In Bhagavad Gita 15.16, Krishna says there are two persons in the world, the perishable and the imperishable; all beings are perishable, and the unchanging is called imperishable.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
द्वाविमौ पुरुषौ लोके
क्षरश्चाक्षर एव च
क्षरः सर्वाणि भूतानि
कूटस्थोऽक्षर उच्यते ॥ १५-१६ ॥
dvāvimau puruṣau loke
kṣaraścākṣara eva ca
kṣaraḥ sarvāṇi bhūtāni
kūṭastho’kṣara ucyate
English transliteration dvaavimau purushau loke
ksharashchaakshara eva cha
ksharah sarvaani bhootaani
kootastho’kshara uchyate ॥ 15.16 ॥
Translation / Meaning
There are two kinds of beings in this world, the perishable and the imperishable. All beings are perishable; the unchanging is called the imperishable.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| द्वौ dvau | two |
| इमौ imau | these |
| पुरुषौ puruṣau | persons, beings |
| लोके loke | in the world |
| क्षरः kṣaraḥ | the perishable |
| च ca | and |
| अक्षरः akṣaraḥ | the imperishable |
| एव eva | indeed |
| च ca | and |
| क्षरः kṣaraḥ | perishable |
| सर्वाणि sarvāṇi | all |
| भूतानि bhūtāni | beings |
| कूटस्थः kūṭasthaḥ | the unchanging |
| अक्षरः akṣaraḥ | the imperishable |
| उच्यते ucyate | is called |
Word-wise Chanting
- dvā–vi–mau pu–ru–ṣau lo–ke 8 syllables dvaa-vi-mau pu-ru-shau lo-ke
- kṣa–raś–cā–kṣa–ra e–va ca | 8 syllables ksha-rash-chaa-ksha-ra e-va cha
- kṣa–raḥ sar–vā–ṇi bhū–tā–ni 8 syllables ksha-rah sar-vaa-ni bhoo-taa-ni
- kū–ṭas–tho–‘kṣa–ra uc–ya–te || 15-16 8 syllables koo-tas-tho-‘ksha-ra uch-ya-te
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 15 Verse 16
Context
Krishna describes the three persons: perishable, imperishable and supreme (15.16–15.18).
Meaning
The kṣara puruṣa is everything that perishes: all embodied beings. The akṣara puruṣa is kūṭastha, unchanging like an anvil on which things are shaped; it is the imperishable principle, often understood as the individual Self or unmanifest nature.
We are both: a perishable body-mind and an imperishable Self. Knowing which is which is the beginning of wisdom.
In Practice
Notice something in yourself that changes and something that does not. Identify more with the unchanging.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 15: Purushottama Yoga (The Supreme Person). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.