Verse 2.23
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः। न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nainaṁ chindanti śastrāṇi nainaṁ dahati pāvakaḥ na cainaṁ kledayanty āpo na śoṣayati mārutaḥ
Word-by-Word Meanings
śastrāṇi-weapons
chindanti-can cut
pāvakaḥ-fire
dahati-can burn
āpaḥ-water
mārutaḥ-wind
Translation
Weapons cannot cut the Self, fire cannot burn it, water cannot wet it, and wind cannot dry it.
Commentary
Krishna systematically denies the possibility of the Self being affected by any of the five elements. This verse is particularly relevant on the battlefield - even the weapons of war cannot touch the true Self. The Self transcends all material interactions.
Themes
atmanjnana