Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2, Verse 6

Contents

0.1 न चैतद्विद्म: कतरन्नो गरीयोयद्वा जयेम यदि वा नो जयेयु: |यानेव हत्वा न जिजीविषामस्तेऽवस्थिता: प्रमुखे धार्तराष्ट्रा: || 2.6 ||

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

Chapter 2, Verse 6

न चैतद्विद्म: कतरन्नो गरीयो
यद्वा जयेम यदि वा नो जयेयु: |
यानेव हत्वा न जिजीविषाम
स्तेऽवस्थिता: प्रमुखे धार्तराष्ट्रा: || 2.6 ||

na chaitadvidmaḥ kataranno garīyo
yadvā jayema yadi vā no jayeyuḥ
yāneva hatvā na jijīviṣhāmas
te ’vasthitāḥ pramukhe dhārtarāṣhṭrāḥ

भावार्थ:

हम यह भी नहीं जानते कि हमारे लिए युद्ध करना और न करना- इन दोनों में से कौन-सा श्रेष्ठ है, अथवा यह भी नहीं जानते कि उन्हें हम जीतेंगे या हमको वे जीतेंगे। और जिनको मारकर हम जीना भी नहीं चाहते, वे ही हमारे आत्मीय धृतराष्ट्र के पुत्र हमारे मुकाबले में खड़े हैं॥6॥

Translation

We do not even know which result of this war is preferable for us—conquering them or being conquered by them. Even after killing them we will not desire to live. Yet they have taken the side of Dhritarasthra, and now stand before us on the battlefield.

English Translation Of Sri Shankaracharya’s Sanskrit Commentary By Swami Gambirananda

2.6 न not? च and? एतत् this? विद्मः (we) know? कतरत् which? नः for us? गरीयः better? यत् that? वा or? जयेम we should coner? यदि if? वा or? नः us? जयेयुः they should coner? यान् whom? एव even? हत्वा having slain? न not? जिजीविषामः we wish to live? ते those? अवस्थिताः (are) standing? प्रमुखे in face? धार्तराष्ट्राः sons of Dhritarashtra.

Explanation in English:

In this verse, Arjuna reveals his confusion and hopelessness. He’s emotionally and mentally overwhelmed, unable to think clearly or choose a path.

“Na caitad vidmaḥ…” – “We don’t know what is better…”
Arjuna is paralyzed by indecision. Should he fight and win? Or would it be better to be defeated?
“Yad vā jayema yadi vā no jayeyuḥ” – “Whether we win or they win…”
Victory or defeat both seem meaningless to him at this point.
“Yān eva hatvā na jijīviṣāmaḥ” – “Those whom we do not wish to kill even at the cost of our own lives…”
Arjuna says he would rather die than kill these people, even if they are on the opposing side.
“Te ’vasthitāḥ pramukhe Dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ” – “…are now standing before us.”
The people Arjuna can’t imagine harming—his relatives, friends, and respected elders—are right in front of him, prepared to fight.

Key Takeaway:

This verse reflects Arjuna’s deep spiritual and emotional crisis. He’s caught in a dilemma where all outcomes feel wrong. His moral compass is spinning, and he’s lost his sense of clarity and purpose. This is the moment just before surrender—when he will finally seek Krishna’s guidance in the next verse.

Next: Chapter 2, Verse 7

The Bhagawad Gita: Chapter 2

The Bhagawad Gita

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