Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 2, verse 20 · Krishna
Bhagavad Gita 2.20 · Na Jayate Mriyate Va
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्
नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः ।
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो
न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे ॥
na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin
nāyaṃ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ |
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato’yaṃ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre ||
Translation
The Self is never born and never dies. It did not come into being and will not cease to be. Unborn, eternal, everlasting and ancient, it is not killed when the body is killed.
Explanation
One of the Gita’s central statements about the atman, closely echoing the Katha Upanishad. It is often recited at funerals and in times of loss.
Context
Spoken by Krishna in chapter 2, Sankhya Yoga — “The Yoga of Knowledge”, which has 72 verses.
Frequently asked questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 2.20 mean?
The Self is never born and never dies. It did not come into being and will not cease to be. Unborn, eternal, everlasting and ancient, it is not killed when the body is killed.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 2.20?
Krishna, speaking to Arjuna, in chapter 2, Sankhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge).
Sanskrit text: traditional, public domain. Translation and explanation are our own.