Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 – Verse 29 – Ascarya-vat Pasyati Kascid Enam

In the second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, after thoroughly deconstructing Arjuna’s grief from both a spiritual and a materialist perspective, Lord Krishna returns to the sublime nature of the soul. Having explained what the soul *is* (eternal, unchanging), He now describes how profoundly difficult it is to truly perceive it. The Ascarya-vat Pasyati Kascid Enam verse serves as a humbling reminder that the self is the greatest of all wonders, a mystery that eludes ordinary perception and intellect.

Contents

Sanskrit Verse

आश्चर्यवत्पश्यति कश्चिदेन माश्चर्यवद्वदति तथैव चान्यः ।
आश्चर्यवच्चैनमन्यः शृणोति श्रुत्वाप्येनं वेद न चैव कश्चित् ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

āścarya-vat paśyati kaścid enam āścarya-vad vadati tathaiva cānyaḥ
āścarya-vac cainam anyaḥ śṛṇoti śrutvāpy enaṁ veda na caiva kaścit

Word for Word Translation

āścarya-vat — as a wonder; paśyati — sees; kaścit — someone; enam — this (soul); āścarya-vat — as a wonder; vadati — speaks of; tathā eva — similarly; ca — and; anyaḥ — another; āścarya-vat — as a wonder; ca — and; enam — this (soul); anyaḥ — another; śṛṇoti — hears of; śrutvā — having heard; api — even; enam — this (soul); veda — knows; na ca eva kaścit — no one at all.

A symbolic, cinematic shot for the Ascarya-vat Pasyati Kascid Enam verse, showing a scholar in awe of a single point of light above a manuscript. — Āścarya-vat Paśyati – One Sees It as a Wonder

English Translation

Some look on the soul as a wonder, some describe it as a wonder, and some hear of it as a wonder, while others, even after hearing about it, cannot understand it at all.

Explanation

Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…

This verse describes the rarity of true spiritual perception. Krishna breaks down the different levels of interaction with the truth of the Atman, all of which are characterized by a sense of profound wonder.

Āścarya-vat (As a wonder): The key word repeated here is `āścarya`, meaning a wonder, a surprise, an astonishing mystery. This is the reaction of those who even begin to approach the reality of the soul. Its nature is so different from our everyday material experience that it inspires a deep sense of awe.
Seeing, Speaking, Hearing: Krishna lists the three ways people interact with this truth: `paśyati` (one who sees, the rare seer), `vadati` (one who speaks, the teacher), and `śṛṇoti` (one who hears, the student). For all three, the subject remains a profound mystery. The seer is amazed by the vision, the teacher is amazed by the truth they are trying to articulate, and the student is amazed by the very concept they are hearing.
Śrutvāpy enaṁ veda na caiva kaścit: “Even after hearing about it, no one knows it at all.” This is the verse’s humbling conclusion. It emphasizes that true, realized knowledge of the soul is not merely an intellectual or academic pursuit. One can hear the philosophy, study the texts, and listen to the teachers, but without direct spiritual realization, the soul remains fundamentally unknown.

Conclusion

This verse serves to instill a sense of humility and reverence for the path of self-realization. Krishna is telling Arjuna that the knowledge He is imparting is not cheap or easy. The soul is the most profound mystery in existence. Its truth cannot be captured by mere words or grasped by the limited mind. This understanding is crucial, as it prevents spiritual pride and encourages the sincerity, dedication, and grace required to move from hearing about the wonderful truth to actually experiencing it.