Kṛṣṇa gives the classic analogy of changing clothes to explain the process of reincarnation. Just as a person discards old, worn-out garments and puts on new ones, the soul similarly discards old and useless bodies and accepts new material ones. This metaphor is deeply comforting. We do not mourn when we throw away a torn shirt; we simply get a new one. Similarly, death is merely the soul discarding a biological suit that no longer functions properly. The identity and consciousness of the ‘wearer’ remain completely unchanged. This verse implies that individual identity survives the death of the body. Arjuna is worried about the loss of his grandfather, but Kṛṣṇa assures him that Bhīṣma will simply upgrade his ‘garment’ and continue his existence elsewhere. It normalizes the phenomenon of death and removes its terrifying mystery.