Bhagavad Gita BG 2.12
Chapter 2, Verse 12 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
न त्वेवाहं जातु नासं न त्वं नेमे जनाधिपाः । न चैव न भविष्यामः सर्वे वयमतः परम् ॥ १२ ॥
na tv evāhaṃ jātu nāsaṃ na tvaṃ neme janādhipāḥ na caiva na bhaviṣyāmaḥ sarve vayam ataḥ param
Meaning
Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.
Understanding
This verse is the foundation of the Gita's teaching on the soul. Krishna makes a stunning assertion: there was no time when he, Arjuna, and all the assembled kings did not exist — and there will be no time when any of them will cease to exist. The soul is eternal — without beginning (anādi) and without end (ananta). Past, present, and future all contain these souls. Death is real for the body; it is impossible for the soul.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| न जातु | na jātu | never / at no time |
| नासम् | nāsam | I did not exist |
| जनाधिपाः | janādhipāḥ | kings / lords of men |
| न भविष्यामः | na bhaviṣyāmaḥ | we shall not exist |
| अतः परम् | ataḥ param | hereafter / in the future |
| न तु | na tu | not indeed / never |
| एव | eva | truly / certainly (emphatic) |
| अहम् | aham | I |
| त्वम् | tvam | you |
| इमे | ime | these (kings) |
| च | ca | and / nor (conjunction) |
| सर्वे | sarve | all (of us) |
| वयम् | vayam | we |