वेदाविनाशिनं नित्यं य एनमजमव्ययम् ।
कथं स पुरुषः पार्थ कं घातयति हन्ति कम् ॥
कथं स पुरुषः पार्थ कं घातयति हन्ति कम् ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे पृथानन्दन जो मनुष्य इस शरीरीको अविनाशी, नित्य, जन्मरहित और अव्यय जानता है, वह कैसे किसको मारे और कैसे किसको मरवाये ॥
English
One who knows the imperishable, eternal, unborn, and unchanging cannot think of killing or causing death.
What this verse means
Anyone who truly sees the inner being as unborn and unchanging cannot think in terms of killing or being killed.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna is frozen before battle. Krishna deepens the teaching: the true inner being is not touched by birth or death. From that vision, the idea of killing becomes confused, because the real person was never perishable.
Why this verse still matters
You are about to send the message that ends a relationship, or stay silent and let harm continue. This verse asks you to see deeper than the body of the moment and act from clear seeing, not panic.
The takeaway
The fear around death loosens when you see what cannot be destroyed.
Word-by-word translation
वेद (knows) / अविनाशिनम् (the imperishable) / नित्यम् (the eternal) / यः (who) / एनम् (this one) / अजम् (unborn) / अव्ययम् (unchanging) / कथम् (how) / सः (that) / पुरुषः (person) / पार्थ (Arjuna) / कम् (whom) / घातयति (causes to be killed) / हन्ति (kills) / कम् (whom)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga — The Yoga of Knowledge, which contains 72 verses.
Explore related themes: atman (12 verses), clarity (10 verses)