BG 18.17
Even though they may kill living beings, one who is free from pride and attachment is neither the one who kills nor are they bound by their actions.
हत्वापि स इमाँल्लोकान्न हन्ति न निबध्यते
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yasya — whose
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nāhankṛito — free from ego
na ahankṛitaḥ -
bhāvo — nature
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buddhir — intellect
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yasya — whose
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na lipyate — unattached
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hatvā — slay
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‘pi — even
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sa — they
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imāl — this
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lokān — living beings
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na — nor
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hanti — kill
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na — nor
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nibadhyate — get bound
I will now tell you the five causes that must come together for an action to be accomplished. There is the body, the personality, the sense organs, the various kinds of activities, and cosmic destiny. These five are the essential causes for any action a person may perform, whether by physical effort, speech, or thought, and whether the action be righteous or immoral. Those with impure intellect regard the soul as the only agent of action - they cannot see things as they really are. Even though they may kill living beings, one who is free from pride and attachment is neither the one who kills nor are they bound by their actions. Knowledge, the object of knowledge, and the knower are the three incentives to action. The act, the actor, and the instrument are its three constituents.
Similar verses
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One who is without attachment has been liberated. Their mind has become established in knowledge, and they work only for the sake of sacrifice, leaving no residue of Karma.
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One whose doubts have been dispelled by knowledge, who has renounced all actions and has control of the self, is not bound by actions.
- Verse 4.41
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One whose mind is entirely detached, who has conquered the self and is free from desire, attains through renunciation the supreme perfection and freedom from action.
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One who dedicates all action to Brahman, and abandons all attachment, is untouched by sin like a lotus leaf above water.
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The wise, with equanimous minds, relinquish the fruit of their actions and are freed from the bondage of life and death, attaining a state that is devoid of suffering.
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