In Bhagavad Gita 18.17, Krishna says one free from the sense of “I am the doer,” whose intellect is untainted, does not truly kill even if he kills these people, and is not bound.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यस्य नाहङ्कृतो भावो
बुद्धिर्यस्य न लिप्यते
हत्वाऽपि स इमाँल्लोकान्
न हन्ति न निबध्यते ॥ १८-१७ ॥
yasya nāhaṅkṛto bhāvo
buddhiryasya na lipyate
hatvā’pi sa imā~llokān
na hanti na nibadhyate
English transliteration yasya naahankrito bhaavo
buddhiryasya na lipyate
hatvaa’pi sa imaallokaan
na hanti na nibadhyate ॥ 18.17 ॥
Translation / Meaning
One who is free from the notion “I am the doer”, and whose understanding is not tainted, though he slays these people, does not slay and is not bound.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यस्य yasya | whose |
| न na | not |
| अहङ्कृतः ahaṅkṛtaḥ | egoistic |
| भावः bhāvaḥ | notion |
| बुद्धिः buddhiḥ | understanding |
| यस्य yasya | whose |
| न na | not |
| लिप्यते lipyate | is tainted |
| हत्वा hatvā | slaying |
| अपि api | though |
| सः saḥ | he |
| इमान् imān | these |
| लोकान् lokān | people |
| न na | not |
| हन्ति hanti | slays |
| न na | not |
| निबध्यते nibadhyate | is bound |
Word-wise Chanting
- yas–ya nā–haṅ–kṛ–to bhā–vo 8 syllables yas-ya naa-han-kri-to bhaa-vo
- bud–dhir–yas–ya na lip–ya–te | 8 syllables bud-dhir-yas-ya na lip-ya-te
- hat–vā–‘pi sa i–mā~–llo–kān– 8 syllables hat-vaa-‘pi sa i-maa-llo-kaan-
- na han–ti na ni–badh–ya–te || 18-17 8 syllables na han-ti na ni-badh-ya-te
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 18 Verse 17
Context
Krishna concludes the analysis of the causes of action (18.13–18.17).
Meaning
When the ahaṅkṛta bhāva, the ego-sense of doership, is gone, and the buddhi is untainted by selfish motive, even an action as grave as fighting in a righteous war does not bind. The person acts as an instrument, not from personal hatred or desire.
In the context of Arjuna’s duty in a just war, this verse frees him from guilt. It is not a licence for violence; it describes action done without ego, as the Divine’s instrument, in a righteous cause.
In Practice
In a difficult duty, let go of the sense of personal ego and act as an instrument of what is right.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.