𑌨 𑌜𑌾𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌮𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌵𑌾 𑌕𑌦𑌾𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍
Na Jayate Mriyate Va (Bhagavad Gita 2.20) in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥
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Origin & Story
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 20 · Spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna; recorded by Sage Veda Vyasa in the Mahabharata (Bhishma Parva) · Ancient (part of the Mahabharata, traditionally dated to the Dvapara Yuga)
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.
✦ As told in scripture
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.
The Mantra
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𑌨 𑌜𑌾𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌮𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌵𑌾 𑌕𑌦𑌾𑌚𑌿 𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌾𑌯𑌂 𑌭𑍂𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌭𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌾 𑌵𑌾 𑌨 𑌭𑍂𑌯𑌃। 𑌅𑌜𑍋 𑌨𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌃 𑌶𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍋𑌽𑌯𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌣𑍋 𑌨 𑌹𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌹𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌾𑌨𑍇 𑌶𑌰𑍀𑌰𑍇॥
na jāyate mriyate vā kadāchin nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ ajo nityaḥ śhāśhvato ’yaṁ purāṇo na hanyate hanyamāne śharīre
Meaning:The soul is never born, nor does it ever die; nor having once existed does it ever cease to be. It is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, and primeval; it is not slain when the body is slain.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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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)
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.
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