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Chapter 2 · Verse 18 · Sankhya Yoga

Bhagavad Gita 2.18

empowering Self & Identity Karma & Action Fear & Courage

Sanskrit

अन्तवन्त इमे देहा नित्यस्योक्ताः शरीरिणः। अनाशिनोऽप्रमेयस्य तस्माद्युध्यस्व भारत।।2.18।।

Transliteration

antavanta ime dehā nityasyoktāḥ śharīriṇaḥ anāśhino ’prameyasya tasmād yudhyasva bhārata

हिंदी अर्थ

ये शरीर नाशवान हैं और आत्मा अमर है, इसलिए शरीर की मृत्यु से दुखी न होकर अपने कर्तव्य का पालन करो। आत्मा न कभी जन्म लेती है और न ही मरती है, वह सनातन है, इसलिए हे भारत, तुम साहस के साथ युद्ध करो।

Word by Word

anta-vantaḥ having an end
ime these
dehāḥ material bodies
nityasya eternally
uktāḥ are said
śharīriṇaḥ of the embodied soul
anāśhinaḥ indestructible
aprameyasya immeasurable
tasmāt therefore
yudhyasva fight
bhārata descendant of Bharat, Arjun
Simplified Perspective

Krishna draws a razor-sharp distinction here: the body is temporary, destined to crumble, but the Self within—your true essence—is eternal, indestructible, beyond all measure. This is not philosophy meant for detachment from life, but the deepest permission to engage fully without the paralysis of fear.

When you know what is truly you and what merely houses you, the hesitation dissolves—you are free to act.

Listen

Bhagavad Gita 2.18 — BG 2.18

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Sanskrit text from the Bhagavad Gita (public domain). Commentary © Mahakatha.

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