Chapter 2 · Sankhya Yoga - The Yoga of KnowledgeKrishna
Verse 20
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 2, श्लोक 20
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्
नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः।
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो
न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे॥२०॥
Transliteration
Na Jayate Mriyate Va Kadachin
Nayam Bhutva Bhavita Va Na Bhuyah.
Ajo Nityah Shashvato'yam Purano
Na Hanyate Hanyamane Sharire.||20||
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
न जायतेna jayateis not born
म्रियतेmriyatedies
कदाचित्kadachitat any time
न भूत्वाna bhutvanot having come into being
भविताbhavitawill come to be
न भूयःna bhuyahnot again
अजःajahunborn
नित्यःnityaheternal
शाश्वतःshashvatahpermanent
पुराणःpuranahprimeval
न हन्यतेna hanyateis not killed
हन्यमानेhanyamanewhen killed
शरीरेsharirethe body
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
यह आत्मा न कभी जन्मती है, न मरती है। यह ऐसी भी नहीं है कि एक बार होकर फिर न हो। यह अजन्मा, नित्य, शाश्वत और पुरातन है — शरीर के मारे जाने पर भी यह नहीं मारी जाती।
English Translation
The soul is never born, nor does it ever die. Having existed, it does not cease to exist. It is unborn, eternal, permanent, and primeval. It is not killed when the body is killed.
Commentary (टीका)
This is one of the most celebrated verses in all of Indian philosophy. Six attributes of the soul are given: unborn (aja), eternal (nitya), permanent (shashvata), primeval (purana), beyond killing, and beyond death. Each negation strips away a false identification until only the pure, transcendent soul remains.