Beings are unmanifest in their beginning, manifest in their middle state, O Arjuna, and unmanifest again in their end. What is there to grieve about?

Swami Sivananda

O descendant of Bharata, all beings remain unmanifested in the beginning; they become manifested in the middle. After death, they certainly become unmanifested. What lamentation can there be for them?

Swami Gambirananda

Follows the commentary of Shankara (Advaita).

O Arjuna, beings have an unknown beginning, a known middle, and an unknown end. What is there to grieve about in all this?

Swami Adidevananda

Follows the commentary of Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita).

O descendant of Bharata! The beings have an unmanifest beginning, a manifest middle, and an unmanifest end. Therefore, why mourn?

Dr. S. Sankaranarayan

Follows the commentary of Abhinavagupta (Kashmir Shaivism).

The end and beginning of beings are unknown; we only see the intervening formations. So, what is there to grieve about?

Shri Purohit Swami

हे भारत ! सभी प्राणी जन्मसे पहले अप्रकट थे और मरनेके बाद अप्रकट हो जायँगे, केवल बीचमें ही प्रकट दीखते हैं। अतः इसमें शोक करनेकी बात ही क्या है?

Swami Ramsukhdas

हे भारत ! समस्त प्राणी जन्म से पूर्व और मृत्यु के बाद अव्यक्त अवस्था में रहते हैं और बीच में व्यक्त होते हैं। फिर उसमें चिन्ता या शोक की क्या बात है ?

Swami Tejomayananda