Bhagavad Gita 2.17

The reality that pervades all things is imperishable and no one can destroy it.

अविनाशि तु तद्विद्धि येन सर्वमिदं ततम्।
विनाशमव्ययस्यास्य न कश्चित् कर्तुमर्हति॥

avināśi tu tad viddhi yena sarvam idaṃ tatam
vināśam avyayasyāsya na kaścit kartum arhati

Translation

"Know that the thing which runs through all of this is beyond destruction. No one has the power to bring an end to what does not decay."

Hindi

"उसे अविनाशी जानो जिससे यह सब व्याप्त है। इस अक्षय तत्त्व का नाश करने में कोई समर्थ नहीं है।"

Commentary

Here the real is described as that which pervades everything. Many commentators take this as the self, which Shankara treats as one with Brahman, while others stress the individual self. Either way, the point for Arjuna is that what is deathless cannot be killed by anyone, as 2.18 draws out.

Key concepts

Atmanआत्मन्Brahmanब्रह्मन्