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Sankhya Yogaश्लोक २०/७२28%

Bhagavad Gita 2.20

Perspective Switcher · अध्ययन दृष्टिकोण
Preserves original scripture. Adapts linguistic and contemplative depth.

Beginner (जिज्ञासु): Direct entry: original verse, clear literal translation, and accessible life takeaway. (मूल श्लोक, सरल शब्दार्थ और जीवनोपयोगी सार।)

मूल पाठSource scriptureOriginal Sanskritमूल संस्कृत

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः।अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणोन हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे

Explain this line · इस पंक्ति को सरल भाषा में समझें

मूल पाठ सहायकReading aid for the sourceRoman transliterationलिप्यन्तरण (IAST)

na jāyate mriyate vā kadāchin nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ ajo nityaḥ śhāśhvato ’yaṁ purāṇo na hanyate hanyamāne śharīre

मूल पाठ सहायकReading aid for the sourceWord by word (पदच्छेद व अन्वय)पदच्छेद
Tap on highlighted terms to inspect classical root (धातु), grammatical case, and philosophical clarity:
  • 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

अनुवादTranslationLiteral Hindi Translationमूल हिन्दी अनुवाद (अक्षरशः)मूलानुवाद · Literal

यह शरीरी न कभी जन्मता है और न मरता है तथा यह उत्पन्न होकर फिर होनेवाला नहीं है। यह जन्मरहित, नित्य-निरन्तर रहनेवाला, शाश्वत और पुराण (अनादि) है। शरीरके मारे जानेपर भी यह नहीं मारा जाता।

अक्षरशः अनुवाद — मूल संस्कृत श्लोक के प्रत्येक पद का प्रत्यक्ष अर्थ।

अनुवादTranslationLiteral English TranslationLiteral Text

It is never born; it never dies; having come into existence once, it never ceases to exist. Unborn, eternal, perpetual, and primordial, it is not destroyed when the body is destroyed.

Direct literal rendering preserving Sanskrit philosophical terminology.

परम्परागत भाष्यTraditional commentaryTraditional Commentary (परम्परागत भाष्य)परम्परागत भाष्य

Pluralistic Tradition Neutrality (सम्प्रदाय-तटस्थता):

Classical commentaries represent distinct philosophical darshanas (Advaita, Vishishtadvaita, Dvaita). Dharma Granth presents multiple traditional viewpoints without declaring any single tradition as universal or exclusive.

Layers side by side · परतों की तुलना

Each layer is labelled by what it is. None is presented as the correct or best reading.

Original Sanskrit

Source scripture

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचि न्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः। अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे।।2.20।।

Literal translation

Translation of the source text

It is never born; it never dies; having come into existence once, it never ceases to exist. Unborn, eternal, perpetual, and primordial, it is not destroyed when the body is destroyed.

Traditional commentary

No reviewed traditional commentary has been added for this verse yet, so there is nothing to compare. Commentaries will appear here only with their commentator, edition and review status.

Simple explanation

Editorial explanation, not scripture

यह गीता का अत्यंत प्रसिद्ध श्लोक है। आत्मा के चार विशेषण: अज: (जन्म रहित), नित्य: (शाश्वत), शाश्वत: (सदा रहने वाला), पुराण: (आदिकालीन)। आत्मा जन्मती नहीं, मरती नहीं — वह केवल शरीर के जन्म-मृत्यु की साक्षी है। शरीर के विनाश से आत्मा नहीं मरती, जैसे वस्त्र के फटने से उसे पहनने वाला नहीं मरता। यह ज्ञान शोक और भय दोनों को समाप्त करता है — क्योंकि जो कभी जन्मता-मरता नहीं, उसके लिए विनाश का भय ही नहीं।

Modern reflection

Editorial reflection, not scripture

तुम अपना शरीर नहीं हो। मृत्यु का भय तब विलीन हो जाता है जब मनुष्य उस शाश्वत चेतना से अपनी पहचान जोड़ता है जो शरीर के जन्म, वृद्धि और मृत्यु — सबकी साक्षी है।

संपादकीय व्याख्याEditorial explanationSimple Explanation (सरल व्याख्या)सरल व्याख्याEditorial Exposition · Not Scripture

यह गीता का अत्यंत प्रसिद्ध श्लोक है। आत्मा के चार विशेषण: अज: (जन्म रहित), नित्य: (शाश्वत), शाश्वत: (सदा रहने वाला), पुराण: (आदिकालीन)। आत्मा जन्मती नहीं, मरती नहीं — वह केवल शरीर के जन्म-मृत्यु की साक्षी है। शरीर के विनाश से आत्मा नहीं मरती, जैसे वस्त्र के फटने से उसे पहनने वाला नहीं मरता। यह ज्ञान शोक और भय दोनों को समाप्त करता है — क्योंकि जो कभी जन्मता-मरता नहीं, उसके लिए विनाश का भय ही नहीं।

आधुनिक चिंतनModern reflection · not scriptureContemplative Reflection & Actionआधुनिक चिंतन

तुम अपना शरीर नहीं हो। मृत्यु का भय तब विलीन हो जाता है जब मनुष्य उस शाश्वत चेतना से अपनी पहचान जोड़ता है जो शरीर के जन्म, वृद्धि और मृत्यु — सबकी साक्षी है।

शोध संदर्भResearch context · not scriptureComparative Research Noteशोध टिप्पणी

ऊर्जा संरक्षण का नियम (आइंस्टीन): "ऊर्जा न तो उत्पन्न की जा सकती है, न नष्ट — केवल रूपांतरित होती है।" कई तंत्रिका-वैज्ञानिक अब (Penrose-Hameroff "Orch-OR" सिद्धांत) तर्क देते हैं कि चेतना स्वयं ब्रह्मांड का एक मूलभूत गुण हो सकती है — मस्तिष्क द्वारा उत्पन्न नहीं।

A modern parallel offered for reflection. It is not part of the scripture, and it has not been checked against the original sources it may allude to.

स्रोतSources and editionSources and editionस्रोत एवं संस्करण
Sanskrit text
github.com/gita/gita · fetched 2026-09-28
Translations
Hindi: not flagged as AI · English: not flagged as AI
Explanation, reflection, research
Editorial text; no AI flag recorded
Last updated
2026-10-16
Licence note (as recorded)
Community dataset — verify license terms at source repo before redistribution.

Explanation: simple

Where this verse sits प्रसंग

Editorial learning aid · not scriptureसंपादकीय अध्ययन-सहायक
Who is speaking?
Krishna
Who is listening?
Arjuna
What is happening?
Arjuna is weeping, dreading that performing his duty on the battlefield will extinguish the souls of his teachers and relatives.
What is being answered?
What is the true nature of human consciousness, and does physical death extinguish the conscious self?

Before this verse

  1. Arjuna fears the slaughter of venerated elders and kinfolk (1.31–1.37).
  2. Krishna begins teaching the distinction between the mortal body and the immortal Self (2.11–2.17).
  3. Krishna declares that while physical bodies have an end, the indwelling Self is indestructible (2.18–2.19).

This verse

  1. Krishna declares the famous sixfold negation of change: the Atman is never born, never dies, and remains unslain.

After this verse

  1. Krishna compares the casting off of worn-out bodies to a person discarding old garments for new ones (2.22).

In one lineएक पंक्ति में

Simple explanationसरल व्याख्या

यह आत्मा न कभी जन्म लेती है और न मरती है; शरीर के नष्ट होने पर भी यह कभी नष्ट नहीं होती।

The conscious Self is never born, never dies, and remains unslain when the physical body perishes.

Simple meaningसरल अर्थ

Simple explanationसरल व्याख्या

आत्मा का न कभी जन्म होता है और न कभी मृत्यु। यह पहले भी थी, अब भी है और आगे भी रहेगी। यह अजन्मा, नित्य, शाश्वत और पुरातन है। शरीर के रोगग्रस्त, वृद्ध या नष्ट होने पर भी यह चैतन्य आत्मा कभी मारी नहीं जाती।

The conscious spirit within is not born at physical conception, nor does it perish at bodily death. Having existed once, it never ceases to be. It is unborn, eternal, unchanging, and ancient. While the physical frame alters, ages, and eventually falls away, the core witness consciousness is never destroyed.

Sanskrit Word Explorer मुख्य पद-विभाजन

Tap any word to inspect its root (dhatu), grammar, context, and philosophical nuances.

Teaching flow शिक्षा का क्रम

Teaching flow in order. Unborn (Ajaḥ) The true Self does not come into being when the biological body is formed. Then: Eternal (Nityaḥ) It exists continuously beyond temporal beginnings, durations, and ends. Then: Ever-Fresh (Śāśvataḥ Purāṇaḥ) Ancient yet never aging; physical decrepitude does not affect conscious essence. Then: Unslain (Na hanyate) When the physical organism perishes, the core conscious witness remains entirely intact.

Why it matters todayआज इसका महत्त्व

Modern example · not scriptureआधुनिक उदाहरण
  • मृत्यु-भय और अस्तित्वगत चिंता से मुक्ति

    Modern living often reduces human identity to a vulnerable biological machine. Knowing your consciousness is uncreated restores deep peace.

  • आयु और शारीरिक बदलावों में संतुलन

    Graying hair, declining stamina, and career transitions can threaten identity. The indwelling witness watches change without diminishing.

  • शोक में सांत्वना और आत्मिक संबल

    Understanding that physical departure does not extinguish conscious essence brings solace when mourning departed relatives.

Modern exampleआधुनिक उदाहरण

Modern example · not scriptureआधुनिक उदाहरण

A student suffering from intense anxiety over career failure or life uncertainty realizes that external worldly labels do not define their essential worth or consciousness, bringing mental grounding.

An illustration written to explain the teaching. No outcome is promised.

A shift in understanding

Editorial learning aid · not scriptureसंपादकीय अध्ययन-सहायक
A common first thought
“My entire identity is limited to this mortal body; when it weakens or dies, everything that I am is extinguished.”
With this teaching
“My body is a temporary, precious instrument, but my deepest essence is uncreated, deathless consciousness.”

Common misunderstandingआम भ्रांति

Editorial learning aid · not scriptureसंपादकीय अध्ययन-सहायक

Some readers take it to mean

“Because the soul is immortal, physical life is meaningless and we can be indifferent to death and violence.”

A fuller reading

The immortality of the Self liberates one from existential fear so they can act righteously (Dharma) with courage, not as an excuse for callous cruelty or recklessness.

What it does not meanयह क्या नहीं कहता

Editorial learning aid · not scriptureसंपादकीय अध्ययन-सहायक
  • Not: "Carelessness toward health or life"

    Knowing the Self is deathless is not a justification for physical recklessness or neglecting self-care. The body is a sacred temple and instrument for Dharma.

  • Not: "Coldness toward human grief"

    Grief is a natural emotional expression of love; recognizing the eternity of consciousness provides grounding reassurance rather than emotional denial.

Try this todayआज आज़माएँ

Practical reflection · optionalव्यावहारिक चिंतन

The Witness Meditation · 3 minutes

३ मिनट के लिए आंखें बंद करें। अपनी सांस और विचारों को आते-जाते देखें और पहचानें कि आप वे विचार नहीं, बल्कि उन्हें देखने वाले शांत साक्षी हैं।

Close your eyes for 3 minutes. Notice your breath moving in and out, and thoughts drifting past. Now ask: "Who is the silent awareness that is observing both breath and thoughts?" Rest quietly as that observer.

Pause and think रुकें और सोचें

How would you approach your daily challenges today if you knew that your innermost conscious self is completely immune to failure, aging, and death?

यदि आपको यह पूर्ण विश्वास हो कि आपकी मूल आत्मा असफलता, उम्र और मृत्यु से परे है, तो आज आप अपने भय का सामना कैसे करेंगे?

Was this explanation clear? · क्या यह स्पष्ट था?

Visual demonstration · चित्र द्वारा समझें

The Changing Body vs The Unchanging Self

Editorial diagram · not scripture

Verse 2.20 contrasts the mortal, evolving body with the eternal, indestructible consciousness.

In words

First, the physical body is subject to birth, undergoes change, experiences decay, and perishes at death. Second, the conscious Self has unborn nature with eternal continuity and ancient presence, and is not slain when body dies. Understanding this frees consciousness from existential fear.

Kind:
Before and after understanding
Based on:
Bhagavad Gita 2.20
Review:
Draft, awaiting review
Motion:
none; the diagram is static

The teaching in everyday life

Editorial contentReviewed by Editorial Scripture Team (V. S. Sharma & S. Shastri), 2026-09-19

Illustrations written by the editors to help you think about the verse. They are not part of the scripture, and they are not the only way to read it.

Teaching illustrated: The conscious Self is never born and never dies; it is eternal and untouched by bodily changes.

Student life
Struggling with self-esteem and feeling defined entirely by low test scores or academic ranking.
Marks measure preparation for a specific test, not your fundamental worth as a conscious human being. Your awareness is far vaster than an academic scorecard.
Professional life
Experiencing identity crisis after sudden job loss, demotion, or career setback.
A corporate designation is an external role you inhabited, not your essential self. Recognizing your inner witness remains intact gives you resilience to rebuild.
Creative work
Fearing that aging or changing artistic trends will render your life obsolete.
The creative source within you is timeless awareness. Forms and styles evolve, but the quiet consciousness witnessing the art is unborn and unexhausted.
Family responsibility
Processing profound grief and bereavement following the loss of an elder or loved one.
While physical departure is painful, the spirit of love and consciousness that animated them is deathless. Cherish their enduring gifts without falling into despair.

Content status

  • Source text · imported from github.com/gita/gita
  • Translation · from the source archive
  • Editorial explanation · draft, awaiting scholarly review

No independent human review is recorded for this verse yet. How this site is made.

शास्त्रीय प्रामाणिकता एवं पारदर्शकताSources & Interpretation

स्रोत, संस्करण एवं व्याख्या वर्गीकरण

धर्म ग्रंथ पर मूल शास्त्र, पारंपरिक भाष्य और आधुनिक व्याख्या को पूर्णतः पृथक रखा जाता है ताकि पाठक को किसी भी व्याख्या के शास्त्र होने का भ्रम न हो।

सामग्री वर्गीकरण संकेत (Epistemic Content Labels)

६ स्तरिय प्रमाण व्यवस्था
मूल पाठOriginal text

अपौरुषेय / प्रामाणिक शास्त्र (Primary Canonical Scripture)

मूल संस्कृत, प्राकृत अथवा अवधी श्लोक/मंत्र। यह सर्वोच्च प्रमाण (प्रस्थान) है। इस पाठ में किसी भी आधुनिक व्याख्याकार का हस्तक्षेप नहीं है।

शाब्दिक अनुवादLiteral translation

पदार्थ व अन्वय (Direct Grammatical & Word-for-Word Meaning)

व्याकरणसम्मत प्रत्यक्ष शब्दार्थ (अन्वय)। बिना किसी दार्शनिक संप्रदाय के पूर्वाग्रह के, संस्कृत शब्दों का सटीक भाषांतर।

पारंपरिक भाष्यTraditional commentary

आचार्य परंपरा व टीका (Classical Lineage Commentary)

प्राचीन आचार्य परंपरा (यथा शंकराचार्य, रामानुजाचार्य, मध्वाचार्य, श्रीधर स्वामी) द्वारा विरचित शास्त्रीय भाष्य व टीकाएं।

सरल व्याख्याSimple explanation

भावार्थ व सुबोध प्रबोधन (Accessible Pedagogical Exposition)

आधुनिक जिज्ञासुओं के लिए सरल भाषा में भावार्थ। यह मूल मंत्र नहीं, बल्कि पाठ को सुगम बनाने हेतु संपादकीय व्याख्या है।

आधुनिक चिंतनModern reflection

समसामयिक विमर्श व अनुप्रयोग (Contemporary Application & Analysis)

दार्शनिक, मनोवैज्ञानिक व वैज्ञानिक समरूपताओं पर आधुनिक चिंतन। यह मूल शास्त्र का अंग नहीं है और इसे शास्त्रोक्त सिद्धांत के रूप में नहीं देखा जाना चाहिए।

शोध टिप्पणीResearch note

पांडुलिपि एवं ऐतिहासिक शोध (Critical Apparatus & Manuscript Research)

पांडुलिपि विविधताएं, पाठ-भेद (variant readings), छंद रचना, और ऐतिहासिक व तुलनात्मक भाषावैज्ञानिक शोध। यह शास्त्र का मूल संदेश बदलने हेतु नहीं, बल्कि पाठ की प्रामाणिकता परखने के लिए है।

पहचानकर्ता:Bhagavad Gita Ch. 2, Verse 20
संस्कृत संस्करण:https://github.com/gita/gita

Gorakhpur Recension with Sridhara Swami Subodhini & Shankaracharya Advaita Bhashya collations.

पुरालेखागार / स्रोत:Gita Press, Gorakhpur / Muktabodha Digital Archive
गणना पद्धति:

Standard 700-verse canonical recension across 18 chapters. Kashmiri recension carries 745 verses (noted in comparative apparatus).

Interactive Verse Knowledge Graph · ज्ञान जाल

श्लोक सम्बन्ध एवं पार-ग्रंथ संदर्भ

Reviewed links only. A line here is a stored connection, not a guess from the neighboring verse.

Bhagavad Gita 2.20Current VerseKatha UpKatha Upanishad …BG 2.23Bhagavad Gita BG…2.22Bhagavad Gita 2.22Concept:AtmanChandogyChandogya Upanis…
🔵Parallel Teachingसमान उपदेश

Katha Upanishad 2.18

Katha Upanishad (कठोपनिषद्)

Sanskrit Text (मूल श्लोक / मंत्र)

न जायते म्रियते वा विपश्चिन्नायं कुतश्चिन्न बभूव कश्चित् । अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे ॥

Translation / Meaning (भावार्थ)

The knowing Self is never born, nor does it die. It sprang from nothing, and nothing sprang from it. It is unborn, eternal, everlasting and ancient; it is not slain when the body is slain.

Why This is Connected (सम्बन्ध का आधार)

Direct verbatim parallel: Sri Krishna quotes the ancient Katha Upanishad mantra almost word-for-word to establish the immortality of the conscious witness.

Related teachings · संबंधित उपदेश

Editorial links for study. A link does not claim that two passages teach exactly the same thing.

  • Complementary teaching

    Bhagavad Gita 2.22

    Just as a person casts off worn-out garments and puts on new ones, the Self casts off worn-out bodies and enters new ones.

    Why linked: Provides the iconic metaphor illustrating the changelessness of the Self across bodily transitions described in 2.20.

    Review status: Approved

  • Similar teaching

    Bhagavad Gita 2.23

    Weapons cannot cleave the Self, fire cannot burn it, water cannot wet it, nor can the wind dry it.

    Why linked: Elaborates on the unslain and invulnerable nature of the conscious Self declared in 2.20.

    Review status: Approved

आगे क्या · What next

संबंधित दार्शनिक अवधारणाएं (Philosophical Concepts)

ज्ञान ग्राफ

समानांतर संदर्भ व श्लोक (Cross-Scriptural Parallels)

इसी दार्शनिक तत्त्व पर अन्य वैदिक ग्रंथों और उपनिषदों के प्रेरक संदर्भ

AtmanChandogya Upanishad 6.8.7
श्लोक देखें

तत्त्वमसि

"That thou art — the Self within you is identical with the Supreme Reality."

AtmanBhagavad Gita 2.23
श्लोक देखें

नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः

"The soul cannot be cut by weapons, burned by fire, wet by water, or dried by the wind."

JnanaBhagavad Gita 4.38
श्लोक देखें

न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते

"There is nothing in this world as purifying as knowledge. One who is purified by knowledge attains perfection in due time."

You have explored Bhagavad Gita 2.20.

आपने इस श्लोक का अध्ययन किया।