Just as the embodied one passes through childhood, youth, and old age in this body, so too it passes into another body. The wise are not deluded by this.
— Krishna
❋
Bhagavad Gita · 2.13
Hindi · हिन्दी
देहधारीके इस मनुष्यशरीरमें जैसे बालकपन, जवानी और वृद्धावस्था होती है, ऐसे ही देहान्तरकी प्राप्ति होती है । उस विषयमें धीर मनुष्य मोहित नहीं होता ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
देहिनःthe embodied oneअस्मिन्in thisयथाjust asदेहेin the bodyकौमारम्childhoodयौवनम्youthजराold ageतथाsoदेहान्तरप्राप्तिःattaining another bodyधीरःthe wiseतत्रthereनnotमुह्यतिis deluded
Read literallythe embodied one · in this · just as · in the body · childhood · youth · old age · so · attaining another body · the wise · there · not · is deluded
Understanding the verse
✦
Childhood, youth, old age: Krishna uses the body's familiar stages to explain passing into another body.
The body changes through stages, and the one living in it moves on to another body. A steady person does not get confused by this.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna first reminds him that no one has really been born or lost, then gives a human example: the body moves from childhood to youth to old age, and the embodied one moves on as well.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
Looking through your grandmother's photo albums, you see a girl, a bride, a mother, an old woman, and know it was one person all along. Krishna uses that same plain fact to talk about death.
The takeaway
“Your body has changed many times already, and death is one more change of that kind.”
The body changes through stages, and the one living in it moves on to another body. A steady person does not get confused by this.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 2.13?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Sankhya Yoga" (The Yoga of Knowledge).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 2.13?
Verse 13 sits in Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita — Sankhya Yoga, "The Yoga of Knowledge". The chapter has 72 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 2.13 matter today?
Looking through your grandmother's photo albums, you see a girl, a bride, a mother, an old woman, and know it was one person all along. Krishna uses that same plain fact to talk about death.
Childhood, youth, old age: Krishna uses the body's familiar stages to explain passing into another body.
What this verse means
The body changes through stages, and the one living in it moves on to another body. A steady person does not get confused by this.
Context & commentary
Krishna first reminds him that no one has really been born or lost, then gives a human example: the body moves from childhood to youth to old age, and the embodied one moves on as well.
What it looks like today
Looking through your grandmother's photo albums, you see a girl, a bride, a mother, an old woman, and know it was one person all along. Krishna uses that same plain fact to talk about death.
“Your body has changed many times already, and death is one more change of that kind.”
Explore related themes: atman (12 verses), sankhya (11 verses)