In Bhagavad Gita 2.30, Krishna concludes that the embodied Self in everyone is eternal and indestructible, so Arjuna should not grieve for any being.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
देही नित्यमवध्योऽयं
देहे सर्वस्य भारत
तस्मात्सर्वाणि भूतानि
न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि ॥ २-३० ॥
dehī nityamavadhyo’yaṃ
dehe sarvasya bhārata
tasmātsarvāṇi bhūtāni
na tvaṃ śocitumarhasi
English transliteration dehee nityamavadhyo’yam
dehe sarvasya bhaarata
tasmaatsarvaani bhootaani
na tvam shochitumarhasi ॥ 2.30 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The embodied Self dwelling in the body of every being is eternal and can never be slain, O descendant of Bharata. Therefore you should not grieve for any creature.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| देही dehī | the embodied Self |
| नित्यम् nityam | always, eternally |
| अवध्यः avadhyaḥ | cannot be slain |
| अयम् ayam | this |
| देहे dehe | in the body |
| सर्वस्य sarvasya | of everyone |
| भारत bhārata | O descendant of Bharata |
| तस्मात् tasmāt | therefore |
| सर्वाणि sarvāṇi | all |
| भूतानि bhūtāni | beings |
| न na | not |
| त्वम् tvam | you |
| शोचितुम् śocitum | to grieve |
| अर्हसि arhasi | you ought |
Word-wise Chanting
- de–hī nit–ya–ma–vadh–yo–‘yaṃ 8 syllables de-hee nit-ya-ma-vadh-yo-‘yam
- de–he sar–vas–ya bhā–ra–ta | 8 syllables de-he sar-vas-ya bhaa-ra-ta
- tas–māt–sar–vā–ṇi bhū–tā–ni 8 syllables tas-maat-sar-vaa-ni bhoo-taa-ni
- na tvaṃ śo–ci–tu–mar–ha–si || 2-30 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 30
Context
This verse sums up the whole teaching on the Self that began in 2.11.
Meaning
Krishna gathers his argument into one statement: the Self in every body is eternal and cannot be killed. Therefore grief for any being is unnecessary. The teaching is universal: not only Arjuna’s elders, but every creature, carries the same imperishable Self.
With this verse the first part of Krishna’s teaching, the knowledge of the Self, reaches its conclusion. From here he will turn to duty (2.31–2.38) and then to the practice of yoga (2.39 onward). The order is significant: understanding who we are comes first, and right action follows from it.
In Practice
Look at any living being today, a person, an animal, a plant, and remember: the same imperishable life dwells here.
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.