In Bhagavad Gita 2.16, Krishna states a central principle: the unreal never has being, and the real never ceases to be; the seers of truth have known both.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
नासतो विद्यते भावो
नाभावो विद्यते सतः
उभयोरपि दृष्टोऽन्तस्
त्वनयोस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः ॥ २-१६ ॥
nāsato vidyate bhāvo
nābhāvo vidyate sataḥ
ubhayorapi dṛṣṭo’ntas
tvanayostattvadarśibhiḥ
English transliteration naasato vidyate bhaavo
naabhaavo vidyate satah
ubhayorapi drishto’ntas
tvanayostattvadarshibhih ॥ 2.16 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The unreal has no existence, and the real never ceases to be. The seers of truth have known the ultimate nature of both.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| असतः asataḥ | of the unreal |
| विद्यते vidyate | there is |
| भावः bhāvaḥ | being, existence |
| न na | not |
| अभावः abhāvaḥ | non-being |
| विद्यते vidyate | there is |
| सतः sataḥ | of the real |
| उभयोः ubhayoḥ | of both |
| अपि api | also |
| दृष्टः dṛṣṭaḥ | has been seen |
| अन्तः antaḥ | the conclusion, the truth |
| तु tu | indeed |
| अनयोः anayoḥ | of these |
| तत्त्वदर्शिभिः tattvadarśibhiḥ | by the seers of truth tattva (truth) + darśibhiḥ (by those who see) |
Word-wise Chanting
- nā–sa–to vid–ya–te bhā–vo 8 syllables naa-sa-to vid-ya-te bhaa-vo
- nā–bhā–vo vid–ya–te sa–taḥ | 8 syllables naa-bhaa-vo vid-ya-te sa-tah
- u–bha–yo–ra–pi dṛṣ–ṭo–‘ntas– 8 syllables u-bha-yo-ra-pi drish-to-‘ntas-
- tva–na–yos–tat–tva–dar–śi–bhiḥ || 2-16 8 syllables tva-na-yos-tat-tva-dar-shi-bhih
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 16
Context
Krishna moves from the practical advice of 2.14–2.15 to the philosophical foundation underlying it.
Meaning
This is one of the most profound verses of the Gita. Asat, the unreal, is that which comes and goes: bodies, sensations, circumstances. Sat, the real, is that which always is: the Self, pure being and consciousness. What is truly real cannot become non-existent, and what is unreal never had true existence on its own.
The seers of truth, tattva-darśins, are those who see things as they are. They recognise the changing world as dependent and passing, and the Self as the unchanging reality. This insight does not make the world worthless; it places it in perspective. When we know what is real, we stop clinging to what is passing.
In Practice
Sit quietly and list three things in your life that change and one thing that does not: the awareness in which all of them appear. Rest in that awareness.
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.