Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 33
तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व जित्वा शत्रून्भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम् | मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वमेव निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन् ||
tasmāt tvamuttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṁ samṛddham mayai vaite nihataḥ pūrvam eva nimittamātraṁ bhava savyasācin
Therefore, arise, obtain glory, conquer enemies, and enjoy the prosperous kingdom. These are already slain by Me. Be merely an instrument, O Arjuna.
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.