In Bhagavad Gita 2.21, Krishna asks how one who knows the Self as indestructible, eternal, unborn and immutable could slay anyone or cause anyone to be slain.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
वेदाविनाशिनं नित्यं
य एनमजमव्ययम्
कथं स पुरुषः पार्थ
कं घातयति हन्ति कम् ॥ २-२१ ॥
vedāvināśinaṃ nityaṃ
ya enamajamavyayam
kathaṃ sa puruṣaḥ pārtha
kaṃ ghātayati hanti kam
English transliteration vedaavinaashinam nityam
ya enamajamavyayam
katham sa purushah paartha
kam ghaatayati hanti kam ॥ 2.21 ॥
Translation / Meaning
O Partha, how can a person who knows this Self to be indestructible, eternal, unborn and changeless kill anyone, or cause anyone to kill?
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| वेद veda | knows |
| अविनाशिनम् avināśinam | indestructible |
| नित्यम् nityam | eternal |
| यः yaḥ | who |
| एनम् enam | this |
| अजम् ajam | unborn |
| अव्ययम् avyayam | changeless |
| कथम् katham | how |
| सः saḥ | that |
| पुरुषः puruṣaḥ | person |
| पार्थ pārtha | O Pārtha |
| कम् kam | whom |
| घातयति ghātayati | causes to kill |
| हन्ति hanti | kills |
| कम् kam | whom |
Word-wise Chanting
- ve–dā–vi–nā–śi–naṃ nit–yaṃ 8 syllables ve-daa-vi-naa-shi-nam nit-yam
- ya e–na–ma–ja–mav–ya–yam | 8 syllables ya e-na-ma-ja-mav-ya-yam
- ka–thaṃ sa pu–ru–ṣaḥ pār–tha 8 syllables ka-tham sa pu-ru-shah paar-tha
- kaṃ ghā–ta–ya–ti han–ti kam || 2-21 8 syllables kam ghaa-ta-ya-ti han-ti kam
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 21
Context
Krishna draws out the practical meaning of 2.19–2.20 for one who truly knows the Self.
Meaning
For one established in knowledge of the Self, the ideas “I kill” and “I cause to kill” lose their basis. Such a person acts, but without the sense of being the doer in the ultimate sense. The deed belongs to the body and the situation; the knower rests in the changeless Self.
The verse addresses Arjuna’s deepest anxiety: becoming responsible for death. Krishna does not deny the moral weight of action; elsewhere he insists on doing one’s duty carefully and well. But he shows that the knower of the Self acts from a place beyond personal guilt and personal pride. Such action is pure because it is free of self-centred motive.
In Practice
Do one task today with full care while letting go of the thought “I am the doer.” Let the action be offered rather than owned.
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.