Four steps through the Bhagavad Gita for someone grieving: Krishna's words to a grieving Arjuna, the soul that is not killed, and the certainty of change.

Step 1

Bhagavad Gita 2.11

श्री भगवानुवाच अशोच्यानन्वशोचस्त्वं प्रज्ञावादांश्च भाषसे। गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः ॥

śhrī bhagavān uvācha aśhochyān-anvaśhochas-tvaṁ prajñā-vādānśh cha bhāṣhase gatāsūn-agatāsūnśh-cha nānuśhochanti paṇḍitāḥ ||

The Blessed Lord said, "You have grieved for those who should not be grieved for; yet, you speak words of wisdom. The wise grieve neither for the living nor for the dead."

In this verse Krishna speaks to Arjuna, who is grieving. He says the wise grieve neither for the living nor for the dead. Ask what you are carrying that you have not said aloud.

Step 2

Bhagavad Gita 2.12–13

न त्वेवाहं जातु नासं न त्वं नेमे जनाधिपाः। न चैव न भविष्यामः सर्वे वयमतः परम् ॥

na tvevāhaṁ jātu nāsaṁ na tvaṁ neme janādhipāḥ na chaiva na bhaviṣhyāmaḥ sarve vayamataḥ param ||

Nor, at any time, was I not, nor thou, nor these rulers of men; nor, verily, shall we ever cease to be hereafter.

देहिनोऽस्मिन्यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा। तथा देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्धीरस्तत्र न मुह्यति ॥

dehino ’smin yathā dehe kaumāraṁ yauvanaṁ jarā tathā dehāntara-prāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati ||

Just as the embodied soul passes through childhood, youth, and old age in this body, so too does it pass into another body; the steadfast one does not grieve over this.

Krishna says neither he, nor Arjuna, nor these rulers ever ceased to be, and that the embodied soul passes through childhood, youth and old age, then into another body. Ask how this lands for you, and what you want to ask about it.

Step 3

Bhagavad Gita 2.20

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचि न्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः। अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे ॥

na jāyate mriyate vā kadāchin nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ ajo nityaḥ śhāśhvato ’yaṁ purāṇo na hanyate hanyamāne śharīre ||

It is not born, nor does it ever die; after having been, it again does not cease to be; unborn, eternal, changeless, and ancient, it is not killed when the body is killed.

The soul is not born and does not die; it is not killed when the body is killed. Ask what part of your loss this speaks to, and what part it does not.

Step 4

Bhagavad Gita 2.27

जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च। तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि ॥

jātasya hi dhruvo mṛityur dhruvaṁ janma mṛitasya cha tasmād aparihārye ’rthe na tvaṁ śhochitum arhasi ||

For the born, death is certain, and for the dead, birth is certain; therefore, you should not grieve over the inevitable.

For the born, death is certain, and for the dead, birth is certain. Krishna says one should not grieve over the inevitable. Ask whether this verse comforts you today or feels too soon. Either answer is honest.