Whoever thinks this kills, and whoever thinks this is killed, both do not know. This does not kill nor is killed

The epistemology of violence: there is ignorance (na vijānītaḥ) in both extremes. The “killer” and the “killed” are illusions from the perspective of the ātman.

The demonstrative ayam (this) points to the ātman as subject. Na hanti (does not kill) — cannot be agent of destruction; na hanyate (is not killed) — cannot be object of destruction.

This is not an apology for violence but a metaphysical observation. From the absolute point of view, there is no destruction. But the relative level — where there are bodies, pain, karmic consequences — continues operating. The teaching is to liberate the doer from paralyzing guilt.