Bhagavad Gita BG 2.17
Chapter 2, Verse 17 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
अविनाशि तु तद्विद्धि येन सर्वमिदं ततम् । विनाशमव्ययस्यास्य न कश्चित्कर्तुमर्हति ॥ १७ ॥
avināśi tu tad viddhi yena sarvam idaṃ tatam vināśam avyayasya asya na kaścit kartum arhati
Meaning
Know that to be indestructible by which all this is pervaded. No one is able to destroy this imperishable.
Understanding
Having established the distinction between real and unreal, Krishna now directly defines the soul: it is 'avināśi' (indestructible), it is that 'by which all this is pervaded' (yena sarvam idam tatam), and it is 'avyaya' (immutable, inexhaustible). The absolute statement: 'na kaścit kartum arhati' — no one is able to destroy it. Not Arjuna, not anyone. This verse makes the teaching concrete and personal.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अविनाशि | avināśi | indestructible / imperishable |
| विद्धि | viddhi | know / understand |
| येन सर्वम् इदं ततम् | yena sarvam idaṃ tatam | by which all this (body) is pervaded |
| विनाशम् | vināśam | destruction |
| अव्ययस्य | avyayasya | of the immutable / inexhaustible |
| न कश्चित् कर्तुम् अर्हति | na kaścit kartum arhati | no one is able to bring about / no one can cause |
| तु | tu | but / indeed (affirmative particle) |
| तत् | tat | that (indestructible reality / the soul) |
| अस्य | asya | of this (imperishable soul) |