Bhagavad Gita BG 2.30
Chapter 2, Verse 30 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
देही नित्यमवध्योऽयं देहे सर्वस्य भारत । तस्मात्सर्वाणि भूतानि न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि ॥ ३० ॥
dehī nityam avadhyo 'yaṃ dehe sarvasya bhārata tasmāt sarvāṇi bhūtāni na tvaṃ śocitum arhasi
Meaning
O Bharata, the soul that dwells in the body of every living being is eternal and can never be killed. Therefore you need not grieve for any living being.
Understanding
The conclusion of the Sankhya section. 'Dehī' (the soul, dweller in the body) is 'nityam avadhyaḥ' — eternally inviolable — in the body (dehe) of every being (sarvasya). The teaching is now universal: not just the soul of Bhishma or Drona, but the soul in every living being is eternal and cannot be killed. Therefore: 'sarvāṇi bhūtāni na śocitum arhasi' — for all beings, you should not grieve. This closes the philosophical argument and prepares for the next section on duty.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| देही | dehī | the soul / the dweller in the body |
| नित्यम् | nityam | eternally / always |
| अवध्यः | avadhyaḥ | inviolable / that which cannot be killed |
| देहे सर्वस्य | dehe sarvasya | in the body of every being |
| सर्वाणि भूतानि | sarvāṇi bhūtāni | all living beings |
| न शोचितुम् अर्हसि | na śocitum arhasi | you should not grieve / you are not right to lament |
| अयम् | ayam | this (soul / the dweller in the body) |
| तस्मात् | tasmāt | therefore |
| त्वम् | tvam | you |
| भारत | bhārata | O Bharata (Arjuna) |