In Bhagavad Gita 2.26, Krishna adds that even if Arjuna believes the Self is constantly born and constantly dies, he still should not grieve.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अथ चैनं नित्यजातं
नित्यं वा मन्यसे मृतम्
तथापि त्वं महाबाहो
नैवं शोचितुमर्हसि ॥ २-२६ ॥
atha cainaṃ nityajātaṃ
nityaṃ vā manyase mṛtam
tathāpi tvaṃ mahābāho
naivaṃ śocitumarhasi
English transliteration atha chainam nityajaatam
nityam vaa manyase mritam
tathaapi tvam mahaabaaho
naivam shochitumarhasi ॥ 2.26 ॥
Translation / Meaning
But even if you think of the Self as constantly being born and constantly dying, even then, O mighty-armed, you should not grieve like this.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अथ atha | if |
| च ca | and |
| एनम् enam | this |
| नित्यजातम् nityajātam | constantly born nitya (always) + jātam (born) |
| नित्यम् nityam | always |
| वा vā | or |
| मन्यसे manyase | you think |
| मृतम् mṛtam | dead |
| तथा अपि tathā api | even then |
| त्वम् tvam | you |
| महाबाहो mahābāho | O mighty-armed |
| न na | not |
| एवम् evam | thus |
| शोचितुम् śocitum | to grieve |
| अर्हसि arhasi | you ought |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–tha cai–naṃ nit–ya–jā–taṃ 8 syllables a-tha chai-nam nit-ya-jaa-tam
- nit–yaṃ vā man–ya–se mṛ–tam | 8 syllables nit-yam vaa man-ya-se mri-tam
- ta–thā–pi tvaṃ ma–hā–bā–ho 8 syllables ta-thaa-pi tvam ma-haa-baa-ho
- nai–vaṃ śo–ci–tu–mar–ha–si || 2-26 8 syllables nai-vam sho-chi-tu-mar-ha-si
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 26
Context
Having taught from the standpoint of the eternal Self (2.12–2.25), Krishna now argues from the opposite assumption (2.26–2.28).
Meaning
Krishna is a skilful teacher. If Arjuna cannot yet accept the eternity of the Self, Krishna meets him on other ground. Even if the self were constantly born and constantly dying, grief would still be pointless, because this would be the natural order of things.
The verse shows that the Gita’s counsel against despair does not depend on a single doctrine. Whether one sees life as eternal or as a ceaseless flow of births and deaths, excessive grief does not help. Wisdom meets us where we are and leads us further from there.
In Practice
If a spiritual teaching seems hard to accept, ask what practical wisdom you can take from it even now, at your present level of understanding.
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.