After declaring the soul’s indestructible nature, Lord Krishna now brings this profound spiritual truth to a practical and powerful conclusion. He summarizes the distinction between the body and the soul and, for the first time since his rebuke, issues a direct command based on this wisdom. The Antavanta Ime Deha verse is the logical culmination of the previous teachings, linking the philosophy of the eternal soul directly to Arjuna’s immediate duty on the battlefield.
Sanskrit Verse
अन्तवन्त इमे देहा नित्यस्योक्ताः शरीरिणः ।
अनाशिनोऽप्रमेयस्य तस्माद्युध्यस्व भारत ॥ १८ ॥Transliteration
antavanta ime dehā nityasyoktāḥ śarīriṇaḥ
anāśino ’prameyasya tasmād yudhyasva bhārataWord for Word Translation
antavantaḥ — having an end; perishable; ime — these; dehāḥ — material bodies; nityasya — of the eternal; uktāḥ — are said; śarīriṇaḥ — of the embodied soul; anāśinaḥ — never to be destroyed; aprameyasya — immeasurable; tasmāt — therefore; yudhyasva — fight; bhārata — O descendant of Bharata.
English Translation
The material body of the indestructible, immeasurable, and eternal living entity is sure to come to an end; therefore, fight, O descendant of Bharata.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
This verse is a powerful summary and a direct call to action. Krishna reiterates the qualities of the soul and the body and then connects them to Arjuna’s duty.
- Antavanta ime dehāḥ: “These bodies are perishable.” Krishna states plainly that the material body (`deha`) has an end (`antavanta`). This is its fundamental nature. It is born, it grows, it decays, and it dies. This is an undeniable fact.
- Nityasyoktāḥ… anāśino ’prameyasya: “Of the eternal, indestructible, and immeasurable.” He contrasts the perishable body with the soul (`śarīriṇaḥ`, the owner of the body), which is `nitya` (eternal), `anāśina` (indestructible), and `aprameyasya` (immeasurable). This last quality, immeasurable, means that the soul cannot be fully comprehended or quantified by material means or scientific instruments. It is a transcendental entity.
- Tasmād yudhyasva bhārata: “Therefore, fight, O descendant of Bharata.” This is the logical conclusion. `Tasmāt` (“therefore”) links the philosophy to the action. Because the soul is eternal and the body is temporary, Arjuna’s duty is clear. He should not abandon his sacred duty as a Kshatriya out of a mistaken fear of destroying the indestructible soul. His duty is to fight for Dharma, accepting the perishable nature of the material world.
Conclusion
This verse marks the end of the first section of Krishna’s philosophical instruction. He has clearly defined the difference between the temporary body and the eternal soul. Now, He connects that knowledge directly to Arjuna’s dilemma. The command “therefore, fight” is not a call for blind violence, but a call for action based on spiritual wisdom. It is an instruction to act from the platform of the soul, understanding that while bodies may fall, the true self is beyond all harm, and the fight for righteousness is a sacred obligation.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 – Verse 19 – Ya Enam Vetti Hantaram
