In Bhagavad Gita 2.24, Krishna says the Self cannot be cut, burned, wetted or dried; it is eternal, all-pervading, stable, unmoving and primeval.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अच्छेद्योऽयमदाह्योऽयम्
अक्लेद्योऽशोष्य एव च
नित्यः सर्वगतः स्थाणुर्
अचलोऽयं सनातनः ॥ २-२४ ॥
acchedyo’yamadāhyo’yam
akledyo’śoṣya eva ca
nityaḥ sarvagataḥ sthāṇur
acalo’yaṃ sanātanaḥ
English transliteration achchhedyo’yamadaahyo’yam
akledyo’shoshya eva cha
nityah sarvagatah sthaanur
achalo’yam sanaatanah ॥ 2.24 ॥
Translation / Meaning
It cannot be cut, it cannot be burned, it cannot be wetted or dried. It is eternal, all-pervading, stable, immovable and primeval.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अच्छेद्यः acchedyaḥ | cannot be cut |
| अयम् ayam | this |
| अदाह्यः adāhyaḥ | cannot be burned |
| अयम् ayam | this |
| अक्लेद्यः akledyaḥ | cannot be wetted |
| अशोष्यः aśoṣyaḥ | cannot be dried |
| एव eva | indeed |
| च ca | and |
| नित्यः nityaḥ | eternal |
| सर्वगतः sarvagataḥ | all-pervading sarva (all) + gataḥ (gone to) |
| स्थाणुः sthāṇuḥ | stable |
| अचलः acalaḥ | immovable |
| अयम् ayam | this |
| सनातनः sanātanaḥ | primeval |
Word-wise Chanting
- ac–ched–yo–‘ya–ma–dāh–yo–‘yam– 8 syllables ach-chhed-yo-‘ya-ma-daah-yo-‘yam-
- ak–led–yo–‘śoṣ–ya e–va ca | 8 syllables ak-led-yo-‘shosh-ya e-va cha
- nit–yaḥ sar–va–ga–taḥ sthā–ṇur– 8 syllables nit-yah sar-va-ga-tah sthaa-nur-
- a–ca–lo–‘yaṃ sa–nā–ta–naḥ || 2-24 8 syllables a-cha-lo-‘yam sa-naa-ta-nah
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 24
Context
Krishna continues his description of the Self from 2.23, moving from what it is not to what it is.
Meaning
The first line repeats the negative statements of 2.23 as permanent truths. The second line gives positive qualities: nitya, eternal; sarvagata, present everywhere; sthāṇu, firm like a pillar; acala, unmoving; sanātana, primeval. The Self is not in one place and cannot be moved because it is everywhere.
The Gita often teaches by repetition, letting the same truth sink in from different angles. These qualities are worth contemplating one by one. Each one points away from the body and mind toward the stillness at the centre of experience. In meditation, these words can become a ladder to the unmoving Self.
In Practice
Choose one of the five qualities, such as “unmoving,” and sit for five minutes contemplating it as the nature of your own 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.