In Bhagavad Gita 2.11, Krishna begins his teaching: Arjuna grieves for those who should not be grieved for, while the wise grieve neither for the living nor for the dead.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अशोच्यानन्वशोचस्त्वं
प्रज्ञावादांश्च भाषसे
गतासूनगतासूंश्च
नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः ॥ २-११ ॥
aśocyānanvaśocastvaṃ
prajñāvādāṃśca bhāṣase
gatāsūnagatāsūṃśca
nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ
English transliteration ashochyaananvashochastvam
prajnaavaadaamshcha bhaashase
gataasoonagataasoomshcha
naanushochanti panditaah ॥ 2.11 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The Blessed Lord said: You grieve for those who should not be grieved for, and yet you speak words of wisdom. The wise grieve neither for the dead nor for the living.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अशोच्यान् aśocyān | those not to be grieved for |
| अन्वशोचः anvaśocaḥ | have grieved for |
| त्वम् tvam | you |
| प्रज्ञावादान् prajñāvādān | words of wisdom prajñā (wisdom) + vādān (words) |
| च ca | and |
| भाषसे bhāṣase | you speak |
| गतासून् gatāsūn | the dead gata (departed) + asūn (life-breath) |
| अगतासून् agatāsūn | the living agata (not departed) + asūn (life-breath) |
| च ca | and |
| न na | not |
| अनुशोचन्ति anuśocanti | grieve |
| पण्डिताः paṇḍitāḥ | the wise |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–śoc–yā–nan–va–śo–cas–tvaṃ 8 syllables a-shoch-yaa-nan-va-sho-chas-tvam
- pra–jñā–vā–dāṃś–ca bhā–ṣa–se | 8 syllables pra-jnaa-vaa-daamsh-cha bhaa-sha-se
- ga–tā–sū–na–ga–tā–sūṃś–ca 8 syllables ga-taa-soo-na-ga-taa-soomsh-cha
- nā–nu–śo–can–ti paṇ–ḍi–tāḥ || 2-11 8 syllables naa-nu-sho-chan-ti pan-di-taah
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 2 Verse 11
Context
This is the first verse of Krishna’s great teaching. Arjuna has fallen silent after declaring he will not fight (2.9).
Meaning
Krishna points to a contradiction. Arjuna speaks like a learned man, quoting tradition and morality, yet he grieves for what is not truly lost. The truly wise, the paṇḍitas, do not grieve for the dead or the living, because they know the deathless Self in all beings. Their calm is not coldness but clarity.
This verse sets the theme for the rest of Chapter 2: the difference between the perishable body and the imperishable Self. Grief arises from identifying people with their bodies and roles. When we see the eternal in each person, love remains but despair loses its ground.
In Practice
Bring to mind someone you have lost or fear losing. Rest for a few moments in the thought that what was most essential in them is not destroyed.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge). 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.