One who is free from the ego-sense and whose intellect is untainted — even slaying all these beings, that person neither slays nor is bound. This dramatic verse illustrates the ultimate freedom of the non-attached actor. Shankara teaches that for the realized being, the Self is recognized as non-doer — action belongs entirely to the gunas. Ramanuja sees this as describing one who acts purely as God's instrument. Madhva teaches that when agency belongs to the Lord, even harsh-seeming action carries no personal karma. Abhinavagupta sees this as the jivanmukta — one whose actions arise from universal consciousness without personal will; action and its absence become equal in freedom. Vallabha teaches that complete surrender to Krishna frees the devotee from paralyzing moral anxiety. The bhakti tradition sees this as the fruit of total surrender. Tilak considers it crucial for the Gita's warrior-context: the duty-bound person, free from ego, is not bound even by difficult actions. Vivekananda teaches that freedom from ego transforms action's quality — acting from truth rather than from ego is the highest responsibility. The traditions agree: this verse does not condone violence but illustrates that the ego, not the action itself, creates bondage.