Bhagavad Gita Funeral Verses and Prayers for the Departed
Sacred Sanskrit shlokas for last rites, comfort during grief, and understanding the eternal nature of the soul
Quick Answer: The most recited Bhagavad Gita verses at Hindu funerals come from Chapter 2, where Krishna teaches that the soul is eternal and indestructible. Key verses include BG 2.20 (the soul never dies), BG 2.22 (death is like changing clothes), and BG 2.27 (death is certain for the born, rebirth for the dead). These verses bring profound comfort by teaching that death is not the end but a sacred transition for the soul.
The Gita's Teaching on Death and the Soul
When a loved one passes away, grief can feel overwhelming. The Bhagavad Gita offers some of the most consoling and philosophically profound teachings about death found in any spiritual tradition. At the heart of the Gita's message is a simple yet powerful truth: the soul never dies.
In Chapter 2 (Sankhya Yoga), Lord Krishna reveals to Arjuna the eternal nature of the atman (soul). These verses have been recited at Hindu funerals for centuries, bringing comfort to grieving families and honoring the departed with sacred wisdom. The Gita does not ask us to suppress grief — rather, it offers a deeper understanding that transforms how we experience loss.
As the classical commentator Adi Shankaracharya explains, knowledge of the soul's eternal nature is the ultimate remedy for the sorrow that accompanies death. When we understand that the person we love has not ceased to exist but has simply moved on, our grief transforms into a sacred remembrance.
Essential Funeral Verses from the Bhagavad Gita
The following verses are traditionally recited during Hindu funeral ceremonies, cremation rites, and the mourning period. Each verse addresses a specific aspect of death, the soul, and the journey beyond.
1. The Soul Is Eternal
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचि- न्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः। अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे॥
na jayate mriyate va kadachin nayam bhutva bhavita va na bhuyah ajo nityah shashvato 'yam purano na hanyate hanyamane sharire
Translation: "The soul is never born, nor does it ever die. It has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. It is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, and primeval. It is not slain when the body is slain."
Funeral significance: This is the most important verse recited at Hindu funerals. It declares unequivocally that the soul of the departed has not ended — it is eternal and beyond the reach of death. Adi Shankaracharya calls this the foundational verse for understanding the imperishable nature of the self.
Translation: "As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones."
Funeral significance: This verse offers one of the most comforting metaphors about death. The body is compared to clothing — something worn for a time and then changed. The soul, like the person wearing the clothes, continues on. This imagery helps the bereaved understand that their loved one has simply moved to a new form of existence.
3. The Soul Cannot Be Destroyed
नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः। न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः॥
nainam chindanti shastrani nainam dahati pavakah na chainam kledayanty apo na shoshayati marutah
Translation: "The soul can never be cut to pieces by any weapon, nor burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind."
Funeral significance: During cremation, when the physical body is consumed by fire, this verse brings deep consolation. The fire transforms the body, but it cannot touch the soul. The departing soul is indestructible — beyond the reach of any physical force. Ramanujacharya emphasizes that the soul's indestructibility is absolute and unconditional.
4. The Certainty of Death and Rebirth
जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च। तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि॥
jatasya hi dhruvo mrityur dhruvam janma mritasya cha tasmad apariharye 'rthe na tvam shochitum arhasi
Translation: "One who has taken birth is certain to die, and after death one is certain to take birth again. Therefore, in an unavoidable matter, you should not grieve."
Funeral significance: Krishna here addresses grief directly, acknowledging that death is natural and unavoidable. By revealing that birth follows death just as certainly as death follows birth, this verse reframes death as part of an eternal cycle rather than a final ending. It does not dismiss grief but places it in a larger spiritual context.
Translation: "You grieve for those who should not be grieved for, yet you speak words of wisdom. The wise grieve neither for the living nor for the dead."
Funeral significance: This is the first verse of Krishna's teaching, spoken when he sees Arjuna overwhelmed by grief. It sets the foundation for everything that follows. The wise do not grieve because they understand the eternal nature of the soul. This is not a call to suppress emotions but an invitation to see death through the eyes of wisdom.
6. The Soul Is Unchanging
अविनाशि तु तद्विद्धि येन सर्वमिदं ततम्। विनाशमव्ययस्यास्य न कश्चित्कर्तुमर्हति॥
avinashi tu tad viddhi yena sarvam idam tatam vinasham avyayasyasya na kashchit kartum arhati
Translation: "Know that which pervades the entire body is indestructible. No one is able to destroy the imperishable soul."
Funeral significance: The consciousness that animated your loved one's body — their awareness, their love, their essence — this cannot be destroyed by anything. Madhvacharya teaches that this verse reveals the soul's fundamental nature as a conscious, individual being that continues beyond the death of the body.
Verses for Comfort During Grief
Beyond the funeral ceremony itself, the Gita offers many verses that bring comfort during the days, weeks, and months of mourning. These verses address the emotional reality of grief while pointing toward spiritual understanding.
देहिनोऽस्मिन्यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा। तथा देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्धीरस्तत्र न मुह्यति॥
dehino 'smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati
Translation: "As the embodied soul continuously passes through childhood, youth, and old age in this body, so too does it pass into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change."
Finding Comfort: Just as your loved one changed from a child to an adult — and you never said the child "died" when they grew up — the transition at death is another natural change. The same soul continues, just in a new form. The person you loved has not vanished. They have moved on.
अव्यक्तादीनि भूतानि व्यक्तमध्यानि भारत। अव्यक्तनिधनान्येव तत्र का परिदेवना॥
avyaktadini bhutani vyakta-madhyani bharata avyakta-nidhanany eva tatra ka pardevana
Translation: "All created beings are unmanifest before birth, manifest between birth and death, and again unmanifest after death. So why grieve?"
Finding Comfort: Before birth, we existed in an unseen form. During life, we became visible. After death, we return to the unseen. The soul moves through these phases naturally. Your loved one existed before you met them, they shared life with you, and now they have returned to the unseen — but they have not ceased to be.
Translation: "Treating happiness and distress, gain and loss, victory and defeat alike, engage in your duty. By doing so, you shall never incur sin."
Finding Comfort: Life brings both joy and sorrow. Krishna does not say we should not feel sadness — he says we should hold both joy and sorrow with equanimity, continuing to fulfill our duties. Grieve, but do not let grief prevent you from living. Honor your loved one by carrying forward the love and purpose they shared with you.
What Happens to the Soul After Death?
The Bhagavad Gita offers clear teachings about what happens to the soul when it departs the body. In Chapter 8 (Akshara Brahma Yoga), Krishna describes the moment of death and the soul's onward journey.
अन्तकाले च मामेव स्मरन्मुक्त्वा कलेवरम्। यः प्रयाति स मद्भावं याति नास्त्यत्र संशयः॥
anta-kale cha mam eva smaran muktva kalevaram yah prayati sa mad-bhavam yati nasty atra samshayah
Translation: "Whatever state of being one remembers when leaving the body, that state one will attain without fail."
These verses reveal that the soul's journey after death is shaped by the consciousness it carried during life. A person who lived with devotion, kindness, and spiritual awareness carries that consciousness forward. This is profoundly comforting for those who have lost a loved one who lived a good life — their goodness, love, and spiritual practice accompany them on their journey.
The Two Paths After Death
In BG 8.24-26, Krishna describes two paths the soul may take after death:
The Path of Light (Devayana): The soul travels through fire, light, daytime, the bright fortnight, and the six months of the sun's northern course — reaching Brahman and not returning to the cycle of birth and death.
The Path of Darkness (Pitriyana): The soul travels through smoke, night, the dark fortnight, and the six months of the sun's southern course — reaching the lunar world and eventually returning to take birth again.
Regardless of path, the soul continues. As Ramanujacharya explains, both paths affirm the soul's continuity beyond death, bringing solace to those who mourn.
Prayers and Verses for the Mourning Period
In Hindu tradition, the mourning period typically lasts 13 days (though this varies by region and family custom). During this time, reciting Gita verses and prayers brings peace to both the departed soul and the grieving family. Here are verses especially suited for this period.
Translation: "O son of Kunti, the experiences of happiness and distress are temporary; they come and go like winter and summer. They arise from sense perception, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed."
In the rawness of early grief, this verse acknowledges that pain is real and present — but it is not permanent. Like seasons, grief will shift and change. Allow it to be what it is, knowing that it will, in time, transform.
Translation: "One must elevate oneself by one's own mind, not degrade oneself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and the mind is also its enemy."
During mourning, the mind can spiral into dark places. This verse reminds us that we have the inner strength to lift ourselves. It is not a demand to "get over" grief but an encouragement to be gentle with ourselves and to gradually find our footing again.
For Surrender and Peace
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज। अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः॥
sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam sharanam vraja aham tvam sarva-papebhyo mokshayishyami ma shuchah
Translation: "Abandon all varieties of duties and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear."
This final verse of Krishna's teaching is often recited as a prayer for the departed soul. The words "ma shuchah" (do not grieve, do not fear) speak directly to both the departed and the grieving. It is an assurance from the Divine that all will be well. Surrender your loved one into the care of the Supreme, trusting in the perfection of the soul's journey.
How to Recite Gita Verses for the Departed
There is no single "right" way to recite the Gita for a departed loved one. Different Hindu traditions have varying customs. Here are common practices:
During the Funeral Ceremony
A priest or family elder typically recites Chapter 2, verses 11-30 during the cremation or burial
The family may join in reciting verses they have memorized, particularly BG 2.20 and BG 2.22
BG 18.66 is often recited as a final prayer of surrender
During the 13-Day Mourning Period
Many families do a complete recitation of all 700 verses of the Gita over the 13 days
Some recite one chapter per day, completing the Gita and continuing through the mourning period
Others focus on specific chapters: Chapter 2 (soul), Chapter 8 (death and afterlife), Chapter 15 (the Supreme Self)
For Ongoing Remembrance
On death anniversaries (shraddha), families often recite Chapter 2 or the complete Gita
Regular daily recitation of a few verses keeps the departed in loving remembrance
Some families establish a tradition of reading one Gita verse each evening as ongoing spiritual practice
Personal Prayer
You do not need to be a priest to recite the Gita. Any family member can read these verses with sincere devotion. The Gita itself teaches that devotion and sincerity matter more than perfect ritual performance (BG 9.26). If you cannot read Sanskrit, reading in translation is equally valid. What matters is the love and remembrance in your heart.
Classical Commentary on Death and the Soul
The great acharyas (teachers) of the Hindu tradition have offered profound insights on the Gita's teachings about death:
Adi Shankaracharya (Advaita Vedanta)
Shankaracharya teaches that the soul is identical with Brahman (the ultimate reality). Death dissolves the illusion of separateness. The individual soul was never truly separate from the cosmic whole. In this view, death is not a departure but a dropping of the veil of illusion (maya). The departed soul returns to its true nature — infinite, unchanging awareness. This perspective brings deep peace: your loved one has returned to the source of all being.
Ramanujacharya (Vishishtadvaita Vedanta)
Ramanujacharya teaches that the individual soul retains its unique identity while being eternally connected to God (Vishnu/Narayana). Death is the soul's transition back to the divine realm, where it continues its relationship with God. For the devotee, death is a homecoming — a return to the presence of the beloved Lord. The departed soul finds peace and fulfillment in the divine embrace.
Madhvacharya (Dvaita Vedanta)
Madhvacharya teaches that each soul is eternally distinct and moves according to its own karma and devotion. The soul that has cultivated devotion (bhakti) reaches the abode of the Supreme and experiences eternal bliss. For Madhva, the funeral recitation of the Gita reminds both the departed and the living of the soul's highest possibility — eternal communion with God.
Finding Peace After Loss: The Gita's Guidance
Grief is a natural response to losing someone you love. The Bhagavad Gita does not ask you to suppress your grief. Even Arjuna — the mighty warrior — wept when faced with loss. What the Gita offers is not the absence of grief but a pathway through it.
Allow Yourself to Grieve
The first chapter of the Gita shows Arjuna in profound grief — his body trembling, tears flowing, his bow slipping from his hand (BG 1.28-30). Krishna does not tell Arjuna to stop feeling. He listens. He waits. And only when Arjuna asks for guidance does Krishna begin to teach. This shows us that grief must be acknowledged and expressed before wisdom can take root.
Seek Understanding
As you grieve, allow the Gita's teachings about the soul to settle into your heart. Read the verses slowly. Contemplate them. Let the truth that the soul is eternal work its way from intellectual understanding to heartfelt knowing. Understanding does not come all at once — it unfolds gradually, like the dawn after a long night.
Continue Your Dharma
One of the Gita's central messages is that we must continue to fulfill our duties (dharma) even in the midst of difficulty. The best way to honor a departed loved one is to live well — to carry forward the love, values, and purpose they shared with you. As Krishna teaches in BG 3.35, performing your own duty, however imperfectly, is better than doing nothing at all.
Remember with Love
The Gita teaches that consciousness persists beyond death (BG 8.6). The love you shared with the departed is not lost. It is part of the eternal fabric of existence. Remembering your loved one with love, gratitude, and spiritual awareness is the highest form of honoring them. Some traditions believe that the love and prayers of the living genuinely support the soul on its journey.
Read All 700 Verses with Translations
The Srimad Gita App provides every verse with Sanskrit, transliteration, and clear translations — making it easy to recite and study during mourning or any time you seek comfort.
Which Bhagavad Gita verses are recited at Hindu funerals?
The most commonly recited verses at Hindu funerals include BG 2.20 (the soul is eternal and never dies), BG 2.22 (the soul changes bodies like changing clothes), BG 2.23 (the soul cannot be destroyed by any element), BG 2.27 (death is certain for the born, rebirth certain for the dead), and BG 8.5-6 (departing while remembering the Supreme). Chapter 2 verses 11-30 form the core funeral recitation in many Hindu traditions.
What does the Bhagavad Gita say about death?
The Bhagavad Gita teaches that death is not the end but a transition. Krishna explains in Chapter 2 that the soul (atman) is eternal, indestructible, and unchanging. Death is compared to changing old clothes for new ones (BG 2.22). The soul is never born and never dies — it simply moves from one body to another. This teaching brings comfort and philosophical understanding about the nature of death.
How does the Gita help with grief and loss?
The Gita helps with grief by teaching that the soul of the departed person is eternal and indestructible. Krishna tells Arjuna not to grieve for the soul, as it was never born and can never die (BG 2.20). The Gita also teaches that wise people do not grieve for the living or the dead (BG 2.11), because the soul continues its journey. These teachings bring comfort by reframing death not as an ending but as a natural transition.
Can I recite Bhagavad Gita verses for someone who has passed away?
Yes, reciting Bhagavad Gita verses for someone who has passed away is a deeply respected Hindu tradition. Many families recite the entire Gita or specific chapters during the 13-day mourning period (shraddha). Chapter 2 (verses 11-30 on the eternal soul), Chapter 8 (on departing the body), and Chapter 15 (on the Supreme Self) are commonly chosen. The recitation brings peace to the departed soul and comfort to the grieving family.
What is the Hindu perspective on death according to the Gita?
According to the Gita, death is a natural and inevitable part of the soul's journey. The soul (atman) is eternal, without beginning or end. It takes birth in a body, lives through various stages, and at death, departs to take a new body based on its karma and desires. Krishna teaches that one should not fear death because the true self — the soul — is beyond death. The Gita encourages remembrance of God at the time of death (BG 8.5) as the highest spiritual practice.
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita should be read during mourning?
Chapter 2 (Sankhya Yoga) is the most important chapter to read during mourning, as it contains Krishna's core teachings on the immortality of the soul. Chapter 8 (Akshara Brahma Yoga) discusses what happens at the time of death. Chapter 15 (Purushottama Yoga) describes the Supreme Self and the soul's relationship with God. Many families also complete a full reading of all 18 chapters during the 13-day mourning period.