In the second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna brings his entire multi-verse dissertation on the nature of the soul to a powerful and definitive conclusion. He has proven the soul is eternal, described its qualities, and even shown that grief is illogical from a materialist view. Now, in the Dehi Nityam Avadhyo Yam verse, He summarizes the sublime truth and ties it back to Arjuna’s immediate crisis, leaving no room for further doubt.
Sanskrit Verse
देही नित्यमवध्योऽयं देहे सर्वस्य भारत ।
तस्मात्सर्वाणि भूतानि न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि ॥ ३० ॥Transliteration
dehī nityam avadhyo ’yaṁ dehe sarvasya bhārata
tasmāt sarvāṇi bhūtāni na tvaṁ śocitum arhasiWord for Word Translation
dehī — the soul, the dweller in the body; nityam — eternally; avadhyaḥ — indestructible; ayam — this; dehe — in the body; sarvasya — of everyone; bhārata — O descendant of Bharata; tasmāt — therefore; sarvāṇi bhūtāni — for all living beings; na tvam śocitum arhasi — you should not lament.
English Translation
O descendant of Bharata, the soul that dwells within the body of every living being is eternally indestructible. Therefore, you should not grieve for any creature.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
This verse is the grand summary, the final seal on the entire philosophical argument against grief. Krishna makes the teaching universal and its conclusion personal and inescapable.
- Dehī nityam avadhyo ’yam: “This dweller in the body is eternally indestructible.” He reiterates the core truth using the word `dehī`, “the one who possesses the body.” This emphasizes the distinction between the owner and the property. The owner (`dehī`) is `nityam avadhyaḥ`, eternally immune to destruction.
- Dehe sarvasya bhārata: “In the body of everyone, O Bharata.” This is a crucial expansion of the principle. Krishna makes it clear that this isn’t a truth reserved for great warriors like Arjuna or sages. It is a universal law that applies to `sarvasya`, everyone, and as the conclusion states, to `sarvāṇi bhūtāni`, all living beings, from the greatest demigod to the smallest ant.
- Tasmāt… na tvaṁ śocitum arhasi: “Therefore… you should not grieve.” This is the final, logical `tasmāt` (“therefore”). Because the eternal and indestructible Atman is the true identity of every single living creature, there is no philosophical basis for lamenting their bodily death. To grieve for any being is to operate under the illusion that the body is the self.
The concept of an indestructible, eternal essence is a cornerstone of many spiritual traditions, often discussed under the topic of immortality. Krishna’s argument is that knowledge of this truth is the only real antidote to the existential fear and sorrow that Arjuna—and all of humanity—experiences.
Conclusion
Krishna’s case is now complete. He has proven from every angle that the soul is eternal and that grief for the body is born of ignorance. The conclusion is all-encompassing: do not grieve for *any* living being. This is not a call to become hard-hearted, but a call to elevate one’s consciousness to the platform of spiritual reality, where one can act with clarity, purpose, and fearlessness, free from the paralyzing effects of misplaced lamentation. With this, the first part of the Gita’s core teaching is concluded, and the conversation will soon shift to the nature of duty.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 – Verse 31 – Svadharmam Api Caveksya
