Chapter 2 · Sankhya Yoga - The Yoga of KnowledgeKrishna
Verse 22
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 2, श्लोक 22
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय
नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि।
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा-
न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही॥२२॥
Transliteration
Vasamsi Jirnani Yatha Vihaya
Navani Grihnati Naro'parani.
Tatha Sharirani Vihaya Jirna-
Ny-Anyani Samyati Navani Dehi.||22||
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
वासांसिvasamsigarments
जीर्णानिjirnaniworn out
यथाyathajust as
विहायvihayadiscarding
नवानिnavaninew
गृह्णातिgrihnatitakes
नरःnaraha person
अपराणिaparaniother
तथाtathasimilarly
शरीराणिshariranibodies
जीर्णानिjirnaniworn out
अन्यानिanyaniother/new
संयातिsamyatienters
देहीdehithe embodied soul
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
जैसे मनुष्य पुराने वस्त्रों को त्यागकर नए वस्त्र धारण करता है, वैसे ही आत्मा पुराने शरीरों को छोड़कर नए शरीरों में चली जाती है।
English Translation
Just as a person casts off worn-out garments and puts on new ones, so does the embodied soul cast off worn-out bodies and enter new ones.
Commentary (टीका)
This is perhaps the most famous analogy in the Gita. The simplicity of comparing death to changing clothes makes the profound concept of reincarnation accessible to everyone. We do not grieve when we change clothes; similarly, the wise should not grieve when the soul changes bodies. The soul is the wearer, not the garment.