Chapter 2, Verse 22 (Bhagavad Gita 2.22)
Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yog – Transcendental Knowledge
Sanskrit Shloka
वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि। तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही
Transliteration
vāsānsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya navāni gṛihṇāti naro ’parāṇi tathā śharīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇānya nyāni sanyāti navāni dehī
Word Meanings
vāsānsi—garments; jīrṇāni—worn-out; yathā—as; vihāya—sheds; navāni—new; gṛihṇāti—accepts; naraḥ—a person; aparāṇi—others; tathā—likewise; śharīrāṇi—bodies; vihāya—casting off; jirṇāni—worn-out; anyāni—other; sanyāti—enters; navāni—new; dehī—the embodied soul
Translation
Just as a person casts off worn-out garments and wears new ones, likewise, the embodied soul casts off worn-out bodies and enters others that are new.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse serves as a profound psychological anchor, liberating the individual from the paralyzing fear of death and the transient nature of existence. By using the analogy of clothing, Krishna teaches that the Self is eternal and immutable, while the body is merely a temporary vessel for experiential growth. Understanding this truth shifts our focus from external identity and attachment to the inner essence that remains untouched by change. Ultimately, it encourages us to perform our duties with detachment, knowing that our true nature is beyond the cycles of birth and decay.