In Bhagavad Gita 2.17, Krishna tells Arjuna that the reality which pervades all this universe is indestructible, and no one can destroy the imperishable.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अविनाशि तु तद्विद्धि
येन सर्वमिदं ततम्
विनाशमव्ययस्यास्य
न कश्चित्कर्तुमर्हति ॥ २-१७ ॥
avināśi tu tadviddhi
yena sarvamidaṃ tatam
vināśamavyayasyāsya
na kaścitkartumarhati
English transliteration avinaashi tu tadviddhi
yena sarvamidam tatam
vinaashamavyayasyaasya
na kashchitkartumarhati ॥ 2.17 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Know that to be indestructible by which all this is pervaded. No one can bring about the destruction of this imperishable reality.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अविनाशि avināśi | indestructible |
| तु tu | but |
| तत् tat | that |
| विद्धि viddhi | know |
| येन yena | by which |
| सर्वम् sarvam | all |
| इदम् idam | this |
| ततम् tatam | is pervaded |
| विनाशम् vināśam | destruction |
| अव्ययस्य avyayasya | of the imperishable |
| अस्य asya | of this |
| न na | not |
| कश्चित् kaścit | anyone |
| कर्तुम् kartum | to do |
| अर्हति arhati | is able |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–vi–nā–śi tu tad–vid–dhi 8 syllables a-vi-naa-shi tu tad-vid-dhi
- ye–na sar–va–mi–daṃ ta–tam | 8 syllables ye-na sar-va-mi-dam ta-tam
- vi–nā–śa–mav–ya–yas–yās–ya 8 syllables vi-naa-sha-mav-ya-yas-yaas-ya
- na kaś–cit–kar–tu–mar–ha–ti || 2-17 8 syllables na kash-chit-kar-tu-mar-ha-ti
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 17
Context
Krishna identifies the “real” of 2.16 as the reality that pervades everything.
Meaning
The real is not a thing in one place; it is that by which everything is pervaded, tatam. Like space within all forms, consciousness is present in all beings. Because it is the ground of all, it cannot be destroyed by anything within it. No weapon, no war and no death can touch it.
This changes how we see the people around us. Each one is a form in which the same indestructible reality shines. Arjuna’s fear that he will destroy his elders rests on a mistaken view of what they are. Their bodies are mortal; the reality that animates them is not.
In Practice
Look at three people today and silently remember: the same imperishable life looks out through these eyes.
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.