Chapter 2 · Sankhya Yoga - The Yoga of KnowledgeKrishna
Verse 21
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 2, श्लोक 21
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
वेदाविनाशिनं नित्यं य एनमजमव्ययम्।
कथं स पुरुषः पार्थ कं घातयति हन्ति कम्॥२१॥
Transliteration
Veda-Avinashinam Nityam Ya Enam-Ajam-Avyayam.
Katham Sa Purushah Partha Kam Ghatayati Hanti Kam.||21||
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
वेदvedaknows
अविनाशिनम्avinashinamindestructible
नित्यम्nityameternal
अजम्ajamunborn
अव्ययम्avyayamimperishable
कथम्kathamhow
सः पुरुषःsah purushahthat person
कम् घातयतिkam ghatayaticauses whom to be killed
हन्तिhantikills
कम्kamwhom
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
हे पार्थ! जो पुरुष इस आत्मा को अविनाशी, नित्य, अजन्मा और अव्यय जानता है, वह कैसे किसी को मार सकता है या किसी से मरवा सकता है?
English Translation
O Partha, the person who knows the soul to be indestructible, eternal, unborn, and imperishable — how can that person kill anyone or cause anyone to be killed?
Commentary (टीका)
Krishna asks a rhetorical question that shatters Arjuna's argument. If the soul cannot be killed, then the concept of 'killing' applies only to the body, which is perishable anyway. The wise person acts without the false notion of being a killer or making someone killed — actions happen at the bodily level while the soul remains untouched.