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Bhagavad Gita 2.16 — Nasato Vidyate Bhavo

Bhagavad Gita 2.16 — Nasato Vidyate Bhavo in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Early morning meditation or quiet contemplation on the nature of the Self·📜 Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 16

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This celebrated verse of the Sankhya Yoga chapter states one of Vedanta's foundational truths: the unreal (asat) — the ever-changing, perishable body and world — has no enduring existence, while the real (sat) — the eternal Self — never ceases to be. The seers of truth have realized the conclusion about both. Krishna gives Arjuna a metaphysical anchor: learn to distinguish the passing from the permanent, and grief over the perishable falls away.

Origin & Story

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 16 · Sage Veda Vyasa (Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva) · Ancient (text compiled c. 5th–2nd century BCE)

In the second chapter, Sankhya Yoga, Krishna addresses Arjuna's despondency on the battlefield of Kurukshetra by teaching the imperishable nature of the soul. Having distinguished the body from the indwelling Self, he states the philosophical principle underlying all his counsel: the impermanent has no real being and the eternal never perishes — a truth realized by those who see the essence of things.

✦ As told in scripture

Generations of Vedantic teachers have offered this single verse as a complete meditation, and many seekers recount that steady contemplation of 'nasato vidyate bhavo' dissolved their fear of loss and revealed an unshakable inner stillness rooted in the deathless Self.

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The Mantra

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nāsato vidyate bhāvo nābhāvo vidyate sataḥ ubhayorapi dṛiṣhṭo ’nta stvanayos tattva-darśhibhiḥ

Meaning:The unreal has no existence, and the real never ceases to be; the truth about both has been perceived by the seers of the essence.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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na🔊no, not

asataḥ🔊of the unreal, of the temporary, of the non-existent

vidyate🔊there is, exists

bhāvaḥ🔊being, existence, permanence

na🔊no, not

abhāvaḥ🔊non-existence, cessation

vidyate🔊there is, exists

sataḥ🔊of the real, of the eternal, of the existent

ubhayoḥ🔊of the two (the real and the unreal)

api🔊also, even

dṛiṣhṭaḥ🔊observed, seen

antaḥ🔊conclusion, the truth, the final essence

tu🔊verily, indeed

anayoḥ🔊of these two

tattva-darśhibhiḥ🔊by the seers of the truth, by those who perceive the essence

Benefits of Chanting Bhagavad Gita 2.16 — Nasato Vidyate Bhavo

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Develops viveka — the discrimination between the real and the unreal

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Grants peace by anchoring the mind in the unchanging, eternal Self

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Dissolves grief and fear rooted in identification with the perishable body

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Forms a foundation for Vedantic meditation on sat and asat

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Cultivates equanimity amid the constant changes of life

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Awakens the seeker to the deathless nature of the soul

How to Chant Bhagavad Gita 2.16 — Nasato Vidyate Bhavo

Repetitions11times

Best TimeEarly morning meditation or quiet contemplation on the nature of the Self

Recite this verse slowly while reflecting on the distinction it draws — that the changing has no lasting being and the eternal never perishes. Allow each repetition to draw the mind away from the transient and toward the abiding Self. It is especially powerful as a contemplative mantra (manana) during self-inquiry and study of Vedanta.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Bhagavad Gita 2.16 — Nasato Vidyate Bhavo written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

Krishna teaches that the unreal (asat) — the perishable, ever-changing body and world — has no true, lasting existence, while the real (sat) — the eternal Self — never ceases to be. Seers of truth have realized this distinction, and grasping it frees one from sorrow over what is impermanent.

'Sat' means that which truly exists, unchanging across past, present and future — the eternal Atman. 'Asat' means that which is changeful and impermanent, having no continuous being of its own — the body, objects and phenomena. The verse says only the real endures.

It is one of the clearest scriptural statements that reality is the changeless Self and unreality is the changing appearance. This discrimination (viveka) between the permanent and the impermanent is the very starting point of the spiritual path in Vedanta.

Grief arises from clinging to what is perishable as though it were permanent. By revealing that the body is unreal in the sense of being impermanent, and the soul is real and indestructible, the verse removes the false basis of mourning and brings lasting peace.