In Bhagavad Gita 2.19, Krishna teaches that both the one who thinks the Self is a slayer and the one who thinks it is slain are ignorant, for the Self neither slays nor is slain.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
य एनं वेत्ति हन्तारं
यश्चैनं मन्यते हतम्
उभौ तौ न विजानीतो
नायं हन्ति न हन्यते ॥ २-१९ ॥
ya enaṃ vetti hantāraṃ
yaścainaṃ manyate hatam
ubhau tau na vijānīto
nāyaṃ hanti na hanyate
English transliteration ya enam vetti hantaaram
yashchainam manyate hatam
ubhau tau na vijaaneeto
naayam hanti na hanyate ॥ 2.19 ॥
Translation / Meaning
One who thinks of this Self as the slayer and one who thinks of it as slain both fail to understand. The Self neither slays nor is slain.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यः yaḥ | who |
| एनम् enam | this (Self) |
| वेत्ति vetti | knows, thinks |
| हन्तारम् hantāram | the slayer |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| च ca | and |
| एनम् enam | this |
| मन्यते manyate | thinks |
| हतम् hatam | slain |
| उभौ ubhau | both |
| तौ tau | they |
| न na | not |
| विजानीतः vijānītaḥ | know |
| न na | not |
| अयम् ayam | this |
| हन्ति hanti | slays |
| न na | nor |
| हन्यते hanyate | is slain |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya e–naṃ vet–ti han–tā–raṃ 8 syllables ya e-nam vet-ti han-taa-ram
- yaś–cai–naṃ man–ya–te ha–tam | 8 syllables yash-chai-nam man-ya-te ha-tam
- u–bhau tau na vi–jā–nī–to 8 syllables u-bhau tau na vi-jaa-nee-to
- nā–yaṃ han–ti na han–ya–te || 2-19 8 syllables naa-yam han-ti na han-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 2 Verse 19
Context
Krishna deepens the teaching of 2.18 by addressing the idea of killing itself.
Meaning
Arjuna feared becoming a killer, and feared the death of his kin. Krishna answers both fears at once: the Self is neither the agent of killing nor its victim. Killing and being killed belong to the level of bodies and actions, not to the conscious Self, which is pure witness.
This verse is not a licence for violence; the Gita elsewhere praises non-violence (16.2). It is a teaching about identity. When we identify with the body, we think of ourselves as doers and victims. When we know the Self, we see actions arising in nature while the Self remains untouched. This insight frees action from fear and from pride.
In Practice
Notice today how often you think “I did this” or “this was done to me.” Experiment with seeing actions as happening, while you remain the witness.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge). 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.