Na Jayate Mriyate Va (Bhagavad Gita 2.20) — Benefits & How to Chant
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचित्
Complete guide to chanting correctly for maximum benefit
Benefits of Chanting Na Jayate Mriyate Va (Bhagavad Gita 2.20)
Completely dissolves the fear of death by affirming the soul's deathless nature
One of the supreme verses for meditation on the immortal Self (atman)
Brings deep peace and fearlessness (abhaya) to the mind
Consoles those who mourn, affirming that the departed soul lives on eternally
Anchors the seeker in the truth that the true Self is unborn and indestructible
Frequently recited in funeral and memorial rites to invoke peace for the departed soul
How to Chant Na Jayate Mriyate Va (Bhagavad Gita 2.20)
Instructions
Recite this verse slowly and meditatively in Sanskrit, dwelling on each quality of the soul — unborn, eternal, ever-existing, ancient. It may be chanted 3, 11, or 21 times. Along with verse 2.13, this is a principal verse contemplated at the time of death and in shraddha and memorial ceremonies to affirm the imperishability of the atman.
Spiritual Significance
Great souls have departed this world reciting this very verse, their faces serene, having realized themselves as the unborn and undying atman. It is traditionally held that one who truly absorbs the meaning of this verse crosses beyond the fear of death entirely.
Origin & History
Source: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 20
Author: Spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna; recorded by Sage Veda Vyasa in the Mahabharata (Bhishma Parva)
In the second chapter of the Gita, Sankhya Yoga, Krishna systematically removes Arjuna's grief and delusion by teaching the eternal nature of the soul. After describing how the wise do not lament for the living or the dead, Krishna gives this verse as the definitive statement of the soul's immortality. It draws directly from the ancient wisdom of the Upanishads and remains among the most quoted verses on the deathless Self.