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Bhagavad Gita 2.22

As one changes worn clothes for new ones, the self leaves old bodies and takes new ones.

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

vāsāṃsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya
navāni gṛhṇāti naro 'parāṇi
tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇā
ny anyāni saṃyāti navāni dehī

Translation

"Just as a person drops worn-out clothes and puts on others that are fresh, the dweller in the body leaves worn-out bodies and enters new ones."

Hindi

"जैसे मनुष्य फटे-पुराने कपड़े छोड़कर दूसरे नए कपड़े पहन लेता है, वैसे ही देही जीर्ण शरीरों को छोड़कर दूसरे नए शरीरों में चला जाता है।"

Commentary

This is the best known image of rebirth in the Gita. Death is shown as a change of garment, which is a loss only to those who confuse the clothes with the wearer. It states the idea behind samsara and the lasting self in a single picture. 2.23 says what no weapon can do to that wearer.

Key concepts