Shloka 56
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
अवध्य: सर्वभूतानामन्तरात्मा न संशय: । अवध्ये चात्मनि कथं वध्यो भवति कस्यचित्,समस्त प्राणियोंका अन्तरात्मा अवध्य है, इसमें संशय नहीं है। जब आत्माका वध हो ही नहीं सकता तब वह किसीका वध्य कैसे होगा?
avadhyaḥ sarvabhūtānām antarātmā na saṁśayaḥ | avadhye cātmani kathaṁ vadhyo bhavati kasyacit ||
Arjuna disse: “O Eu interior que habita em todos os seres não está sujeito a ser morto — disso não há dúvida. E, se o Eu é de fato inviolável, como poderia tornar-se ‘matável’ em relação a quem quer que seja?”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts the inviolability of the Ātman (inner Self) present in all beings: since the Self cannot be slain, the notion of truly ‘killing’ the essential Self of anyone is philosophically incoherent. This frames ethical reflection on violence by distinguishing the perishable body from the imperishable Self.
Arjuna speaks, raising a philosophical objection: if the indwelling Self in all creatures is inherently unkillable, then in what sense can anyone be called a slayer or anyone else be called slain? He is probing the moral and metaphysical basis of harm and responsibility.