diverting his focus from his spiritual disciplines. His attachment deepened to the extent that he constantly worried about the deer's safety, even during his meditative practices.
The Consequence at Death
At the time of his death, Bharata's thoughts were consumed by concern for the deer. According to the Bhagavad Gītā (8.6):PrabhupadaBooks.com+2vedabase.net+2PrabhupadaBooks.com+2
"Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail."vedabase.net+1PrabhupadaBooks.com+1
Consequently, Bharata was reborn as a deer. However, due to his prior spiritual attainments, he retained the memory of his past life—a rare occurrence. Filled with remorse for his deviation, the deer (Bharata) distanced itself from worldly distractions and returned to a hermitage, leading a solitary life focused on spiritual contemplation.PrabhupadaBooks.com+1vedabase.net+1
Rebirth as Jada Bharata
After the deer's death, Bharata was reborn as a human in a Brahmin family. Determined to avoid past mistakes, he lived as "Jada Bharata," feigning ignorance and madness to evade societal interactions and attachments. His life was marked by deep introspection and unwavering devotion, ultimately leading to liberation.
The Underlying Lesson
Bharata's journey underscores the importance of unwavering focus in spiritual practice and the potential pitfalls of attachment, even when it arises from compassion. It illustrates that the consciousness maintained at the time of death significantly influences one's next birth, emphasizing the need for vigilance in one's spiritual endeavors.
5. Destination After Death: Heaven, Hell, or Liberation
Bhagavad Gita Verse Reference:
“yānti deva-vratā devān pitṝn yānti pitṛ-vratāḥ bhūtāni yānti bhūtejyā yānti mad-yājino ’pi mām”
(Bhagavad Gita 9.25)
Read the verse
Translation:
Worshipers of demigods go to the demigods; ancestors to ancestors; ghosts to ghosts; and My devotees come to Me.
Story from the Mahabharat: The Death of Dronacharya
After being deceived into thinking his son Ashwatthama had died, Dronacharya dropped his weapons and was killed. Though a great warrior and sage, his destination after death would be decided by his attachments and spiritual efforts.
Lesson:
Our destination after death is determined by our attachments and worship. If we focus on God, we move beyond cycles of birth and death.
6. Liberation (Moksha) — Attaining Eternal Union with God
Bhagavad Gita Verse Reference:
“mām upetya punar janma duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam nāpnuvanti mahātmānaḥ saṁsiddhiṁ paramāṁ gatāḥ”
— Bhagavad Gita 8.15
Translation:
Those great souls who attain Me never take birth again in this temporary and miserable world, for they have attained the highest perfection.
Story from the Mahabharat: The Liberation of Bhishma
Bhishma Pitamah, the grand patriarch of the Kuru dynasty, was granted the boon of icchā-mṛtyu—the ability to choose the moment of his death. After the Kurukshetra war, he lay on a bed of arrows, patiently waiting for the auspicious time of Uttarayana (the northern course of the sun). When that divine moment arrived, he fixed his mind completely on Lord Krishna, who stood before him as both God and well-wisher. In total absorption and loving remembrance, Bhishma relinquished his body and attained liberation.
As Shri Kripaluji Maharaj says:
“Bhakti se bhagavān milte hain, aur bhagavān milne se mukti svataḥ prāpt ho jātī hai.”
(God is attained through devotion, and with God, liberation is automatically attained.)
Lesson: Moksha Lies in God-Realization Through Bhakti
Swami Mukundananda often emphasizes that liberation is not the ultimate goal, but rather a by-product of God-realization. The real aim of life is attaining divine love for God. When the soul unites with the Supreme through bhakti, liberation naturally follows.
“Moksha is not just freedom from the cycle of birth and death. It is freedom from ignorance, from the ego, and from forgetfulness of our divine nature. When we attain God, liberation is automatic.”
— Swami Mukundananda
This teaching aligns with the deeper message of the Gita—mere renunciation, austerity, or scriptural study cannot grant liberation unless they are infused with devotion. Only those who surrender to God with exclusive love are freed from material bondage.
“ananyāśh chintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate teṣhāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣhemaṁ vahāmyaham”
— Bhagavad Gita 9.22
“To those who are constantly devoted and who worship Me with love, I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.”
7. The Role of Karma in the Cycle of Death and Rebirth
Bhagavad Gita Verse Reference:
“karmaṇo hy api boddhavyaṁ boddhavyaṁ ca vikarmaṇaḥ akarmaṇaś ca boddhavyaṁ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ”
(Bhagavad Gita 4.17)
Read the verse
Translation:
The intricacies of action are hard to understand. Therefore, one should understand what is right action, what is wrong action, and what is inaction.
Story from the Puranas: King Dhruva
Dhruva performed intense penance to seek a higher kingdom than his step-brother. Though his motivation was material, Lord Vishnu blessed him with a divine abode. His karma of sincere devotion outweighed his initial desire.
Lesson:
Our actions (karma) determine future births. However, devotion purifies karma and can lead us to liberation, transcending the binding effects of past deeds.
8. Attachment Leads to Rebirth, Detachment Leads to Freedom
Bhagavad Gita Verse Reference:
“kāma eṣa krodha eṣa rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ mahāśano mahā-pāpmā viddhy enam iha vairiṇam”
(Bhagavad Gita 3.37)
Read the verse
Translation:
It is lust that becomes anger, born of the mode of passion. It is the all-devouring sinful enemy in this world.
Story from the Mahabharat: Karna's Attachment
Though righteous and generous, Karna remained loyal to Duryodhana out of gratitude and pride. His attachment to false prestige led him to fight against dharma, resulting in his tragic death and uncertain future.
Lesson:
Attachments cloud judgment and bind us to the cycle of rebirth. Cultivating detachment and aligning with dharma leads to inner freedom.
9. The Wise Grieve Neither for the Living Nor the Dead
Bhagavad Gita Verse Reference:
“aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ prajñā-vādāṁś ca bhāṣase gatāsūn agatāsūṁś ca nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ”
(Bhagavad Gita 2.11)
Read the verse
Translation:
You speak wise words, yet you grieve for that which is not worthy of grief. The wise grieve neither for the living nor the dead.
Story: Lord Krishna Consoles Arjuna
When Arjuna was overwhelmed by grief at the thought of killing his relatives, Krishna spoke these words to remind him of the eternal nature of the soul and the temporariness of bodily existence.
Lesson:
Grief arises from ignorance of the soul’s immortality. True wisdom sees beyond the perishable body and focuses on spiritual evolution.
10. Surrender to God Guarantees Liberation
Bhagavad Gita Verse Reference:
“sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śharaṇaṁ vraja ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucah”
(Bhagavad Gita 18.66)
Read the verse
Translation:
Abandon all varieties of dharma and simply surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.
Story: Gajendra Moksha (Bhagavatam)
The elephant king Gajendra, caught by a crocodile, surrendered to Lord Vishnu in desperation. The Lord immediately appeared and liberated him, granting him Vaikuntha.
Lesson:
Sincere surrender, even in crisis, ensures divine protection. God does not ignore a devotee who calls out in faith — He takes the soul beyond death into eternal life.
Conclusion: Embrace the Eternal Truth
The Bhagavad Gita and Mahabharat together demystify death. Far from being an end, it is a continuation of the soul’s eternal journey. Whether we move toward suffering or liberation depends on our actions, thoughts, attachments, and remembrance of God.
👉 Key Takeaways:
- The soul is eternal; the body is temporary.
- Our next birth depends on our last thoughts and karmas.
- Surrendering to God and living a dharmic life assures liberation.
- Death should not be feared but understood and spiritually prepared for.
“One who understands the truth of the soul is never bewildered by death.”
— Bhagavad Gita 2.13
FAQs:
1. What happens to the soul immediately after death according to the Bhagavad Gita?
According to the Bhagavad Gita (2.22), the soul leaves the body and takes on another, just like changing worn-out clothes. The soul is eternal and does not die with the body.
2. Does the Bhagavad Gita support the concept of heaven and hell?
Yes, the Gita mentions that based on one’s karma, the soul may go to higher or lower realms (Swarga or Naraka), but these are temporary stops before the soul is reborn on earth or attains liberation.
3. What determines our next birth after death?
Lord Krishna states in the Gita (8.6) that one’s final thoughts, desires, and karmic actions influence the next birth. The dominant thoughts at the time of death shape the future destination.
4. Is it possible to attain liberation from the cycle of birth and death?
Yes. The Bhagavad Gita emphasizes that through devotion (bhakti), detachment, and knowledge of the self and God, one can attain moksha—freedom from the cycle of reincarnation.
5. What does the Mahabharat teach us about the afterlife?
The Mahabharat reinforces the teachings of the Gita through real-life stories. Characters like Bhishma and Karna demonstrate that righteousness (dharma), intention, and devotion influence the soul’s fate after death.
Citations and References
- Bhagavad Gita Online Version (Verses and Translations):
https://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org - Swami Mukundananda – Bhagavad Gita Commentary and Teachings:
https://www.jkyog.org/bhagavad-gita
https://www.youtube.com/@SwamiMukundananda - Mahabharat Stories & Teachings (Karna, Bhishma, Yudhishthir, etc.):
- Mahabharat (Critical Edition) by Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute
- Gita Press, Gorakhpur – Mahabharat (Hindi and Sanskrit editions)
- Summary of Karna’s and Bhishma’s character arcs:
https://www.valmikiramayan.net/mahabharata
- Swami Mukundananda – Life Transformation Teachings on Karma & Death:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZLnqHhiRIk
(Video: What Happens After Death? | Swami Mukundananda)