The Yoga of Knowledge

Krishna's opening declaration cuts to the core: we are eternal. There was never a time when you, I, or these warriors didn't exist—and never will be. He's not talking about bodies being reborn; he's pointing to the ātman (eternal self) that never begins or ends. Notice the phrasing: 'did not exist' (not 'was not born'), 'cease to exist' (not 'die'). This distinction matters—existence itself is eternal. If the soul can't die, Arjuna's grief about killing is based on confusion. You can't destroy what's immortal.