What Does the Bhagavad Gita Say About Hurting Others?

The Bhagavad Gita teaches that harming others is a reflection of one's inner state and spirituality. Several verses discuss the concepts of compassion, the nature of actions, and the consequences of ego-driven behavior.

1. In Chapter 16, Verse 18, it is described that people blinded by ego and anger injure others and disrespect the Supreme Soul present in all beings:

   “Blinded by egotism, strength, arrogance, desire, and anger, the demonic abuse Me, who am present in their own body and in the bodies of others.”

2. Chapter 13, Verse 29 emphasizes the importance of recognizing the divine presence in all beings and suggests that those who do understand this do not degrade themselves through harmful actions:

   “Those, who see God as the Supreme Soul equally present everywhere and in all living beings, do not degrade themselves by their mind. They thereby reach the supreme destination.”

3. In Chapter 16, Verse 4, Shree Krishna describes demoniac traits such as hypocrisy, arrogance, and ignorance, which lead individuals to act in harmful ways toward others:

   “The qualities of those who possess a demoniac nature are hypocrisy, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness, and ignorance.”

4. Chapter 17, Verse 15 discusses the value of speech that does not harm others, saying:

   “Words that do not cause distress, are truthful, inoffensive, and beneficial—these are declared as austerity of speech.”

Thus, the Bhagavad Gita encourages individuals to act with compassion, recognize the divine in all beings, and refrain from actions that cause harm to others, highlighting the interconnectedness of all life.