It is impossible to change life and death, which are unavoidable, only with sadness.
It is said that what is born will certainly die, and what has died will certainly be reborn. However, this does not conclude that the soul actually comes into being and dies. This argument proceeds from the previous section, temporarily assuming a position that believes in the life and death of the soul.
From that perspective as well, life and death are an unavoidable flow. We cannot stop or change something inevitable with sadness. This is a supplementary explanation from the original standpoint that the soul is immortal, and also from the hypothetical standpoint of repeatedly experiencing life and death: continuing to lament will not lead to a solution.
Japanese Translation from the Geeta Press Edition - Chapter 2, Section 27: "That which is born is certain to die."
Sanskrit original text
जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च ।
तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि ॥ २७ ॥Romanization
jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyur dhruvaṃ janma mṛtasya ca |
tasmād aparihārye 'rthe na tvaṃ śocitum arhasi || 27 ||Because, in that case, what is born will certainly die, and what dies cannot avoid being reborn. Therefore, you should not grieve about things that are unavoidable. (27)
In this section, the invariable word "Hi" is used to indicate a cause. This sentence follows the idea of the previous sentence and emphasizes the same conclusion again through strong arguments.
Here, the speaker is not stating actual truth. The speaker is simply summarizing the viewpoint of ignorant people who believe that souls are constantly born and constantly die. According to this school of thought, all beings subject to death will be reborn again. This is because this school does not believe in liberation.
In a true teaching that supports the concept of liberation, the soul is not considered to be subject to birth and death. Birth and death are only conceivable within ignorance.
The word "Tasmāt" also indicates a cause. Furthermore, by using the expression "about things that cannot be avoided," it suggests that, according to this viewpoint, one cannot escape birth and death, nor can they alter or deviate from the sequence of events. Therefore, being sad about it is futile.
From this perspective, it was inappropriate for Arjuna to be overwhelmed by grief.