In the Bhagavad Gita’s second chapter, after explaining that the soul changes bodies like clothes, Lord Krishna continues with one of the most powerful and poetic descriptions of the soul’s nature. The Nainam Chindanti Sastrani verse systematically details the soul’s absolute invulnerability. Krishna explains that because the soul is not a product of the material elements, it cannot be affected by them or the weapons derived from them.
Sanskrit Verse
नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः ।
न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः ॥ २३ ॥Transliteration
nainaṁ chindanti śastrāṇi nainaṁ dahati pāvakaḥ
na cainaṁ kledayanty āpo na śoṣayati mārutaḥWord for Word Translation
nainam — this (soul); chindanti — can cut; śastrāṇi — weapons; nainam — this (soul); dahati — can burn; pāvakaḥ — fire; na ca — nor; enam — this (soul); kledayanti — can moisten; āpaḥ — water; na śoṣayati — can wither; mārutaḥ — the wind.
English Translation
The soul can never be cut to pieces by any weapon, nor burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
This verse provides a definitive statement on the soul’s non-material nature by describing its immunity to the four primary forms of material destruction.
- Nainaṁ chindanti śastrāṇi: “Weapons cannot cut it.” Arjuna is a warrior whose entire life revolves around `śastrāṇi` (weapons). This first line directly addresses his immediate concern. His arrows, which can pierce any material substance, are utterly useless against the soul.
- Nainaṁ dahati pāvakaḥ: “Fire cannot burn it.” Fire is the element of transformation and consumption. It can reduce the most solid material objects to ash. Yet, Krishna states that fire (`pāvakaḥ`) has no effect on the soul.
- Na cainaṁ kledayanty āpo: “Water cannot moisten it.” Water (`āpaḥ`) is the element of dissolution. It can erode mountains and dissolve compounds. Still, it cannot even moisten the soul, let alone damage it.
- Na śoṣayati mārutaḥ: “The wind cannot wither it.” Wind (`mārutaḥ`) has the power to dry up and cause things to wither and decay. The soul, however, is immune to this effect as well.
By stating that the soul is impervious to the effects of the classical elements (earth, fire, water, air), Krishna is teaching a fundamental truth: the Atman is not made of matter. It is a spiritual substance, and therefore the laws and interactions of the material world do not apply to it. Arjuna’s fear is based on applying material rules to a spiritual entity, which is a core philosophical error.
Conclusion
This verse offers the ultimate reassurance. The weapons of war, which Arjuna fears will bring destruction, are fundamentally incapable of harming the true essence of any living being. The soul exists on a plane of reality that is completely transcendental to the physical world of cutting, burning, wetting, and withering. This profound knowledge is meant to liberate Arjuna from the fear of being a “killer,” allowing him to see the battle not as an act of destroying persons, but as an interaction between temporary, material forms.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 – Verse 24 – Acchedyo Yam Adahyo Yam
