Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 20

English Translation

Never is this One born, and never does It die; nor is it that having come to exist, It will again cease to be. This One is birthless, eternal, undecaying, ancient; It is not killed when the body is killed.

Detailed Commentary

।।2.20।। Explanation – [The body has six modifications – birth, existence, change, growth, decay, and death. The Lord explains in this verse that the *Ātmā* is free from these modifications.] ‘*na jāyate mriyate vā kadācinn*’ – Just as the body is born, the *Ātmā* is never born. It always exists. The Lord has called it ‘*Sanātana*’ because it also does not die. Only that which is born dies, and ‘*mriyate*’ is also used for the body, not for the *Ātmā*. The *Ātmā* experiences no union or separation. It knows no destruction. Among most modifications, birth and death are primary; hence the Lord has negated them twice. By saying ‘*na jāyate*’ and ‘*ajaḥ*’, He declares it birthless. By saying ‘*na mriyate*’ and ‘*na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre*’, He proclaims it deathless. ‘*ayaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ*’ – This imperishable essence, once having existed, will not come into being again. It is self-existent and free from modifications. Just as the existence of a child is acknowledged after birth, the existence of the *Ātmā* is *Sanātana* and immutable; it has no beginning or end. ‘*ajaḥ*’ – The *Ātmā* is never born, hence it is called ‘*ajaḥ*’. ‘*nityaḥ*’ – It is ever-existent, therefore it does not decay. Just as the body decays with age, the *Ātmā* does not decay. This essence is perpetually uniform and unchangeable. ‘*purāṇaḥ*’ – This essence is *purāṇa* (ancient), meaning beginningless. It is so ancient that it was never born. That which is old, though it may not grow, is what perishes. This essence was not born, so how can it have the modification of growth? The implication is that growth occurs in things that are born, not in this essence. ‘*na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre*’ – Even when the body is destroyed, this imperishable *Ātmā* is not destroyed. ‘*śarīre*’ implies that the body is perishable. It is in this perishable body that modifications occur, not in the *Ātmā*. In these verses, the Lord has given such a clear description of the body and the *Ātmā* as is found nowhere else in the Gītā. Arjuna was grieving due to the apprehension of his relatives dying in battle. The Lord explains that even upon the death of the body, the *Ātmā* is not destroyed, and therefore, grieving is inappropriate. Connection – In the nineteenth verse, the Lord stated that the *Ātmā* neither kills nor is killed. In this verse, He has negated the death of the *Ātmā*; now, to negate its killing, He presents the next verse.