Chapter 2, Verse 19 (Bhagavad Gita 2.19)
Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yog – Transcendental Knowledge
Sanskrit Shloka
य एनं वेत्ति हन्तारं यश्चैनं मन्यते हतम्। उभौ तौ न विजानीतो नायं हन्ति न हन्यते
Transliteration
ya enaṁ vetti hantāraṁ yaśh chainaṁ manyate hatam ubhau tau na vijānīto nāyaṁ hanti na hanyate
Word Meanings
yaḥ—one who; enam—this; vetti—knows; hantāram—the slayer; yaḥ—one who; cha—and; enam—this; manyate—thinks; hatam—slain; ubhau—both; tau—they; na—not; vijānītaḥ—in knowledge; na—neither; ayam—this; hanti—slays; na—nor; hanyate—is killed
Translation
He who considers the Self to be the slayer, and he who considers It to be slain, both of them are ignorant; for the Self neither kills nor is it killed.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse shifts our perspective from the external world of action and consequence to the internal reality of our eternal nature. It teaches that the core of our being, the Atman, remains untouched by the violent shifts and losses of the material realm. By identifying with the body, we become trapped in cycles of guilt, fear, and sorrow over perceived destruction. When we internalize this wisdom, we move beyond the duality of victim and perpetrator, gaining a serene detachment that allows us to perform our duties without being consumed by their outcomes. Ultimately, it invites us to realize that our true existence is beyond the reach of time, change, and death.