Вірш 18.1718.118.218.318.418.518.618.718.818.918.1018.1118.1218.1318.1418.1518.1618.1718.1818.1918.2018.2118.2218.2318.2418.2518.2618.2718.2818.2918.3018.3118.3218.3318.3418.3518.3618.3718.3818.3918.4018.4118.4218.4318.4418.4518.4618.4718.4818.4918.5018.5118.5218.5318.5418.5518.5618.5718.5818.5918.6018.6118.6218.6318.6418.6518.6618.6718.6818.6918.7018.7118.7218.7318.7418.7518.7618.7718.78

He who is free from the egoistic notion, whose intelligence is not tainted (by good or evil), though he slays these people, he slayeth not, nor is he bound (by the action).

One who has no sense of being the doer, whose understanding is not tainted, does not kill even if he kills these people, nor is he bound.

This is one of the most debated verses of the Gita. One who has no ego-sense of being the doer, and whose understanding is not tainted, does not truly kill even if he kills these people, and is not bound by the act. Spoken on a battlefield, the verse must be read with care. It does not license violence; it describes a person acting from a state free of ego and desire within a duty already given. Readers stress that such freedom is rare and that the claim applies only to it.