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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15 Verse 16 (15.16)

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15 Verse 16 (15.16)

दवाविमौ पुरुषौ लोके क्षरश्चाक्षर एव च । | क्षरः सर्वाणि भूतानि कूटस्थोऽक्षर उच्यते | | १५-१६ | |

dvāvimau puruṣhau loke kṣharaśhchākṣhara eva cha kṣharaḥ sarvāṇi bhūtāni kūṭastho’kṣhara uchyate

Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
  • द्वौ (dvau) — दो(two)
  • इमौ (imau) — ये दोनों(these)
  • पुरुषौ (purushau) — पुरुष(persons/entities)
  • लोके (loke) — लोक में(in the world)
  • क्षरः (ksharah) — नश्वर(the perishable)
  • अक्षरः (aksharah) — अविनाशी(the imperishable)
  • एव (eva) — ही(indeed)
  • (cha) — और(and)
Line 2:
  • क्षरः (ksharah) — नश्वर(the perishable)
  • सर्वाणि (sarvani) — सभी(all)
  • भूतानि (bhutani) — प्राणियों को(beings)
  • कूटस्थः (kuta-sthah) — अचल(the unchanging/steady)
  • अक्षरः (aksharah) — अविनाशी(the imperishable)
  • उच्यते (uchyate) — कहा जाता है(is called)

English: There are two aspects in Nature: the temporary and the everlasting. All life in this world belongs to the former, the unchanging element belongs to the latter.

Note:

There are two kinds of beings in the world: the perishable (Kshara) and the imperishable (Akshara). The bodies of all creatures are perishable, while the soul is called imperishable.

Learnings from Shloka 16:
  • Kshara and Akshara:: Distinguish between the changing physical form (Kshara) and the changeless soul (Akshara).
  • Timeless Core:: Your body changes and decays, but your inner spiritual core remains untouched by time.

Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz

Practice this shloka vocabulary

Match Sanskrit words from shloka 15.16 with their Hindi and English meanings.

Practice vocabulary