Glossary · Philosophy
Ahimsa
अहिंसा
What does Ahimsa mean?
Ahimsa appears twice in the Gita's lists of virtues: among the qualities of knowledge in 13.8-12 and among the divine endowments in 16.1-3. It is the foundation of yoga ethics and of Gandhi's philosophy, which he drew directly from the Gita.
The Gita's nuance: ahimsa governs intention and attitude, not a blanket refusal of duty. Arjuna is asked to fight — but without hatred, cruelty, or ego, which is the deeper violence the text warns against.