In the Bhagavad Gita’s second chapter, Lord Krishna reinforces the previous verse’s teaching with a powerful summary. He shifts from describing what *cannot be done* to the soul (it cannot be cut, burned, etc.) to describing what the soul *is* by its very nature. The Acchedyo Yam Adahyo Yam verse uses a series of profound adjectives to build an unshakeable understanding of the soul’s absolute and unchanging reality.
Sanskrit Verse
अच्छेद्योऽयमदाह्योऽयमक्लेद्योऽशोष्य एव च ।
नित्यः सर्वगतः स्थाणुरचलोऽयं सनातनः ॥ २४ ॥Transliteration
acchedyo ’yam adāhyo ’yam akledyo ’śoṣya eva ca
nityaḥ sarva-gataḥ sthāṇur acalo ’yaṁ sanātanaḥWord for Word Translation
acchedyaḥ — unbreakable; ayam — this (soul); adāhyaḥ — incombustible; ayam — this; akledyaḥ — insoluble; aśoṣyaḥ — cannot be dried; eva ca — and certainly; nityaḥ — eternal; sarva-gataḥ — all-pervading; sthāṇuḥ — stable; acalaḥ — immovable; ayam — this; sanātanaḥ — primeval.
English Translation
This individual soul is unbreakable and insoluble, and can be neither burned nor dried. It is everlasting, all-pervading, stable, immovable, and eternally the same.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
This verse provides a definitive list of the soul’s inherent characteristics. The first four adjectives are the logical counterparts to the actions described in the previous verse.
- Acchedyaḥ, Adāhyaḥ, Akledyaḥ, Aśoṣyaḥ: “Unbreakable, incombustible, insoluble, un-driable.” Because weapons cannot cut the soul, it is inherently `acchedyaḥ` (unbreakable). Because fire cannot burn it, it is `adāhyaḥ` (incombustible), and so on. These qualities confirm its non-material nature.
- Nityaḥ (Everlasting): This reiterates the soul’s eternal existence, free from the limitations of time.
- Sarva-gataḥ (All-pervading): This is a crucial quality. While the individual soul is atomic in size, its influence, in the form of consciousness, pervades the entire body. On a macro level, the Supreme Soul, or God, is all-pervading throughout the entire creation.
- Sthāṇuḥ (Stable) and Acalaḥ (Immovable): These terms emphasize that the soul is unchanging and fixed in its spiritual nature. While the body moves and transforms, the soul remains a stable, fixed entity. It does not undergo modification or transformation.
- Sanātanaḥ (Eternally the same): This means the soul is primeval, ancient, and has no beginning. Its nature is eternally consistent. This quality is so fundamental that the very spiritual path of the Vedas is known as Sanātana Dharma, or the eternal function of the eternal soul.
By listing these powerful, absolute qualities, Krishna aims to permanently shift Arjuna’s perception of identity away from the fragile body to the indestructible Atman.
Conclusion
This verse acts as a powerful meditative summary. By repeating and expanding upon the soul’s qualities, Krishna drives the point home with undeniable force. The soul is not just immune to attack; it is, by its very nature, the principle of stability, permanence, and eternity itself. Understanding this is not just an intellectual exercise; it is the key to attaining the fearlessness required to face life’s greatest challenges, including the battle that lies before Arjuna.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 – Verse 25 – Avyakto Yam Acintyo Yam
