Verse 22: Vasamsi Jirnani: Clothes become old and weak and people of the world abandon them and take up new – very new clothes. In the same way people give up their old bodies and collect new bodies. The Atma, like the Purusha, is free from modifications.

How is it that there is no modification? It is said: Verse 23: This being in the body cannot be sliced by weapons. Since it is free from parts, the limbs cannot be separated by weapons like the one’s that can be thrown.

In the same way, fire cannot burn this being. Fire too cannot turn it into ashes. In the same way, water cannot wet this being. Water has the power to separate objects that have parts to it by wetting it. Since the Self is without parts, it is not possible for that to be done.

In the same way, air can dry up an object when the sticky binding factor is removed. In that manner, even air cannot dry up the Self.

Verse 24: As the objects which are capable of mutual description cannot destroy this Atman, it is therefore Nitya – eternal.  Since it is Nitya, it is present everywhere. Since it is present everywhere, it is steady like a pillar. Since it is steady this Atma is unmoving. Therefore it is ancient, existing for a long time. It is not born out of any cause newly.

You must not question this shloka as a repetition. That Self which has been mentioned as eternal and actionless by the words, “Na Jayate Mriyate,” – It is neither born nor dies, therefore there is no special meaning in this Shloka? Or if there is, seems to be a repetition with some words and meanings, the reason is as follows.

Since the essence of the Self is very difficult to understand, Bhagavan Vasudeva is making use of many opportunities to establish the truth about the Self. He does so again and again because by some means he wishes that the man of the world of name and forms whose mind has been purified by selfless action may realise the Self and he may be free from this Samsara.

– Brahmacharini Sharanya Chaitanya.