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← Chapter 2: The Yoga of Knowledge

Verse 2.17

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

अविनाशि तु तद्विद्धि येन सर्वमिदं ततम्। विनाशमव्ययस्यास्य न कश्चित्कर्तुमर्हति॥

Transliteration (IAST)

avināśi tu tad viddhi yena sarvam idaṁ tatam vināśam avyayasyāsya na kaścit kartum arhati

Word-by-Word Meanings

avināśi-indestructible
viddhi-know
sarvam-all/everything
tatam-pervaded
avyayasya-of the imperishable

Translation

Know that to be indestructible by which all this is pervaded. No one can cause the destruction of this imperishable reality.

Commentary

Krishna describes the Self (Atman) as that which pervades everything yet cannot be destroyed. This all-pervading, indestructible nature of consciousness is the central teaching of Sankhya philosophy. If the Self pervades all, it cannot be localized, divided, or destroyed.

Themes

atmanjnana