The Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form

Krishna urges Arjuna to fight, explaining that the warriors are already slain. 'Tasmāt tvamuttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva'—therefore (tasmāt), you (tvam), arise (uttiṣṭha), obtain glory (yaśaḥ labhasva). 'Jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṁ samṛddham'—having conquered (jitvā) enemies (śatrūn), enjoy (bhuṅkṣva) the prosperous (samṛddham) kingdom (rājyaṁ). 'Mayai vaite nihataḥ pūrvam eva'—by Me (mayā), indeed (eva), these (ete) are already slain (nihataḥ), before (pūrvam), indeed (eva). 'Nimittamātraṁ bhava savyasācin'—be (bhava) merely an instrument (nimittamātram), O Arjuna (savyasācin). Krishna explains that since the warriors are already slain by Time (the cosmic form), Arjuna should simply be an instrument—not the doer, but the means through which the inevitable happens. This verse shows the philosophy of karma yoga: Arjuna should act without attachment, simply as an instrument of the cosmic process.