Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 31 (BG 2.31)

Живи Гитой

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कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते

You have the right to act...

Preparing your translation...

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते

You have the right to act...

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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 31 — Meaning & Commentary | Live Gita

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स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि |
धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते ||२-३१||

svadharmamapi cāvekṣya na vikampitumarhasi . dharmyāddhi yuddhācchreyo.anyatkṣatriyasya na vidyate ||2-31||

Further, having regard to thy own duty, thou shouldst not waver, for there is nothing higher for a Kshatriya than a righteous war.

In simple words

Krishna shifts the argument: "Even setting aside the soul, look at your own role. You are a warrior. Your duty is to fight for what is right. There is nothing higher for a warrior than a just battle."

Word-by-word meanings

स्वधर्मम्own dutyअपिalsoचandअवेक्ष्यlooking atनnotविकम्पितुम्to waverअर्हसि(thou) oughtestधर्म्यात्than righteousहिindeedयुद्धात्than warश्रेयःhigherअन्यत्otherक्षत्रियस्यof a Kshatriyaनnot

Commentaries

Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.

Swami Sivananda

2.31 स्वधर्मम् own duty? अपि also? च and? अवेक्ष्य looking at? न not? विकम्पितुम् to waver? अर्हसि (thou) oughtest? धर्म्यात् than righteous? हि indeed? युद्धात् than war? श्रेयः higher? अन्यत् other? क्षत्रियस्य of a Kshatriya? न not? विद्यते is.Commentary Lord Krishna now gives to Arjuna wordly reasons for fighting. Up to this time? He talked to Arjuna on the immortality of the Self and gave him philosophical reasons. Now He says to Arjuna? O Arjuna Fighting is a Kshatriyas own duty. You ought not to swerve from that duty. To a Kshatriyta (one born in the warrior or ruling class) nothing is more welcome than a righteous war. A warrior should fight.

Swami Chinmayananda

This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.

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Commentaries

Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.

Swami Sivananda

Swami Chinmayananda

The duty of a warrior is to lead society and the nation, and as a warrior, Arjun's obligation becomes to protect society from the calamity of unrighteousness that has befallen it. His duty is to respond to society's call and fight against enemies on the battlefield without wavering, thereby preserving the culture and values of the nation. For warriors, there is no greater and more auspicious deed than to have the golden opportunity to display their valor in a righteous war. Here, the unrighteous ones have attacked first. Therefore, it is not fitting for Arjun to abstain from this war. The Mahabharata, in its Udyoga Parva, clearly states that the sin of killing an innocent person is as grave as the sin of failing to destroy one who deserves to be destroyed. While establishing the justification for war, the Blessed One offers another reason.

This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 31 (BG 2.31) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

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