Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 20

Chapter 2 – Sankhya Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

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

Transliteration

na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin nāyaṃ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ .
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato.ayaṃ purāṇo na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre ॥

Meaning

The Self is never born, nor does it ever die; having once been, it does not cease to be. Unborn, eternal, everlasting and ancient, it is not slain when the body is slain.

Word meanings

न जायते – is not born
म्रियते – dies
वा – or
कदाचित् – at any time
न – not
अयम् – this (Self)
भूत्वा – having come to be
भविता – will come to be
वा – or
न भूयः – not again
अजः – unborn
नित्यः – eternal
शाश्वतः – everlasting, undecaying
अयम् – this
पुराणः – ancient, yet ever new
न हन्यते – is not slain
हन्यमाने – being slain
शरीरे – when the body

Anvaya (word order)

अयं कदाचित् न जायते, न वा म्रियते; अयं भूत्वा भूयः न भविता (इति) वा न । अयम् अजः नित्यः शाश्वतः पुराणः (च अस्ति); शरीरे हन्यमाने (अपि) न हन्यते ।

Explanation

This verse is the most celebrated and poetic description of the Self in the Gita, closely echoing the Katha Upanishad (1.2.18). In it Krishna denies to the Self every change that marks the life of any object.

Indian philosophy speaks of six modifications (shad-bhava-vikaras) undergone by every material thing: birth, existence, growth, transformation, decline and destruction. Shankara shows that this verse negates all six in the Self. ‘Na jayate’ — it is not born. ‘Na mriyate’ — it does not die. ‘Nayam bhutva bhavita va na bhuyah’ — it is not something that comes into being and then ceases. ‘Ajah’ — unborn. ‘Nityah’ — ever-existing. ‘Shashvatah’ — undecaying. ‘Puranah’ — ancient, yet always new, meaning it undergoes no growth or change.

The word ‘purana’ is lovely. Its etymology is ‘pura api navah’ — ancient yet new. Everything in the world grows old with time, but time leaves no mark on the Self. It has existed from beginningless time, yet there is no weariness or ageing in it.

The last line distils the whole teaching: ‘na hanyate hanyamane sharire’ — it is not slain when the body is slain. When a pot breaks, the space within it is not destroyed; so too, when the body perishes, the Self remains untouched.

Ramanuja uses this verse to establish the eternity of the individual self and the distinct, imperishable existence of each soul; Madhva likewise holds the soul to be eternal and ever dependent on the Lord. All the acharyas agree that the Self lies beyond birth and death.

For one who deeply absorbs this truth, death ceases to be a terrifying end. Such a person lives with greater courage, generosity and peace, knowing that their true nature is forever safe.

Context

In 2.19 Krishna said that the Self neither slays nor is slain. Here He gives the reason: the Self is free from both birth and death. In the next verse (2.21) He asks how one who knows this can kill or cause anyone to be killed.

Life lesson

Your true nature lies beyond time, age and death. Reflecting on this truth loosens the grip of the fear of death and makes life more fearless, generous and meaningful.

Key terms

Aja: unborn
Shashvata: everlasting, undecaying
Purana: ancient, yet ever new
Shad-bhava-vikara: the six changes: birth, existence, growth, transformation, decline and destruction