In Bhagavad Gita 2.23, Krishna says that weapons cannot cut the Self, fire cannot burn it, water cannot wet it and wind cannot dry it.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि
नैनं दहति पावकः
न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो
न शोषयति मारुतः ॥ २-२३ ॥
nainaṃ chindanti śastrāṇi
nainaṃ dahati pāvakaḥ
na cainaṃ kledayantyāpo
na śoṣayati mārutaḥ
English transliteration nainam chhindanti shastraani
nainam dahati paavakah
na chainam kledayantyaapo
na shoshayati maarutah ॥ 2.23 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Weapons do not cut it, fire does not burn it, water does not wet it, and wind does not dry it.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| एनम् enam | this (Self) |
| छिन्दन्ति chindanti | cut |
| शस्त्राणि śastrāṇi | weapons |
| न na | not |
| एनम् enam | this |
| दहति dahati | burns |
| पावकः pāvakaḥ | fire |
| न na | not |
| च ca | and |
| एनम् enam | this |
| क्लेदयन्ति kledayanti | wet |
| आपः āpaḥ | waters |
| न na | not |
| शोषयति śoṣayati | dries |
| मारुतः mārutaḥ | wind |
Word-wise Chanting
- nai–naṃ chin–dan–ti śas–trā–ṇi 8 syllables nai-nam chhin-dan-ti shas-traa-ni
- nai–naṃ da–ha–ti pā–va–kaḥ | 8 syllables nai-nam da-ha-ti paa-va-kah
- na cai–naṃ kle–da–yan–tyā–po 8 syllables na chai-nam kle-da-yan-tyaa-po
- na śo–ṣa–ya–ti mā–ru–taḥ || 2-23 8 syllables na sho-sha-ya-ti maa-ru-tah
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 23
Context
Krishna describes the invulnerability of the Self in terms of the elements (2.23–2.25).
Meaning
Earth (in the form of weapons), fire, water and air are the forces that destroy physical things. Krishna says none of them can touch the Self. It is not made of elements; it is the consciousness in which the elements appear. Arjuna’s arrows can affect bodies, but never the Self.
The verse speaks with poetic simplicity, which is why it is so often recited. It reminds us that whatever happens to the body, something in us remains untouched. In moments of fear or illness, this verse can be a refuge: the deepest part of you cannot be cut, burned, drowned or dried away.
In Practice
In a moment of fear today, silently recite this verse in your own words, and feel the part of you that remains untouched.
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.