BHAGAVAD-GITA 18:17

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 18:17

 

yasya nahankrto bhavo

buddhir yasya na lipyate

hatvapi sa imal lokan

na hanti na nibadhyate

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

yasya--one whose; na--never; ahankrtah--of false ego; bhavah--nature;

buddhih--intelligence; yasya--one whose; na--never; lipyate--is

attached; hatva--killing; api--even; sah--he; iman--this;

lokan--world; na--never; hanti--kills; na--never; nibadhyate--becomes

entangled.

 

TRANSLATION

 

One who is not motivated by false ego, whose intelligence is not

entangled, though he kills men in this world, does not kill. Nor is he

bound by his actions.

 

PURPORT

 

In this verse the Lord informs Arjuna that the desire not to fight

arises from false ego. Arjuna thought himself to be the doer of

action, but he did not consider the supreme sanction within and

without. If one does not know that a supersanction is there, why

should he act? But one who knows the instruments of work, himself as

the worker, and the Supreme Lord as the supreme sanctioner is perfect

in doing everything. Such a person is never in illusion. Personal

activity and responsibility arise from false ego and godlessness, or a

lack of Krsna consciousness. Anyone who is acting in Krsna

consciousness under the direction of the Supersoul or the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, even though killing, does not kill. Nor is he

ever affected by the reaction of such killing. When a soldier kills

under the command of a superior officer, he is not subject to be

judged. But if a soldier kills on his own personal account, then he is

certainly judged by a court of law.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.