Chapter 2, Verse 20 (Bhagavad Gita 2.20)
Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yog – Transcendental Knowledge
Sanskrit Shloka
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचि न्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः। अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे
Transliteration
na jāyate mriyate vā kadāchin nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ ajo nityaḥ śhāśhvato ’yaṁ purāṇo na hanyate hanyamāne śharīre
Word Meanings
na jāyate—is not born; mriyate—dies; vā—or; kadāchit—at any time; na—not; ayam—this; bhūtvā—having once existed; bhavitā—will be; vā—or; na—not; bhūyaḥ—further; ajaḥ—unborn; nityaḥ—eternal; śhāśhvataḥ—immortal; ayam—this; purāṇaḥ—the ancient; na hanyate—is not destroyed; hanyamāne—is destroyed; śharīre—when the body
Translation
It is never born, nor does it ever die; nor, once having been, does it ever cease to be. Unborn, eternal, everlasting, and ancient, it is not slain when the body is slain.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse serves as the ontological foundation for overcoming the fear of death by shifting our identity from the transient physical form to the immutable consciousness within. By recognizing that our essential nature remains untouched by the cycles of birth and decay, we are liberated from the anxieties of loss and the ego's grasping for permanence. This realization fosters a state of profound inner stability, allowing one to engage with life’s challenges with equanimity and detachment. It teaches us that while the external world is a flux of change, our true Self remains a constant, silent witness, inviting us to live with the courage of those who know they are beyond destruction.