In Bhagavad Gita 2.22, Krishna compares death to changing clothes: as one casts off worn-out garments and puts on new ones, the Self casts off worn-out bodies and enters new ones.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय
नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा-
न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही ॥ २-२२ ॥
vāsāṃsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya
navāni gṛhṇāti naro’parāṇi
tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇā-
nyanyāni saṃyāti navāni dehī
English transliteration vaasaamsi jeernaani yathaa vihaaya
navaani grihnaati naro’paraani
tathaa shareeraani vihaaya jeernaa-
nyanyaani samyaati navaani dehee ॥ 2.22 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Just as a person casts off worn-out garments and puts on others that are new, so the embodied Self casts off worn-out bodies and enters others that are new.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| वासांसि vāsāṃsi | garments |
| जीर्णानि jīrṇāni | worn-out |
| यथा yathā | as |
| विहाय vihāya | casting off |
| नवानि navāni | new |
| गृह्णाति gṛhṇāti | takes |
| नरः naraḥ | a person |
| अपराणि aparāṇi | others |
| तथा tathā | so |
| शरीराणि śarīrāṇi | bodies |
| विहाय vihāya | casting off |
| जीर्णानि jīrṇāni | worn-out |
| अन्यानि anyāni | others |
| संयाति saṃyāti | enters |
| नवानि navāni | new |
| देही dehī | the embodied Self |
Word-wise Chanting
- vā–sāṃ–si jīr–ṇā–ni ya–thā vi–hā–ya 11 syllables vaa-saam-si jeer-naa-ni ya-thaa vi-haa-ya
- na–vā–ni gṛh–ṇā–ti na–ro–‘pa–rā–ṇi | 11 syllables na-vaa-ni grih-naa-ti na-ro-‘pa-raa-ni
- ta–thā śa–rī–rā–ṇi vi–hā–ya jīr–ṇā– 11 syllables ta-thaa sha-ree-raa-ni vi-haa-ya jeer-naa-
- nyan–yā–ni saṃ–yā–ti na–vā–ni de–hī || 2-22 11 syllables nyan-yaa-ni sam-yaa-ti na-vaa-ni de-hee
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 22
Context
Krishna adds one of the Gita’s most famous images to his teaching on the Self (2.12–2.21).
Meaning
The image is simple and gentle. Nobody grieves when old clothes are replaced by new ones. In the same way, the Self lays aside a body that has served its purpose and takes up another. Death, seen from the standpoint of the Self, is not destruction but change.
The verse invites us to hold the body more lightly. We care for clothes, but we do not mistake ourselves for them. Similarly, we can care for the body while knowing that we are more than it. This perspective does not lessen love for those who die; it frees love from despair.
In Practice
When you change your clothes today, pause for a moment and remember this verse: you are the wearer, not the garment.
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.