Gita 2.19
Sankhya Yoga
य एनं वेत्ति हन्तारं यश्चैनं मन्यते हतम् । उभौ तौ न विजानीतो नायं हन्ति न हन्यते ॥
ya enaṁ vetti hantāraṁ yaś cainaṁ manyate hatam ubhau tau na vijānīto nāyaṁ hanti na hanyate
In essence: Both the one who thinks the Self kills and the one who thinks it can be killed are trapped in the same ignorance—the Self neither slays nor is slain.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "But Krishna, if I shoot an arrow and it pierces Bhishma's heart, am I not the killer? My hand drew the bow!"
Guru: "Let me ask you—when your hand moves, what makes it move?"
Sadhak: "My intention, I suppose. My decision to release the arrow."
Guru: "And where does that intention arise? Did you create it from nothing, or did it arise from circumstances—Bhishma's position, your training, the war, the dharma of a warrior?"
Sadhak: "I... I see. The intention arose from a chain of causes. But still, I'm the one choosing!"
Guru: "The 'I' that chooses—is it the body? The mind? The memories? These are all changing, temporary. Which of them is the real 'you' that kills?"
Sadhak: "None of them feel permanent. But something in me watches all this happen..."
Guru: "That witness—can it lift a bow? Can it be struck by an arrow? The Self you speak of observes action but never performs it. It illumines the battlefield but doesn't enter it."
Sadhak: "So when I think 'I am killing,' I'm confusing myself with the instrument?"
Guru: "Precisely. And when you grieve that Bhishma will be 'killed,' you confuse his essence with his form. Both errors arise from the same blindness—not knowing what the Self truly is."
Did this resonate with you? Share it with someone who needs to hear this.
🌅 Daily Practice
Before acting today, pause and ask: 'Who is about to do this?' Notice the body's readiness, the mind's intention—and the awareness that watches both. Begin your day identified with the witness, not the actor.
When you feel responsible for something going wrong, examine the feeling. Distinguish between appropriate accountability (what can I learn and improve?) and false identification (I am bad because this happened). Let the first guide you; release the second.
Review one moment of conflict or guilt from the day. Separate the three elements: what the body did, what the mind thought, and the awareness that observed both. Rest in that awareness as you prepare for sleep.