Chapter 2, Verse 22
Sankhya Yoga — Sanskrit shloka, transliteration, word meanings, English translation, and commentary.
Original Sanskrit verse
Transliteration
Word meanings
vāsānsi—garments; jīrṇāni—worn-out; yathā—as; vihāya—sheds; navāni—new; gṛihṇāti—accepts; naraḥ—a person; aparāṇi—others; tathā—likewise; śharīrāṇi—bodies; vihāya—casting off; jirṇāni—worn-out; anyāni—other; sanyāti—enters; navāni—new; dehī—the embodied soul
English translation
Just as a man casts off worn-out clothes and puts on new ones, so too the embodied Self casts off worn-out bodies and enters others that are new.
— Swami Sivananda
Listen to Shloka 2.22
Simple Meaning
As a person sheds worn-out garments and puts on new ones, so the embodied soul casts off worn-out bodies and enters into new ones.
Context & Background
Krishna uses a simple, relatable metaphor of changing clothes to demystify physical death.
Key Philosophical Teaching
Krishna uses the image of changing garments to explain the continuity of the embodied self beyond bodily death. This spiritual teaching does not make the experience of grief unimportant.
Practical Application
Reflect on the image of changing garments at your own pace. Allow room for grief, remembrance, and support from people you trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
What metaphor does Krishna use for reincarnation in BG 2.22?
Krishna compares reincarnation to shedding old, worn-out clothes and putting on fresh new garments.
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