Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse 22 Meaning

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.

BG 2.22

वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि। तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही

vāsānsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya navāni gṛihṇāti naro ’parāṇi tathā śharīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇānya nyāni sanyāti navāni dehī

Meaning

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.

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Explanation & Life Application

This verse from Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita highlights a practical insight: 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.

In The Yoga of Knowledge (Sankhya Yoga), Krishna explains Krishna begins his teachings about the eternal soul, the temporary body, and introduces the concept of selfless action.

— Explained by the Nitya Team

Chapter Context

Krishna begins his teachings about the eternal soul, the temporary body, and introduces the concept of selfless action.

Key themes in this chapter include Soul, Detachment, Karma Yoga, Self-realization.

When to Apply This Verse

  • When you need steadiness while dealing with soul
  • When practicing detachment amid uncertainty
  • When applying karma yoga to real-life choices

Verse FAQs

What is the main idea of Bhagavad Gita 2.22?
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. This verse emphasizes soul with clarity and purpose.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 2.22 in daily life?
Apply this teaching when making choices or doing your duties. Focus on detachment and keep your mind steady regardless of outcomes.

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← Back to Chapter 2: The Yoga of Knowledge

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