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.
[13]There is the body, the personality, the sense organs, the various kinds of activities, and cosmic destiny.
[14]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.
[15]Those with impure intellect regard the soul as the only agent of action - they cannot see things as they really are.
[16]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.
[17]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.
[18]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.
- Verse 4.23
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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.
- Verse 18.49
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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.
- Verse 5.10
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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.
- Verse 2.51