Bhagavad Gita 2.27 — Death Is Certain for the Born and Birth Is Certain for the Dead
जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च।
तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि॥ २.२७॥
🔊 Listen to meaning of this shloka
Current voice: —
Ready
Text-to-speech is not supported by this browser.
For one who is born, death is certain, and for one who has died, birth is certain. Therefore, you should not grieve over what is unavoidable.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| jātasya | of one who is born |
| hi | indeed |
| dhruvaḥ | certain |
| mṛityuḥ | death |
| dhruvam | certain |
| janma | birth |
| mṛitasya | of one who has died |
| cha | and |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| tasmāt | therefore |
| aparihārye | in the unavoidable |
| arthe | matter |
| na | not |
| tvam | you |
| śhochitum | to grieve |
| arhasi | should |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| jātasya | of one who is born | tasmāt | therefore |
| hi | indeed | aparihārye | in the unavoidable |
| dhruvaḥ | certain | arthe | matter |
| mṛityuḥ | death | na | not |
| dhruvam | certain | tvam | you |
| janma | birth | śhochitum | to grieve |
| mṛitasya | of one who has died | arhasi | should |
| cha | and | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
Here Lord Krishna points to a simple fact that no one can dispute: whoever is born must die, and whoever dies will be born again. Because this cycle is unavoidable, grieving over it is a misuse of the heart's energy. The verse blends rational observation with the Gita's teaching on rebirth.
Essence
The law that cannot be avoided
Lord Krishna says, jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyuḥ dhruvam janma mṛtasya ca. For one who has been born, death is certain, and for one who has died, birth is certain. The word dhruva means fixed, unfailing, beyond doubt. Death is not an accident that happens only to the unfortunate. It is built into the structure of embodied existence.
Aparihārye 'rthe (in a matter that cannot be avoided): The word aparihārya means that which cannot be circumvented. We can postpone, prepare for, and respond to many things in life, but birth and death are not among the avoidable things. To grieve for what cannot be altered is to fight against the nature of existence itself.
Two layers of the teaching
The observation: Everyone who is born dies. This is a fact that can be seen by anyone. Arjuna's grief arises from thinking about the fighters who will fall, but they would die sooner or later in any case. The question is not whether, but when and how.
The doctrine of rebirth: The second half of the statement, that birth is certain for one who has died, introduces the teaching of continuity. The Self does not come to a final end but moves on. This connects with the earlier image of changing garments.
It is important to understand that Krishna is not saying that loss does not hurt or that the departure of loved ones is trivial. He is helping Arjuna to see that sorrow cannot change what is part of the order of life, and that wisdom lies in using one's energy for what can be done, in this case the duty at hand.
Message for Everyday Life (Accepting What Cannot Be Changed)
Many of us expend our energy resisting facts that are not in our control, such as ageing, endings, and the passing of loved ones.
Distinguish what can be changed from what cannot: Grieve honestly, but then redirect your energy toward what lies within your reach.
Let awareness of impermanence deepen life: Remembering that time is limited can help us love more attentively and waste less of it on trivial conflicts.
The law that cannot be avoided
Lord Krishna says, jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyuḥ dhruvam janma mṛtasya ca. For one who has been born, death is certain, and for one who has died, birth is certain. The word dhruva means fixed, unfailing, beyond doubt. Death is not an accident that happens only to the unfortunate. It is built into the structure of embodied existence.
Aparihārye 'rthe (in a matter that cannot be avoided): The word aparihārya means that which cannot be circumvented. We can postpone, prepare for, and respond to many things in life, but birth and death are not among the avoidable things. To grieve for what cannot be altered is to fight against the nature of existence itself.
Two layers of the teaching
The observation: Everyone who is born dies. This is a fact that can be seen by anyone. Arjuna's grief arises from thinking about the fighters who will fall, but they would die sooner or later in any case. The question is not whether, but when and how.
The doctrine of rebirth: The second half of the statement, that birth is certain for one who has died, introduces the teaching of continuity. The Self does not come to a final end but moves on. This connects with the earlier image of changing garments.
It is important to understand that Krishna is not saying that loss does not hurt or that the departure of loved ones is trivial. He is helping Arjuna to see that sorrow cannot change what is part of the order of life, and that wisdom lies in using one's energy for what can be done, in this case the duty at hand.
Message for Everyday Life (Accepting What Cannot Be Changed)
Many of us expend our energy resisting facts that are not in our control, such as ageing, endings, and the passing of loved ones.
Distinguish what can be changed from what cannot: Grieve honestly, but then redirect your energy toward what lies within your reach.
Let awareness of impermanence deepen life: Remembering that time is limited can help us love more attentively and waste less of it on trivial conflicts.
Next Topic
Krishna has said that death and birth are certain, and that grief over the unavoidable is not fitting. He now looks at the larger pattern of existence. In the next verse He observes that beings are unmanifest before birth, manifest in between, and unmanifest again after death, and asks what there is to lament in that.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
Everything that begins will end, and everything that ends will begin.
Don't argue with what can't be changed.
Life moves in circles, not lines.
Mourning the inevitable steals the present.
Serenity is seeing the cycle without fear.
The wise live fully because they accept endings.
Act on what you can; accept what you cannot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'dhruva' (certain) mean in this verse?
Does this verse teach rebirth?
What does 'aparihārya' (unavoidable) mean?
Is Krishna asking us not to feel sad when someone dies?
How does this verse differ from the earlier ones in this series?
Explore related topics
More shlokas on the themes this verse touches: