Chapter II · Śloka 17
अविनाशि तु तद्विद्धि येन सर्वमिदं ततम् |
विनाशमव्ययस्यास्य न कश्चित्कर्तुमर्हति ||
विनाशमव्ययस्यास्य न कश्चित्कर्तुमर्हति ||
avināśi tu tad viddhi yena sarvam idaṃ tatam |
vināśam avyayasyas ya na kaścit kartum arhati ||
vināśam avyayasyas ya na kaścit kartum arhati ||
Know that to be indestructible by which all this is pervaded. No one is able to bring about the destruction of that which is immutable.
The ātman is not merely one entity among others but the pervading reality through which all things are known — like light that illuminates a room yet cannot itself be darkened by anything within it.