Bhagavad Gita · Sankhya Yoga — The Yoga of Knowledge
Chapter 2, Verse 21
"Bhagavad Gita 2.21" — meaning and explanation.
वेदाविनाशिनं नित्यं य एनमजमव्ययम् | कथं स पुरुषः पार्थ कं घातयति हन्ति कम्
vedāvināśinaṃ nityaṃ ya enamajamavyayam . kathaṃ sa puruṣaḥ pārtha kaṃ ghātayati hanti kam
Meaning
2.21 Whosoever knows It to be indestructible, eternal, unborn and inexhaustible, how can that man slay, O Arjuna, or cause to be slain?
।।2.21।। हे पार्थ ! जो पुरुष इस आत्मा को अविनाशी, नित्य और अव्ययस्वरूप जानता है, वह कैसे किसको मरवायेगा और कैसे किसको मारेगा?
Explanation
2.21 वेद knows? अविनाशिनम् indestructible? नित्यम् eternal? यः who? एनम् this (Self)? अजम् unborn? अव्ययम् inexhaustible? कथम् how? सः he (that)? पुरुषः man? पार्थ O Partha (son of Pritha)? कम् whom? घातयति causes to be slain? हन्ति kills? कम् whom.Commentary The enlightened sage who knows the immutable and indestructible Self through direct cognition or spiritual Anubhava (experience) cannot do the act of slaying. He cannot cause another to slay also.
Life Lesson
Study Bhagavad Gita 2.21 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.
Context
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, verse 21, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.
Bhagavad Gita 2.21
This page presents the Sanskrit verse, transliteration, Hindi meaning, English meaning, and a simple explanation for study. For a fuller understanding, read this shloka in sequence with the rest of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 2.21 mean?
2.21 Whosoever knows It to be indestructible, eternal, unborn and inexhaustible, how can that man slay, O Arjuna, or cause to be slain?
What is the life lesson of this verse?
Study Bhagavad Gita 2.21 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.
What is the context of this verse?
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, verse 21, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.