Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2, Verse 2

Contents

0.1 श्रीभगवानुवाच |
0.2 कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम् |
0.3 अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन || 2.2 ||

1 भावार्थ:
2 Translation
- 2.1 Explanation in English:
- 2.2 Key Takeaway:

Chapter 2, Verse 2

श्रीभगवानुवाच |

कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम् |

अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन || 2.2 ||

śhrī bhagavān uvācha
kutastvā kaśhmalamidaṁ viṣhame samupasthitam
anārya-juṣhṭamaswargyam akīrti-karam arjuna

भावार्थ:

श्रीभगवान बोले- हे अर्जुन! तुझे इस असमय में यह मोह किस हेतु से प्राप्त हुआ? क्योंकि न तो यह श्रेष्ठ पुरुषों द्वारा आचरित है, न स्वर्ग को देने वाला है और न कीर्ति को करने वाला ही है॥2॥

Translation

The Supreme Lord said: My dear Arjun, how has this delusion overcome you in this hour of peril? It is not befitting an honorable person. It leads not to the higher abodes, but to disgrace.

2.2 कुतः whence? त्वा upon thee? कश्मलम् dejection? इदम् this? विषमे in perilous strait? समुपस्थितम् comes? अनार्यजुष्टम् unworthy (unaryanlike)? अस्वर्ग्यम् heavenexcluding? अकीर्तिकरम् disgraceful? अर्जुन O Arjuna.

Explanation in English:

Krishna responds to Arjuna’s sorrow and hesitation not with pity, but with stern encouragement.

He asks Arjuna how such cowardice or confusion has arisen in such a crucial moment, on the battlefield, where duty (dharma) must be upheld.

Krishna criticises this attitude on three grounds:

Anārya-juṣṭam – It is unworthy of a noble man (Arya). A true noble soul acts with strength and wisdom, not weakness or emotional breakdown.
Asvargyam – It will not lead to heaven or spiritual progress. Avoiding one’s righteous duty out of fear or sorrow has no merit.
Akīrti-karam – It will lead to disgrace. Arjuna, a great warrior, would be ridiculed if he turned away now.

Key Takeaway:

Krishna begins his teachings by challenging Arjuna’s despair, reminding him that emotional weakness in the face of duty is unbecoming of a warrior and a noble soul. It’s the first push towards rising above personal emotion for a higher purpose — the essence of karma yoga (yoga of action).

Next: Chapter 2, Verse 3

The Bhagawad Gita: Chapter 2

The Bhagawad Gita