Bhagavad Gita · Verse 18.17
Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (मोक्षसंन्यासयोगः)
(The Supreme Lord said)
यस्य नाहंकृतो भावो बुद्धिर्यस्य न लिप्यते । हत्वापि स इमाँल्लोकान्न हन्ति न निबध्यते ॥१७॥
yasya nāhaṃkṛto bhāvo buddhiryasya na lipyate | hatvāpi sa imām̐llokānna hanti na nibadhyate ||17||
Complete Shloka Translation
One without the egoistic sense of doership, whose understanding is unstained, even on slaying these people neither slays nor is bound.
Word-by-Word Translation (Padartha / Anvaya)
| Sanskrit Term (पद) | IAST Roman | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अहंकृत | ahaṃkṛta | egoistic sense of doership |
| बुद्धि | buddhi | understanding or intellect |
| यस्य | yasya | [term] in context of One without the egoistic sense... |
| नाहंकृतो | nāhaṃkṛto | [term] in context of One without the egoistic sense... |
| भावो | bhāvo | [term] in context of One without the egoistic sense... |
| बुद्धिर्यस्य | buddhiryasya | [term] in context of One without the egoistic sense... |
| लिप्यते | na | [term] in context of One without the egoistic sense... |
| हत्वापि | lipyate | [term] in context of One without the egoistic sense... |
| इमाँल्लोकान्न | hatvāpi | [term] in context of One without the egoistic sense... |
| हन्ति | sa | [term] in context of One without the egoistic sense... |
| निबध्यते | imām̐llokānna | [term] in context of One without the egoistic sense... |
| १७ | hanti | [term] in context of One without the egoistic sense... |
egoistic sense of doership
understanding or intellect
[term] in context of One without the egoistic sense...
[term] in context of One without the egoistic sense...
[term] in context of One without the egoistic sense...
[term] in context of One without the egoistic sense...
[term] in context of One without the egoistic sense...
[term] in context of One without the egoistic sense...
[term] in context of One without the egoistic sense...
[term] in context of One without the egoistic sense...
[term] in context of One without the egoistic sense...
[term] in context of One without the egoistic sense...
Detailed Commentary & Meaningful Thoughts
This difficult verse concerns non-doership in the battlefield dialogue. It is not permission for violence or exemption from moral accountability.
Philosophical Reflection & Self-Inquiry
"How can humility deepen responsibility rather than remove it?"
Inquiry Question to Ponder:
How can humility deepen responsibility rather than remove it?
Modern Life Implementation (Practical Real-Life Application)
Apply this verse to achieve purposeful living: execute your daily duties with full craftsmanship and honesty, release obsessive ego over results, and ground your spirit in timeless devotion, knowing that where righteous effort joins higher wisdom, victory is assured.