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Chapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized · 72 verses

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Soul & knowledgeChapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized
2.112.13

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.12

The eternal soul beyond bodily death

न त्वेवाहं जातु नासं न त्वं नेमे जनाधिपाः ।

न चैव नभविष्यामः सर्वे वयमतः परम् ॥ १२ ॥

na tv evāhaṁ jātu nāsaṁ

na tvaṁ neme janādhipāḥ

na caiva na bhaviṣyāmaḥ

sarve vayam ataḥ param

Translation

Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Eternal Individual Persons

  1. 1Kṛṣṇa says that He, Arjuna and all these kings have always existed and will never cease to exist.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that each soul remains an individual even after liberation. Kṛṣṇa eternally maintains all living beings.
  3. 3Only devotees can truly understand the Gītā and its teaching of eternal spiritual individuality.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 2, Contents of the Gītā Summarized: the eternal soul beyond bodily death.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Discern the eternal self from the temporary.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: ātmā, jñāna.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 2.12 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to soul & knowledge?

Practice

Spend five minutes reflecting on what in you does not change.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 2 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 2.11The eternal soul beyond bodily deathBG 2.13The self endures bodily changeBG 4.34The humility of real inquiryBG 15.7The living being belongs to Krishna

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

Ask the study guide

Ask about BG 2.12 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.