The Sanatana Project

Sanātana (सनातन) is one of the most sacred and profound words in the lexicon of Dharma. Commonly translated as eternal, ageless, or everlasting, it’s more than a philosophical term—it’s the very essence of what makes Sanātana Dharma what it is: timeless, universal, and forever relevant.

But what does sanātana actually mean in our scriptures?

Let us dive into key verses that illuminate the eternal nature of the Self, the universe, and the truth that transcends time.

The Etymology of Sanātana

In Sanskrit, sanātana means:

“That which has no beginning or end; that which is eternal.”

It refers to that which exists beyond the confines of time—beyond creation and destruction. In the context of Sanātana Dharma, it speaks to a way of life that is not rooted in historical events or revelations, but in cosmic truths that are always valid.

Scriptural Shlokas That Explain Sanātana

1. Bhagavad Gita 2.20 – The Eternal Soul

na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin
nayaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato ’yaṁ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre

Translation:
The soul is never born, nor does it ever die; nor once having been, does it cease to be. It is unborn, eternal (nitya), everlasting (śāśvata), and ancient (purāṇa). It is not destroyed when the body is slain.

The words nitya, śāśvata, and purāṇa are all synonymous with sanātana—pointing to the eternal nature of the Self (ātman).

2. Bhagavad Gita 15.7 – The Eternal Part of the Divine

mamaivānśho jīva-loke jīva-bhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ
manaḥ-ṣhaṣhṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛiti-sthāni karṣhati

Translation:
The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal (sanātanaḥ) fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling with the six senses, including the mind.

Here, sanātanaḥ directly describes the jīva (soul) as an eternal part of the Divine—unchanging and indestructible despite worldly experiences.

3. Bhagavad Gita 8.3 – The Eternal Nature of the Self

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
akṣaraṁ brahma paramaṁ
svabhāvo ’dhyātmam ucyate
bhūta-bhāvodbhava-karo
visargaḥ karma-saṁjñitaḥ

Translation:
The Supreme Lord said: The indestructible, eternal (akṣaraṁ) is Brahman. Its eternal nature is called the Self (adhyātma).

While the word sanātana is not directly used here, the idea of akṣara (imperishable) aligns with its meaning.

4. Bhagavad Gita 11.18 – The Lord as Sanātana

tvam akṣaraṁ paramaṁ veditavyaṁ
tvam asya viśvasya paraṁ nidānam
tvam avyayaḥ śāśvata-dharma-goptā
sanātanas tvaṁ puruṣo mato me

Translation:
You are the imperishable, the Supreme to be realized. You are the ultimate resting place of all. You are the protector of the eternal dharma (śāśvata-dharma), the eternal being (sanātanaḥ puruṣaḥ)—this is my belief.

This is perhaps the most explicit use of the term sanātana in describing the eternal, unchanging Divine Being—Sanātana Puruṣa.

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5. Katha Upanishad (Kathopanishad) 1.2.18 – The Soul Is Sanātana

na jāyate mriyate vā vipaścin
nāyaṁ kutaścin na babhūva kaścit
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato ’yaṁ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre

Translation:
The soul is not born, nor does it die. It has not come from anywhere, nor will it become something else. It is unborn, eternal, everlasting, and ancient. It is not destroyed when the body is destroyed.

The same language used in the Bhagavad Gita is echoed in the Upanishads, showing continuity of the eternal truth (sanātana satya) across scriptures.

So What Is Sanātana Dharma?

Sanātana Dharma is the cosmic framework of truth, duty, and eternal principles that guide all beings toward liberation (mokṣa).

It is not a religion in the modern sense. It is the eternal law that governs the soul, nature, and the universe—a dharma that exists whether or not humanity acknowledges it.

It is not man-made. It has no founder. It is the flow of truth from the Divine itself. When we speak of Sanātana Dharma, we are not talking about something old—we are talking about something that never grows old.

It is not just about ancient rituals or temples. It is about aligning ourselves with eternal truths—of who we are (ātman), what binds us (karma), and what liberates us (mokṣa).

References

• Bhagavad Gita: 2.20, 8.3, 11.18, 15.7
• Katha Upanishad: 1.2.18
• Sanātana Dharma as interpreted in the teachings of Śrī Śaṅkarācārya, Swami Vivekananda, and other sages