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Bhagavad Gita 2.19

Chapter 2, Verse 19

Part of 2: Sānkhya Yogसांख्ययोग

य एनं वेत्ति हन्तारं यश्चैनं मन्यते हतम्। उभौ तौ न विजानीतो नायं हन्ति न हन्यते॥

Transliteration

ya enaṁ vetti hantāraṁ yaśh chainaṁ manyate hatam ubhau tau na vijānīto nāyaṁ hanti na hanyate

Meaning

He who takes the Self to be the slayer and he who thinks it is slain, neither of them knows. It does not slay, nor is it slain.

Word-by-word meaning
yaḥone whoenamthisvettiknowshantāramthe slayeryaḥone whochaandenamthismanyatethinkshatamslainubhaubothtautheynanotvijānītaḥin knowledgenaneitherayamthishantislaysnanorhanyateis killed
Commentary

-- The Self is nondoer (Akarta) and as It is immutable? It is neither the agent nor the object of the act of slaying. He who thinks I slay or I am slain with the body or the Ahamkara (ego), he does not really comprehend the true nature of the Self. The Self is indestructible. It exists in the three periods of time. It is Sat (Existence). When the body is destroyed, the Self is not destroyed. The body has to undergo change in any case. It is inevitable. But the Self is not at all affected by it. Verses 19? 20? 21? 23 and 24 speak of the immortality of the Self or Atman. (Cf. XVIII.17)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 19?
He who takes the Self to be the slayer and he who thinks it is slain, neither of them knows. It does not slay, nor is it slain.
Which chapter and verse of the Bhagavad Gita is this?
This is verse 19 of Chapter 2 (Sānkhya Yog — Transcendental Knowledge) of the Bhagavad Gita, a scripture of 18 chapters and 700 verses spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna.