Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 22
नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि ।
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा-
न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही ॥ २२ ॥
navāni gṛhṇāti naro ’parāṇi
tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇāny
anyāni saṁyāti navāni dehī
Krishna gives a simple analogy to explain the nature of bodily change. Just as a person discards worn-out clothes and accepts new ones, the embodied soul, ‘dehi’, leaves an old body and accepts another. The body changes and eventually perishes, but the soul continues to exist.
The changing body can be seen throughout life—from childhood to youth and from youth to old age. In the same way, death is another transition in which the soul moves beyond the present body. The change of the body therefore does not mean the destruction of the self.
This understanding helps Arjuna look beyond the temporary physical form and recognize the continuity of the soul. It also prepares him to understand that bodily change, including death, must be viewed differently when the eternal nature of the self is understood.
Change of body by the atomic individual soul is described as an accepted fact. The body continuously changes from childhood to boyhood, youth, and old age; after old age, the soul transfers to another body. This is compared to a person giving up old, worn-out clothes and accepting new ones.
This transference is made possible by the grace of the Supersoul. The Supersoul fulfills the desires of the individual soul like a friend. The relationship between the two is compared to two friendly birds sitting on the same tree—the individual soul experiences the fruits of the material body, while Krishna, the Supersoul, simply witnesses.
This is confirmed in the Mundaka Upanishad (3.1.2) and Shvetashvatara Upanishad (4.7):
samāne vṛkṣe puruṣo nimagno
’nīśayā śocati muhyamānaḥ
juṣṭaṁ yadā paśyaty anyam īśam
asya mahimānam iti vīta-śokaḥ
The individual soul and the Supersoul are qualitatively spiritual, but their positions are different: Krishna is the master and the individual soul is the servant. Forgetfulness of this relationship causes the soul to continue changing bodies. When the individual soul turns towards Krishna and voluntarily accepts Him as the supreme spiritual master, it can become free from lamentation and anxiety. Arjuna himself has now turned towards Krishna and is receiving the Bhagavad-gita from Him.
Thus, Arjuna is advised not to lament over the bodily change of Bhishma and Drona. The body is temporary and can be replaced, while the atomic individual soul continues its existence.
This verse offers a useful distinction between changing forms and enduring institutional purpose. In administration, officers, policies, organisational structures, and institutional arrangements may change, but the public purpose and core responsibilities of an institution should remain continuous.
A responsible administrator should therefore avoid excessive attachment to a particular position, person, or arrangement and focus instead on preserving institutional continuity, public interest, and the duty entrusted to the office.