Chapter 2 Verse 23
Sānkhya Yog
नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः। न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः।।2.23।।
nainaṁ chhindanti śhastrāṇi nainaṁ dahati pāvakaḥ na chainaṁ kledayantyāpo na śhoṣhayati mārutaḥ
Word Meanings
| na | not |
| enam | this soul |
| chhindanti | shred |
| śhastrāṇi | weapons |
| na | nor |
| enam | this soul |
| dahati | burns |
| pāvakaḥ | fire |
| na | not |
| cha | and |
| enam | this soul |
| kledayanti | moisten |
| āpaḥ | water |
| na | nor |
| śhoṣhayati | dry |
| mārutaḥ | wind |
Translation
Weapons cannot cut it, fire cannot burn it, water cannot wet it, wind cannot dry it.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
This verse teaches that the true self (the soul) is beyond the physical world. Weapons, fire, water, and wind — symbols of the forces that can harm the body — cannot touch or change the soul.
The soul is permanent and untouched by birth, death, pain, or pleasure. Our body and mind are temporary tools; the inner self remains steady through all changes.
Knowing this helps us rise above fear and panic. When we remember the soul’s permanence, we can face loss, aging, and illness with more calm and clarity.
Life Application
- When you meet loss or pain, pause and remind yourself that your deeper self is not destroyed by these events; respond rather than react.
- Care for your body and relationships, but avoid overidentifying with them; practice seeing experiences as temporary.
- Use short daily practices (breath awareness, a quiet moment of reflection) to connect with the steady part of yourself.
Reflection Question
When you feel upset, do you identify more with your changing feelings and body, or with something calm and steady inside you?