Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse 23 (2.23)

नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः । न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः | | २-२३ | |

nainaṁ chhindanti śhastrāṇi nainaṁ dahati pāvakaḥ na chainaṁ kledayantyāpo na śhoṣhayati mārutaḥ

Word-by-word guide:

Line 1:

न (na) — वायु(wind does not dry it)
i joined in nainaṁ
न (na) — वायु(wind does not dry it)
m joined in nainaṁ
इदइ (chindanti) — आत्मा(weapons do not cut this self)
शरइ (shastrani) — आत्मा(weapons do not cut this self)
न (na) — वायु(wind does not dry it)
i joined in nainaṁ
न (na) — वायु(wind does not dry it)
m joined in nainaṁ
दहइ (dahati) — अग्नि(fire does not burn it)
पावकः (pavakah) — अग्नि(fire does not burn it)

Line 2:

न (na) — वायु(wind does not dry it)
च (ca) — और(and)
i joined in chainaṁ
न (na) — वायु(wind does not dry it)
m joined in chainaṁ
एदयइ (kledayanti) — जल(waters do not wet it)
अप (apah) — जल(waters do not wet it)
न (na) — वायु(wind does not dry it)
ओशयइ (shoshayati) — वायु(wind does not dry it)
मउत (marutah) — वायु(wind does not dry it)

English: Weapons cannot cut the self, fire cannot burn it, water cannot wet it, and wind cannot dry it.

💡 Commentary Note

Krishna uses the primary elements of nature to describe the invulnerability of the soul. No material force can affect or alter the spiritual core of a human being.

Learnings from Shloka 23:

Invincible nature:: Your true self is untouched by the physical elements and the struggles of the material world.
Inner sanctuary:: Realizing the soul's untouchability provides a mental sanctuary that cannot be disturbed by any external crisis.

Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz

Practice this shloka vocabulary

Match Sanskrit words from shloka 2.23 with their Hindi and English meanings.

Practice vocabulary

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