Bhagavad Gita - Daily One Verse Brief Explanation - II 2:19 II

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|| Shree Hari ||

Ram Ram

 

II 2:19 II

 

ya enam vetti hantaram, yas cha enam manyate hatam

ubhau tau na vijanito, nayam hanti na hanyate

 

" He who holds that It (Shariri or soul) slays and he who thinks that

It is slain; both of them fail to perceive the truth; It neither

slays, nor is slain. "

 

Comments:

 

There is no doer-ship in Shariri (Atama or Soul) and It also does

not have modification such as death. The modifications such as doer-

ship etc. are believed because of assumed identification (sense of

mine-ness) with the Prakriti (nature).

 

From Gita Prabodhani in Hindi pg. 30 by Swami Ramsukhdasji

 

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Chapter 2, Verse 19 is as follow;

 

YaH = who

Enam = this (Self)

Vetti = knows

Hantaaram = slayer

YaH = who

Cha = and

Enam = This (the Aatman, the Self)

Manyate = thinks

Hatam = slain

Ubhau = both

Tau = those

Na = not

VijaneetaH = know

Na = not

Ayam = This (the Aatman, the Self)

Hanti = slays

Na = not

Hanyate = is slain

 

English translation:-

 

He who holds the Atman as the slayer and he who considers It as the

slain, both of them are ignorant. It neither slays, nor is slain.

 

Lord Krishna is trying to distinguish between the `Prakruti' i.e.

matter in the Nature and `Purusha' i.e. the Aatman i.e. the subset

of the superset the Brahman.

 

The Aatman is changeless, while the physical bodies undergo variety

of changes in different life cycles. Only an ignorant thinks of the

Aatman as a slayer and a slain one.

 

The Aatman is the primeval source of all the activities of all

living beings.

Without that enlivening principle, there cannot be an initiation of

any action. The Aatman has no desires, no likes, no dislikes, no

priorities, no biases and no preferences. It neither acts by itself

nor can it be acted upon.

 

The Self is not a doer is very nicely illustrated in the verse 27 of

chapter 3 in Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta. The Lord Krishna says, " While

all kinds of actions are initiated by the modes of nature

Prakruti), the person who is bewildered by the sense of ego

thinks that he himself is the real doer. A deluded soul attributes

the acts of the Prakruti to itself.

 

The Pure Consciousness is the Illuminator of the physical body as

well as the human vanity, ego. Being Immutable, the Self can neither

be an agent to action of killing nor can be the target of the very

action of slaying. It remains untainted.

 

The `Kartrutva' i.e. the ego of executing actions and `Bhoktrutva'

i.e. the ego of exclusive rights to the fruits of actions are the

attributes of physical body, mind and intellect of a human being.

The Aatman has nothing to do with either `Kartrutva' or `Bhoktrutva'.

 

Whatever happens on the planet earth due to the influence of

`Prakruti', it does not affect the Space. It remains untainted.

 

Similarly in the case of the Aatman, as illustrated by the verse 31

in chapter 13, The Lord Krishna says, " O Arjuna! Even though the

Aatman dwells in every physical body, It neither acts nor is

tainted. Therefore, the Supreme Self is without any beginning,

without any demise and is beyond the three `GuNaas' i.e. qualities

of `Satva' i.e. righteousness, `Rajas' i.e. passion and `Tama' i.e.

dullness.

 

Thanks & Best Regards,

Shrikant Joshi

===============================================================

OTHER SADHAKS

 

Dear Sir,

 

I am YOGA student and I desire to learn BHAGWAT GEETA and also to

memorise entire gita as a whole. In this regard, I need your

assistance and guidance.

 

Dr Mohan

-----------------------------

Shree Hari Ram Ram

ALL SADHAKS, If you are aware of good suggestions of Dr. Mohanji,

please email us. Dr. Mohanji, we will compile and send responses in

one posting.

Ram Ram

------------------------------

|| Shree Hari ||

Ram Ram

 

All Sadhaks can and should contribute as well. Discussion /

clarification is encouraged

 

OTHER REQUESTS FROM SADHAKS -

 

Please feel free to take the lead in any of these areas so that all

sadhaks may benefit.

 

- Introduction to Chapters (GT MODERATOR FROM SADHAK SANJIVANI)

- Chapter Summary - Principles and Laws emanating from it.(N.B. VYAS)

- Summary of Chapter from Sadhak Sanjivani " AS IS "

- Yes, Epilogue / Important Facts in each verse good to bring out.

- Any subtle thoughts / interpretation (MIKE)

- In-depth explanation of " Om Tat Saditi Srimadbhagavadgitaasu,

Upanishadsu..... " is a very good idea. (GT MODERATOR FROM SADHAK

SANJIVANI)

 

From Gita Talk Moderators

Ram Ram

-----------------------------

 

Shree Hari

Ram Ram

We deeply thank Shri Shrikantji Joshi for taking the initiative to

support this divine work of daily one verse Bhagavad Gita

explanation and Shri Madan Kauraji for the Gita Prabodhani

translation Chapter 1 and 2 and to Mrs. K Asani for requesting shloka

explanation on a daily basis.

From Gita Talk Moderators

Ram Ram