Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 2, verse 23 · Krishna
Bhagavad Gita 2.23 · Nainam Chindanti Shastrani
नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः ।
न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः ॥
nainaṃ chindanti śastrāṇi nainaṃ dahati pāvakaḥ |
na cainaṃ kledayantyāpo na śoṣayati mārutaḥ ||
Translation
Weapons cannot cut the Self, fire cannot burn it, water cannot wet it and wind cannot dry it.
Explanation
The Self is beyond the reach of the physical elements. The verse answers Arjuna’s fear of killing: what is truly essential in a person cannot be destroyed.
Context
Spoken by Krishna in chapter 2, Sankhya Yoga — “The Yoga of Knowledge”, which has 72 verses.
Frequently asked questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 2.23 mean?
Weapons cannot cut the Self, fire cannot burn it, water cannot wet it and wind cannot dry it.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 2.23?
Krishna, speaking to Arjuna, in chapter 2, Sankhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge).
Sanskrit text: traditional, public domain. Translation and explanation are our own.