Chapter 02, Verse 31
स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि |
धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाछ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते || 2.31 ||
svadharmam api caveksya na vikampitum arhasi |
dharmyad dhi yuddhac chreyonyat ksatriyasya na vidyate || 2.31 ||
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
स्वधर्मम् (svadharmam) |
One’s own duty |
|
अपि (api) |
Even |
|
च (ca) |
Also |
|
अवेक्ष्य (aveksya) |
Considering |
|
न (na) |
Not |
|
विकम्पितुम् (vikampitum) |
To waver |
|
अर्हसि (arhasi) |
You should |
|
धर्म्यात् (dharmyat) |
Righteous |
|
हि (hi) |
Indeed |
|
युद्धात् (yuddhat) |
Battle |
|
श्रेयः (sreyah) |
Better |
|
अन्यत् (anyat) |
Other |
|
क्षत्रियस्य (ksatriyasya) |
For a Kshatriya (warrior) |
|
न (na) |
Not |
|
विद्यते (vidyate) |
Exists |
Translation
“Furthermore, according to your own dharma as a Kshatriya, you should not falter. There is no honourable calling for a warrior than a just war.”
Context of the Verse
Now Krishna moves from the eternal nature of the soul; to the idea of duty (Dharma) and why Arjuna should fight.
Key Teachings in This Verse
Arjuna, as a Kshatriya (warrior), has to fight in a righteous war and as svadharmam; duty (svadharmam) is Supreme.
Highest calling of a warrior; kshatriya’s supreme duty is to fight for justice and dharma
Do not hesitate; as this war is a movement of righteousness, do not hesitate or doubt his actions.
Relevance to Arjuna
Krishna explains to Arjuna that this war is not a war of ego gratification, but of Dharma (righteousness). His duty, like the duty of any member of the warrior class, is to fight; to be in hiding would be a failure of purpose in life.
Explanation
Dharma refers to inherent conduct or nature and cannot be separated. It has come from Dhri dhatu. Dhri means to capture. Dharma stands for something that sustains one’s life. As sweetness is the Dharma of sugar, sugar can’t be bitter. Heat is the Dharma of fire. Similarly, to the living entities who are attached to the bodily concept of life, different Dharma is given. They are not to leave, using this way to act, that they should keep a form of behaviour. Why are such duties bestowed upon such individuals so that they can ultimately arrive at the platform of self-realization, just like the exam Dharma of a student is not to carry a calculator in the examination hall. And the Dharma for an advanced student is to carry a scientific calculator in the examination.
Same goes for Ksatriyas; you cannot be non-violent. And for Brahmanas violence is not permitted; he should always be a non-violent person. So the Dharma for one becomes a Dharma for another. Just as the child is trained gradually, so the consciousness is also allowed to come to its normal position. Thus, Arjuna had a Kshatriya body. So Krishna says, “Arjuna please stick to your Swa-Dharma. What is your Swa-Dharma?
Your duty, as a Kshatriya, is to wage war. So there are many difficulties you have to bear with because if you do not stick to your Dharma you will not reach self-realization and by self-realization only can you attain immortality.
Chapter 02, Verse 32
यदृच्छया चोपपन्नं स्वर्गद्वारमपावृतम् |
सुखिनः क्षत्रियाः पार्थ लभन्ते युद्धमीदृशम् || 2.32 ||
yadrcchaya copapannam svargadvaram apavrtam |
sukhinah ksatriyah partha labhante yuddham idrsam || 2.32 ||
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
यदृच्छया (yadrcchaya) |
By divine will (without seeking it) |
|
च (cha) |
And |
|
उपपन्नम् (upapannam) |
Arrived (naturally) |
|
स्वर्गद्वारम् (svargadvaram) |
The gateway to heaven |
|
अपावृतम् (apavrtam) |
Wide open |
|
सुखिनः (sukhinah) |
Fortunate |
|
क्षत्रियाः (ksatriyah) |
Warriors (Kshatriyas) |
|
पार्थ (partha) |
O son of Pritha (Arjuna) |
|
लभन्ते (labhante) |
Obtain |
|
युद्धम् (yuddham) |
A battle |
|
ईदृशम् (idrsam) |
Such as this |
Translation
“O Arjuna, for a Kshatriya such a battle, that comes of its own accord, opening the gates of heaven, is fortunate.”
Context of the Verse
Krishna goes on reinforcing the idea of Arjuna’s dharma as a kshatriya, reiterating that being on the battlefield of a dharmic war is a rare opportunity in itself.
Key Teachings in This Verse
A warrior’s true fortune; the Kshatriya’s dharma is to wage war for Dharma. Being afforded such an opportunity without going out looking for it is a rare and righteous opportunity.
The way to paradise; some warriors die in battle defending a righteous cause; they go to the celestial realms.
No hesitation required; this war is against the evil forces of the Universe, and it would be an honor for Arjuna to fight it.
Relevance to Arjuna
This is not an empty battle, Krishna tells Arjuna; this is the war of Divine justice. Backing down would be an abnegation of duty and an opportunity for glory and spiritual uplift lost.
Chapter 02, Verse 33
अथ चेत्त्वमिमं धर्म्यं सङ्ग्रामं न करिष्यसि |
ततः स्वधर्मं कीर्तिं च हित्वा पापमवाप्स्यसि || 2.33 ||
atha cettvam imam dharmyam sangramam na karisyasi |
tatah svadharmam kirtim cha hitva papam avapsyasi || 2.33 ||
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
अथ (atha) |
But |
|
चेत् (cet) |
If |
|
त्वम् (tvam) |
You |
|
इमम् (imam) |
This |
|
धर्म्यम् (dharmyam) |
Righteous |
|
सङ्ग्रामम् (sangramam) |
Battle |
|
न (na) |
Do not |
|
करिष्यसि (karisyasi) |
Fight |
|
ततः (tatah) |
Then |
|
स्वधर्मम् (svadharmam) |
Own duty |
|
कीर्तिम् (kirtim) |
Honor, reputation |
|
च (cha) |
And |
|
हित्वा (hitva) |
Abandoning |
|
पापम् (papam) |
Sin |
|
अवाप्स्यसि (avapsyasi) |
You will incur |
Translation
“But if you do not fight this just war, and reject your noble duty and honour, then you become sinful.’
Context of the Verse
Krishna now warns Arjuna against shirking from his dharma as a warrior.
Key Teachings in This Verse
Duty to God; abandon your duty, and your duty is to the Kshatriya who does battle to preserve Dharma. To weep for Arjuna would be sin, should he refuse to fight. Failure in duty; by abandoning his duty, Arjuna will fail not only from his responsibility but will be labelled as dishonourable in all his future births. The act of no observance of Dharma does ruin karma even in Arjuna’s actions.
Relevance to Arjuna
Krishna reminds Arjuna that his fear is not a virtue but a shirking of responsibilities. If he shirks from battle in dread or in confusion, he will lose both honour and righteousness, and only bring sin on himself.
Chapter 02, Verse 34
अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम् |
संभावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते || 2.34 ||
akirtim chapi bhutani kathayisyanti te vyayam |
sambhavitasya chakirtir maranad atiricyate || 2.34 ||
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
अकीर्तिम् (akirtim) |
Dishonor, ill-fame |
|
च (cha) |
And |
|
अपि (api) |
Also |
|
भूतानि (bhutani) |
People (all beings) |
|
कथयिष्यन्ति (kathayisyanti) |
Will talk about |
|
ते (te) |
Your |
|
अव्ययाम् (avyayam) |
Eternal (unending) |
|
संभावितस्य (sambhavitasya) |
A person honored (one held in high esteem) |
|
च (cha) |
And |
|
अकीर्तिः (akirtih) |
Dishonor |
|
मरणात् (maranat) |
Than death |
|
अतिरिच्यते (atiricyate) |
Is worse |
Translation
“Your dishonour is always going to be talked about, and for a man who has been honoured, if you follow this logic, dishonour is worse than death.”
Context of the Verse
Krishna appeals to Arjuna’s reputation and warrior pride, telling him that the world will see his withdrawal as cowardice, wearing a cloak of disgrace that will outlive him.
Key Teachings in This Verse
Dishonour is worse than death; for a warrior, it is better to die with honour than to live in disgrace.
Reputation; Arjuna has his own life, he will go on and live a happy life after killing the Kauravas, but he will forever live as a coward.
Social impact matters; Krishna tells him that a Kshatriya (warrior) lives in honour, and if he surrenders then he will get an eternal black spot on his honour.
Relevance to Arjuna
Krishna tells Arjuna that people will judge him by his externals, and not his internals; what they observe will be all that matters. If he refuses to face off, the world will conclude he doesn’t have the guts, tainting whatever positive legacy he leaves behind. For a warrior, it is worse than dying in battle.