Transcendental Knowledge · 2.16
The Unreal Has No Existence
नासतो विद्यते भावो नाभावो विद्यते सतः।
उभयोरपि दृष्टोऽन्तस्त्वनयोस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः॥
nāsato vidyate bhāvo nābhāvo vidyate sataḥ
ubhayor api dṛṣṭo 'ntas tv anayos tattva-darśibhiḥ
Translation
The unreal has no existence, and the real never ceases to exist. The seers of truth have concluded this by studying the nature of both.
Meaning
Krishna makes a radical philosophical claim: what is truly real cannot be destroyed, and what is unreal cannot truly exist. The body, emotions, circumstances — these change and pass. The soul, consciousness, truth — these endure. This distinction is the foundation of fearlessness.
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