Geethartha Chinthane 105: Shoka and Dukha are not same

As long as a person is alive, there is always a sense of hope. When life ends, and there’s no possibility of return, grief surges. Death signifies the departure of the Mukhya Prana. Other bodily functions failing doesn’t constitute death. The cessation of the Mukhya Prana alone defines it.

The five vital forces—Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana, and Samana—must leave for death to occur. Because of their collective significance, the term Mukhya Prana Deva is often used in the plural form. Scholars or enlightened beings do not grieve when they witness death because they recognize it as an inevitable event for all. The universal nature of death eliminates personal sorrow.

This understanding can also be seen in situations of humiliation, where people often unite against injustice, revealing profound truths about human nature. Sri Krishna draws parallels to the teachings of the Kathopanishad here, emphasizing that suffering is universal. Sorrow arises only when one perceives hardship as unique to themselves.

There is a difference between Shoka (lamentation/sorrow) and Dukha (grief). Shoka refers to an immediate, momentary surge of emotion, triggered by remembrance or realization. Dukha, on the other hand, is a singular experience that comes and passes. For instance, the phrase Putra Shokam Nirantaram (constant lamentation for one’s child) uses Shoka, not Dukha, to express ongoing emotional anguish.

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