In Bhagavad Gita 2.12, Krishna declares that there was never a time when he, Arjuna or these kings did not exist, nor will there be a time when they cease to be.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
न त्वेवाहं जातु नासं
न त्वं नेमे जनाधिपाः
न चैव न भविष्यामः
सर्वे वयमतः परम् ॥ २-१२ ॥
na tvevāhaṃ jātu nāsaṃ
na tvaṃ neme janādhipāḥ
na caiva na bhaviṣyāmaḥ
sarve vayamataḥ param
English transliteration na tvevaaham jaatu naasam
na tvam neme janaadhipaah
na chaiva na bhavishyaamah
sarve vayamatah param ॥ 2.12 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor these rulers of men; nor shall any of us ever cease to exist hereafter.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| तु tu | indeed |
| एव eva | certainly |
| अहम् aham | I |
| जातु jātu | at any time |
| न na | not |
| आसम् āsam | existed |
| न na | not |
| त्वम् tvam | you |
| न na | not |
| इमे ime | these |
| जनाधिपाः janādhipāḥ | rulers of men jana (people) + adhipāḥ (rulers) |
| न na | not |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | also |
| न na | not |
| भविष्यामः bhaviṣyāmaḥ | shall exist |
| सर्वे sarve | all |
| वयम् vayam | we |
| अतः ataḥ | from now |
| परम् param | hereafter |
Word-wise Chanting
- na tve–vā–haṃ jā–tu nā–saṃ 8 syllables na tve-vaa-ham jaa-tu naa-sam
- na tvaṃ ne–me ja–nā–dhi–pāḥ | 8 syllables na tvam ne-me ja-naa-dhi-paah
- na cai–va na bha–viṣ–yā–maḥ 8 syllables na chai-va na bha-vish-yaa-mah
- sar–ve va–ya–ma–taḥ pa–ram || 2-12 8 syllables sar-ve va-ya-ma-tah pa-ram
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 12
Context
Having told Arjuna not to grieve (2.11), Krishna gives the first reason: the eternity of the Self.
Meaning
Krishna speaks of himself, Arjuna and the assembled kings together. All have existed always and will always exist. The verse affirms the eternity of the individual Self, not merely of an abstract principle. What Arjuna fears to destroy cannot be destroyed in its essence.
This teaching transforms the meaning of death. Bodies come and go, but the conscious being who dwells in them neither begins nor ends. Commentators have debated how individuality relates to the one Self, but the practical message is clear: the essence of every being is beyond destruction. Grief rooted in the fear of annihilation can be released.
In Practice
Spend a minute feeling the simple fact of your own awareness. Ask whether you can find any beginning to it in your direct experience.
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.