In Bhagavad Gita 2.27, Krishna reminds Arjuna that death is certain for everyone who is born, and birth is certain for those who die, so one should not grieve over the inevitable.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्
ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च
तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे
न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि ॥ २-२७ ॥
jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyur
dhruvaṃ janma mṛtasya ca
tasmādaparihārye’rthe
na tvaṃ śocitumarhasi
English transliteration jaatasya hi dhruvo mrityur
dhruvam janma mritasya cha
tasmaadaparihaarye’rthe
na tvam shochitumarhasi ॥ 2.27 ॥
Translation / Meaning
For death is certain for one who is born, and birth is certain for one who dies. Therefore you should not grieve over what is unavoidable.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| जातस्य jātasya | of the born |
| हि hi | indeed |
| ध्रुवः dhruvaḥ | certain |
| मृत्युः mṛtyuḥ | death |
| ध्रुवम् dhruvam | certain |
| जन्म janma | birth |
| मृतस्य mṛtasya | of the dead |
| च ca | and |
| तस्मात् tasmāt | therefore |
| अपरिहार्ये aparihārye | unavoidable a (not) + parihārye (to be avoided) |
| अर्थे arthe | in a matter |
| न na | not |
| त्वम् tvam | you |
| शोचितुम् śocitum | to grieve |
| अर्हसि arhasi | you ought |
Word-wise Chanting
- jā–tas–ya hi dhru–vo mṛt–yur– 8 syllables jaa-tas-ya hi dhru-vo mrit-yur-
- dhru–vaṃ jan–ma mṛ–tas–ya ca | 8 syllables dhru-vam jan-ma mri-tas-ya cha
- tas–mā–da–pa–ri–hār–ye–‘rthe 8 syllables tas-maa-da-pa-ri-haar-ye-‘rthe
- na tvaṃ śo–ci–tu–mar–ha–si || 2-27 8 syllables na tvam 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 27
Context
Continuing the argument of 2.26, Krishna points to the inevitability of birth and death.
Meaning
Birth and death are bound together. Whatever is born will die, and whatever dies is born again. To grieve over this is to grieve over the very nature of life. Krishna asks Arjuna to accept what cannot be changed, so that he can act rightly within it.
Accepting the inevitable is not resignation; it is the beginning of freedom. Much suffering comes from fighting what cannot be altered. When we accept impermanence fully, energy is released for what we can actually do: to live well, love wisely and act rightly.
In Practice
Name one thing in your life that is truly unavoidable. Practise accepting it fully today, and turn your energy toward what you can change.
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.