Shloka 24

Sankhya Yoga — Sankhya Yoga

Devanagari script

अच्छेद्योऽयमदाह्योऽयमक्लेद्योऽशोष्य एव च । नित्यः सर्वगतः स्थाणुरचलोऽयं सनातनः ॥ २.२४ ॥

Transliteration

acchedyo 'yam adāhyo 'yam akledyo 'śoṣya eva ca | nityaḥ sarva-gataḥ sthāṇur acalo 'yaṃ sanātanaḥ || 2.24 ||

Translation

Es ist unzerschneidbar, unverbrännlich, unbenetzbar und auch nicht austrocknend; ewig, allgegenwärtig, fest gegründet, unbeweglich und ur-ewig.

Gita Press Meaning

This (Self) cannot be cut, cannot be burned, cannot be wetted, and cannot be dried; it is eternal, all-pervading, stable, immovable, and ancient.

Critical Edition Meaning

This is uncuttable, unburnable, unwettable, and undryable; eternal, all-pervading, fixed/steadfast, immovable—everlasting.

Comparative Note

‘Sthāṇu’ can mean ‘fixed, motionless’ (also ‘pillar’ in other contexts). The sequence summarizes prior negations into a compact ontological profile of permanence and pervasiveness.

Word by Word

• अच्छेद्यः: not cuttable, incapable of being cut
• Root: अच्छेद्य (√छिद् + यत्)

• अयम्: this (one)
• Root: इदम्

• अदाह्यः: not burnable, incapable of being burnt
• Root: अदाह्य (√दह् + यत्)

• अयम्: this (one)
• Root: इदम्

• अक्लेद्यः: not wettable, incapable of being moistened
• Root: अक्लेद्य (√क्लिद् + यत्)

• अशोष्यः: not dryable, incapable of being dried
• Root: अशोष्य (√शुष् + यत्)

• एव: indeed, certainly
• Root: एव

• च: and
• Root: च

• नित्यः: eternal, constant
• Root: नित्य

• सर्वगतः: all-pervading, present everywhere
• Root: सर्वगत

• स्थाणुः: immovable, firm, unchanging
• Root: स्थाणु

• अचलः: unmoving, motionless
• Root: अचल

• अयम्: this (one)
• Root: इदम्

• सनातनः: primeval, beginningless, everlasting
• Root: सनातन

Speakers

• Krishna
• Arjuna

Primary Concepts

• Nityatva
• Sarvagatatva
• Acālatva
• Sanātanatva

Key Themes

• Summary of self’s attributes
• Permanence
• Transcendence of material change

FAQs

Psychological significance?

By emphasizing stability and pervasiveness, it supports a contemplative stance of groundedness amid fluctuating experiences.

Metaphysical meaning?

The verse consolidates the doctrine of an immutable self that is not subject to physical processes and is present universally.

Contextual relevance?

It concludes a cluster of verses meant to establish the self’s indestructibility before Krishna turns further to ethics and disciplined action.

Modern Application?

Can be used in reflective practice to separate enduring awareness from transient moods, sensations, and situational pressures.