Chapter 2, Verse 26
Part of 2: Sānkhya Yog — सांख्ययोगअथ चैनं नित्यजातं नित्यं वा मन्यसे मृतम्। तथापि त्वं महाबाहो नैवं शोचितुमर्हसि॥
Transliteration
atha chainaṁ nitya-jātaṁ nityaṁ vā manyase mṛitam tathāpi tvaṁ mahā-bāho naivaṁ śhochitum arhasi
Meaning
But even if thou thinkest of It as constantly being born and constantly dying, even then, O mighty-armed one, thou shouldst not grieve.
Word-by-word meaning
atha — if, howevercha — andenam — this soulnitya-jātam — taking constant birthnityam — alwaysvā — ormanyase — you thinkmṛitam — deadtathā api — even thentvam — youmahā-bāho — mighty-armed one, Arjunna — notevam — like thisśhochitum — grievearhasi — befitting
Commentary
Lord Krishna here, for the sake of argument, takes up the popular supposition. Granting that the Self is again and again born whenever a body comes into being, and again and again dies whenever the body dies? O mightyarmed (O Arjuna of great valour and strength), thou shouldst not grieve thus, because birth is inevitable to want is dead and death is inevitable to what is born. This is the inexorable or unrelenting Law of Nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 26?▼
But even if thou thinkest of It as constantly being born and constantly dying, even then, O mighty-armed one, thou shouldst not grieve.
Which chapter and verse of the Bhagavad Gita is this?▼
This is verse 26 of Chapter 2 (Sānkhya Yog — Transcendental Knowledge) of the Bhagavad Gita, a scripture of 18 chapters and 700 verses spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna.