2. Transcendental Knowledge

Sānkhya Yog

BG 2.20

It is never born, and it never dies. Having come into existence, it never ceases to exist. It is immortal, and does not die when the body dies.

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचि
न्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो
न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे



This verse is taken directly from Verse 1.2.18 of the Katha Upanishad, with slight modification. The word vipaśyin (विपश्यिन्), meaning "having insight", is replaced by kadāchit, meaning "perhaps" or "sometimes". Kutaścit (कुतश्चित्), meaning "somewhere or other", is replaced by bhūtvā bhavitā, which is closer to "in the past or in the future".

  • na — not

  • jāyate — is born

  • mriyate — dies

  • vā — or

  • kadāchin — at some time

  • nāyaṁ — not this

  • bhūtvā — having once existed

  • bhavitā — will be

  • vā — or

  • na — not

  • bhūyaḥ — further

  • ajo — unborn

  • nityaḥ — eternal

  • śhāśhvato — immortal

  • ’yaṁ — this

  • purāṇo — ancient

  • na — not

  • hanyate — destroyed

  • hanyamāne — is destroyed

  • śharīre — when the body

...2.18

One who considers themself the slayer, and another who considers themself slain, are both wrong. The soul can neither kill nor be killed.

[19]

It is never born, and it never dies. Having come into existence, it never ceases to exist. It is immortal, and does not die when the body dies.

[20]

One who knows the soul to be indestructible and eternal - how does such a person cause anyone to be killed, and who do they kill?

[21]

2.22...

Similar verses

Chapter 2, Verse 20