Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
सञ्जय उवाच	Sanjaya said	sañjaya uvāca
तं	unto Arjuna	taṃ
तथा	thus	tathā
कृपया	by compassion	kṛpayā
आविष्टं	overwhelmed	āviṣṭaṃ
अश्रूपूर्णाकुल	full of tears	aśrūpūrṇākula
ईक्षणं	eyes	īkṣaṇaṃ
विषीदन्तं	lamenting	viṣīdantaṃ
इदं	these	idaṃ
वाक्यं	words	vākyaṃ
उवाच	said	uvāca
मधुसूदनः	the killer of Madhu.	madhusūdanaḥ

Sanjaya said: To him who was thus overcome with pity and despondency, with eyes full of tears and agitated, Madhusudana spoke these words.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
श्रीभगवानुवाच	the Supreme Personality of Godhead said	śrībhagavānuvāca
कुतः	wherefrom	kutaḥ
त्वा	unto you	tvā
कश्मलं	dirtiness	kaśmalaṃ
इदं	this lamentation	idaṃ
विषमे	in this hour of crisis	viṣame
समुपस्थितं	arrived	samupasthitaṃ
अनार्य	persons who do not know the value of life	anārya
जुष्टं	practiced by	juṣṭaṃ
अस्वर्ग्यं	which does not lead to higher planets	asvargyaṃ
अकीर्ति	infamy	akīrti
करं	the cause of	karaṃ
अर्जुन	O Arjuna.	arjuna

Sri Krishna said: how have these impurities come upon you? They are not at all befitting a man who knows the value of life. They lead not to higher planets but to infamy.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
क्लैब्यं	impotence	klaibyaṃ
मा स्म	do not	mā sma
गमः	take to	gamaḥ
पार्थ	O son of Pritha	pārtha
न	never	na
एतत्	this	etat
त्वयि	unto you	tvayi
उपपद्यते	is befitting	upapadyate
क्षुद्रं	petty	kṣudraṃ
हृदय	of the heart	hṛdaya
दौर्बल्यं	weakness	daurbalyaṃ
त्यक्त्वा	giving up	tyaktvā
उत्तिष्ठ	get up	uttiṣṭha
परंतप	O chastiser of the enemies.	paraṃtapa

O son of Prtha, do not yield to this degrading impotence. It does not become you. Give up such petty weakness of heart and arise, O chastiser of the enemy.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अर्जुन उवाच	Arjuna said	arjuna uvāca
कथं	how	kathaṃ
भीष्मं	Bhishma	bhīṣmaṃ
अहं	I	ahaṃ
साङ्ख्ये	in the fight	sāṅkhye
द्रोणं	Drona	droṇaṃ
च	also	ca
मधुसूदन	O killer of Madhu	madhusūdana
इषुभिः	with arrows	iṣubhiḥ
प्रतियोत्स्यामि	shall counterattack	pratiyotsyāmi
पूजार्हौ	those who are worshipable	pūjārhau
अरिसूदन	O killer of the enemies.	arisūdana

Arjuna said: O killer of enemies, O killer of Madhu, how can I counterattack with arrows in battle men like Bhisma and Drona, who are worthy of my worship?

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
गुरुन्	the superiors	gurun
अहत्वा	not killing	ahatvā
हि	certainly	hi
महानुभवान्	great souls	mahānubhavān
श्रेयः	it is better	śreyaḥ
भोक्तुं	to enjoy life	bhoktuṃ
भैक्ष्यं	by begging	bhaikṣyaṃ
अपि	even	api
इह	in this life	iha
लोके	in this world	loke
हत्वा	killing	hatvā
अर्थ	gain	artha
कामान्	desiring	kāmān
तु	but	tu
गुरुन्	superiors	gurun
इह	in this world	iha
एव	certainly	eva
भुञ्जीय	one has to enjoy	bhuñjīya
भोगान्	enjoyable things	bhogān
रुधिर	blood	rudhira
प्रदिग्धान्	tainted with.	pradigdhān

It would be better to live in this world by begging than to live at the cost of the lives of great souls who are my teachers. Even though desiring worldly gain, they are superiors. If they are killed, everything we enjoy will be tainted with blood.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
न	nor	na
च	also	ca
एतत्	this	etat
विद्मः	do we know	vidmaḥ
कतरत्	which	katarat
नः	for us	naḥ
गरीयः	better	garīyaḥ
यद्वा	whether	yadvā
जयेम	we may conquer	jayema
यदि	if	yadi
वा	or	vā
नः	us	naḥ
जयेयुः	they conquer	jayeyuḥ
यान्	those who	yān
एव	certainly	eva
हत्वा	by killing	hatvā
न	never	na
जिजीविषामः	we would want to live	jijīviṣāmaḥ
ते	all of them	te
अवस्थिताः	are situated	avasthitāḥ
प्रमुखे	in the front	pramukhe
धार्तराष्ट्राः	the sons of Dhritarashtra.	dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ

Nor do we know which is better – conquering them or being conquered by them. If we killed the sons of Dhrtarastra, we should not care to live. Yet they are now standing before us on the battlefield.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
मां	me	māṃ
कार्पण्य	of miserliness	kārpaṇya
दोष	by the weakness	doṣa
उपहत	being afflicted	upahata
स्वभावः	characteristics	svabhāvaḥ
पृच्छामि	I am asking	pṛcchāmi
त्वां	unto You	tvāṃ
धर्म	religion	dharma
सम्मूढ	bewildered	sammūḍha
चेताः	in heart	cetāḥ
यत्	what	yat
श्रेयः	all-good	śreyaḥ
स्यात्	may be	syāt
निश्चितं	confidently	niścitaṃ
ब्रूहि	tell	brūhi
तत्	that	tat
मे	unto me	me
शिष्यः	disciple	śiṣyaḥ
ते	Your	te
अहं	I am	ahaṃ
शाधि	just instruct	śādhi
त्वां	unto You	tvāṃ
प्रपन्नं	surrendered.	prapannaṃ

Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
न	do not	na
हि	certainly	hi
प्रपश्यामि	I see	prapaśyāmi
मम	my	mama
अपनुद्यात्	can drive away	apanudyāt
यत्	that which	yat
शोकं	lamentation	śokaṃ
उच्छोषणं	drying up	ucchoṣaṇaṃ
इन्द्रियाणां	of the senses	indriyāṇāṃ
अवाप्य	achieving	avāpya
भुमौ	on the earth	bhumau
असपत्नं	without rival	asapatnaṃ
ऋद्धं	prosperous	ṛddhaṃ
राज्यं	kingdom	rājyaṃ
सुराणां	of the demigods	surāṇāṃ
अपि	even	api
च	also	ca
आधिपत्यं	supremacy.	ādhipatyaṃ

I can find no means to drive away this grief which is drying up my senses. I will not be able to dispel it even if I win a prosperous, unrivaled kingdom on earth with sovereignty like the demigods in heaven.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
सञ्जय उवाच	Sanjaya said	sañjaya uvāca
एवं	thus	evaṃ
उक्त्वा	speaking	uktvā
हृषीकेशं	unto KRiShNa, the master of the senses	hṛṣīkeśaṃ
गुडाकेशः	Arjuna, the master of curbing ignorance	guḍākeśaḥ
परन्तप	the chastiser of the enemies	parantapa
न योत्स्ये	I shall not fight	na yotsye
इति	thus	iti
गोविन्दं	unto KRiShNa, the giver of pleasure to the senses	govindaṃ
उक्त्वा	saying	uktvā
तुष्णिं	silent	tuṣṇiṃ
बभूव	became	babhūva
ह	certainly.	ha

Sañjaya said: Having spoken thus, Arjuna, chastiser of enemies, told Krsna, “Govinda, I shall not fight,” and fell silent.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
तं	unto him	taṃ
उवाच	said	uvāca
हृषीकेशः	the master of the senses, KRiShNa	hṛṣīkeśaḥ
प्रहसन्	smiling	prahasan
इव	like that	iva
भारत	O Dhritarashtra, descendant of Bharata	bhārata
सेनयोः	of the armies	senayoḥ
उभयोः	of both parties	ubhayoḥ
मध्ये	between	madhye
विषीदन्तं	unto the lamenting one	viṣīdantaṃ
इदं	the following	idaṃ
वचः	words.	vacaḥ

O descendant of Bharata, at that time Krsna, smiling, in the midst of both the armies, spoke the following words to the grief-stricken Arjuna.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
श्रीभगवानुवाच	the Supreme Personality of Godhead said	śrībhagavānuvāca
अशोच्यान्	not worthy of lamentation	aśocyān
अन्वशोचः	you are lamenting	anvaśocaḥ
त्वं	you	tvaṃ
प्रज्ञावादान्	learned talks	prajñāvādān
च	also	ca
भाषसे	speaking	bhāṣase
गत	lost	gata
असून्	life	asūn
अगत	not past	agata
असून्	life	asūn
च	also	ca
न	never	na
अनुशोचन्ति	lament	anuśocanti
पण्डिताः	the learned.	paṇḍitāḥ

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: While speaking learned words, you are mourning for what is not worthy of grief. Those who are wise lament neither for the living nor for the dead.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
न	not	na
इमे	all these	ime
जनाधिपः	kings	janādhipaḥ
न	never	na
तु	but	tu
एव	certainly	eva
अहं	I	ahaṃ
जातु	at any time	jātu
न	did not	na
आसं	exist	āsaṃ
न	not	na
त्वं	you	tvaṃ
न	never	na
च	also	ca
एव	certainly	eva
न	not	na
भविष्यामः	shall exist	bhaviṣyāmaḥ
सर्वे वयं	all of us	sarve vayaṃ
अतः परं	hereafter.	ataḥ paraṃ

Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
देहीनः	of the embodied	dehīnaḥ
अस्मिन्	in this	asmin
यथा	as	yathā
देहे	in the body	dehe
कौमारं	boyhood	kaumāraṃ
यौवनं	youth	yauvanaṃ
जरा	old age	jarā
तथा	similarly	tathā
देहान्तर	of transference of the body	dehāntara
प्राप्तिः	achievement	prāptiḥ
धीरः	the sober	dhīraḥ
तत्र	thereupon	tatra
न	never	na
मुह्यति	is deluded.	muhyati

As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
मात्रास्पर्शः	sensory perception	mātrāsparśaḥ
तु	only	tu
कौन्तेय	O son of Kunti	kaunteya
शीत	winter	śīta
उष्ण	summer	uṣṇa
सुख	happiness	sukha
दुःख	and pain	duḥkha
दाः	giving	dāḥ
आगम	appearing	āgama
अपायिनः	disappearing	apāyinaḥ
अनित्यः	nonpermanent	anityaḥ
तान्	all of them	tān
तितिक्षस्व	just try to tolerate	titikṣasva
भारत	O descendant of the Bharata dynasty.	bhārata

O son of Kunti, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
यं	one to whom	yaṃ
हि	certainly	hi
न	never	na
व्यथयन्ति	are distressing	vyathayanti
एते	all these	ete
पुरुषं	to a person	puruṣaṃ
पुरुषर्षभ	O best among men	puruṣarṣabha
सम	unaltered	sama
दुःख	in distress	duḥkha
सुखं	and happiness	sukhaṃ
धीरं	patient	dhīraṃ
सः	he	saḥ
अमृतत्त्वाय	for liberation	amṛtattvāya
कल्पते	is considered eligible.	kalpate

O best among men [Arjuna], the person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
न	never	na
असतः	of the nonexistent	asataḥ
विद्यते	there is	vidyate
भावः	endurance	bhāvaḥ
न	never	na
अभावः	changing quality	abhāvaḥ
विद्यते	there is	vidyate
सतः	of the eternal	sataḥ
उभयोः	of the two	ubhayoḥ
अपि	verily	api
दृष्टः	observed	dṛṣṭaḥ
अन्तः	conclusion	antaḥ
तु	indeed	tu
अनयोः	of them	anayoḥ
तत्त्व	of the truth	tattva
दर्शिभिः	by the seers.	darśibhiḥ

Those who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent [the material body] there is no endurance and of the eternal [the soul] there is no change. This they have concluded by studying the nature of both.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अविनाशि	imperishable	avināśi
तु	but	tu
तत्	that	tat
विद्धि	know it	viddhi
येन	by whom	yena
सर्वं	all of the body	sarvaṃ
इदं	this	idaṃ
ततं	pervaded	tataṃ
विनाशं	destruction	vināśaṃ
अव्ययस्य	of the imperishable	avyayasya
अस्य	of it	asya
न कश्चित्	no one	na kaścit
कर्तुं	to do	kartuṃ
अर्हति	is able.	arhati

That which pervades the entire body you should know to be indestructible. No one is able to destroy that imperishable soul.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अन्तवन्तः	perishable	antavantaḥ
इमे	all these	ime
देहाः	material bodies	dehāḥ
नित्यस्य	eternal in existence	nityasya
उक्ताः	are said	uktāḥ
शरीरिणः	of the embodied soul	śarīriṇaḥ
अनाशिनः	never to be destroyed	anāśinaḥ
अप्रमेयस्य	immeasurable	aprameyasya
तस्मात्	therefore	tasmāt
युध्यस्व	fight	yudhyasva
भारत	O descendant of Bharata.	bhārata

The material body of the indestructible, immeasurable and eternal living entity is sure to come to an end; therefore, fight, O descendant of Bharata.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
यः	anyone who	yaḥ
एनं	this	enaṃ
वेत्ति	knows	vetti
हन्तारं	the killer	hantāraṃ
यः	anyone who	yaḥ
च	also	ca
एनं	this	enaṃ
मन्यते	thinks	manyate
हतं	killed	hataṃ
उभौ	both	ubhau
तौ	they	tau
न	never	na
विजानीताः	are in knowledge	vijānītāḥ
न	never	na
अयं	this	ayaṃ
हन्ति	kills	hanti
न	nor	na
हन्यते	is killed.	hanyate

Neither he who thinks the living entity the slayer nor he who thinks it slain is in knowledge, for the self slays not nor is slain.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
न	never	na
जायते	takes birth	jāyate
म्रियते	dies	mriyate
वा	either	vā
कदाचित्	at any time (past, present or future)	kadācit
न	never	na
अयं	this	ayaṃ
भूत्वा	having come into being	bhūtvā
भविता	will come to be	bhavitā
वा	or	vā
न	not	na
भूयः	or is again coming to be	bhūyaḥ
अजः	unborn	ajaḥ
नित्यः	eternal	nityaḥ
शाश्वतः	permanent	śāśvataḥ
अयं	this	ayaṃ
पुराणः	the oldest	purāṇaḥ
न	never	na
हन्यते	is killed	hanyate
हन्यमाने	being killed	hanyamāne
शरीरे	the body.	śarīre

For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
वेद	knows	veda
अविनाशिनं	indestructible	avināśinaṃ
नित्यं	always existing	nityaṃ
यः	one who	yaḥ
एनं	this (soul)	enaṃ
अजं	unborn	ajaṃ
अव्ययं	immutable	avyayaṃ
कथं	how	kathaṃ
सः	that	saḥ
पुरुषः	person	puruṣaḥ
पार्थ	O Partha (Arjuna)	pārtha
कं	whom	kaṃ
घातयति	causes to hurt	ghātayati
हन्ति	kills	hanti
कं	whom.	kaṃ

O Partha, how can a person who knows that the soul is indestructible, eternal, unborn and immutable kill anyone or cause anyone to kill?

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
वासांसि	garments	vāsāṃsi
जीर्णानि	old and worn out	jīrṇāni
यथा	just as	yathā
विहाय	giving up	vihāya
नवानि	new garments	navāni
गृह्णाति	does accept	gṛhṇāti
नरः	a man	naraḥ
अपराणि	others	aparāṇi
तथा	in the same way	tathā
शरीराणि	bodies	śarīrāṇi
विहाय	giving up	vihāya
जीर्णानि	old and useless	jīrṇāni
अन्यानि	different	anyāni
संयाति	verily accepts	saṃyāti
नवानि	new sets	navāni
देही	the embodied.	dehī

As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
न	never	na
एनं	this soul	enaṃ
छिन्दन्ति	can cut to pieces	chindanti
शस्त्राणि	weapons	śastrāṇi
न	never	na
एनं	this soul	enaṃ
दहति	burns	dahati
पावकः	fire	pāvakaḥ
न	never	na
च	also	ca
एनं	this soul	enaṃ
क्लेदयन्ति	moistens	kledayanti
आपः	water	āpaḥ
न	never	na
शोषयति	dries	śoṣayati
मारुतः	wind.	mārutaḥ

The soul can never be cut to pieces by any weapon, nor burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अच्छेद्यः	unbreakable	acchedyaḥ
अयं	this soul	ayaṃ
अदाह्यः	unable to be burned	adāhyaḥ
अयं	this soul	ayaṃ
अक्लेद्यः	insoluble	akledyaḥ
अशोष्यः	not able to be dried	aśoṣyaḥ
एव	certainly	eva
च	and	ca
नित्यः	everlasting	nityaḥ
सर्वगतः	all-pervading	sarvagataḥ
स्थाणुः	unchangeable	sthāṇuḥ
अचलः	immovable	acalaḥ
अयं	this soul	ayaṃ
सनातनः	eternally the same.	sanātanaḥ

This individual soul is unbreakable and insoluble, and can be neither burned nor dried. He is everlasting, present everywhere, unchangeable, immovable and eternally the same.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अव्यक्तः	invisible	avyaktaḥ
अयं	this soul	ayaṃ
अचिन्त्यः	inconceivable	acintyaḥ
अयं	this soul	ayaṃ
अविकार्यः	unchangeable	avikāryaḥ
अयं	this soul	ayaṃ
उच्यते	is said	ucyate
तस्मात्	therefore	tasmāt
एवं	like this	evaṃ
विदित्वा	knowing it well	viditvā
एनं	this soul	enaṃ
न	do not	na
अनुशोचितुं	to lament	anuśocituṃ
अर्हसि	you deserve.	arhasi

It is said that the soul is invisible, inconceivable and immutable. Knowing this, you should not grieve for the body.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अथ	if, however	atha
च	also	ca
एनं	this soul	enaṃ
नित्यजातं	always born	nityajātaṃ
नित्यं	forever	nityaṃ
वा	either	vā
मन्यसे	you so think	manyase
मृतं	dead	mṛtaṃ
तथापि	still	tathāpi
त्वं	you	tvaṃ
महाबाहो	O mighty-armed one	mahābāho
न	never	na
एनं	about the soul	enaṃ
शोचितुं	to lament	śocituṃ
अर्हसि	deserve.	arhasi

If, however, you think that the soul [or the symptoms of life] will always be born and die forever, you still have no reason to lament, O mighty-armed.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
जातस्य	of one who has taken his birth	jātasya
हि	certainly	hi
ध्रुवः	a fact	dhruvaḥ
मृत्युः	death	mṛtyuḥ
ध्रुवं	it is also a fact	dhruvaṃ
जन्म	birth	janma
मृतस्य	of the dead	mṛtasya
च	also	ca
तस्मात्	therefore	tasmāt
अपरिहार्ये	of that which is unavoidable	aparihārye
अर्थे	in the matter	arthe
न	do not	na
त्वं	you	tvaṃ
शोचितुं	to lament	śocituṃ
अर्हसि	deserve.	arhasi

One who has taken his birth is sure to die, and after death one is sure to take birth again. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अव्यक्तादीनि	in the beginning unmanifested	avyaktādīni
भूतानी	all that are created	bhūtānī
व्यक्त	manifested	vyakta
मध्यानि	in the middle	madhyāni
भारत	O descendant of Bharata	bhārata
अव्यक्त	nonmanifested	avyakta
निधनानि	when vanquished	nidhanāni
एव	it is all like that	eva
तत्र	therefore	tatra
का	what	kā
परिदेवना	lamentation.	paridevanā

All created beings are unmanifest in their beginning, manifest in their interim state, and unmanifest again when annihilated. So what need is there for lamentation?

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
आश्चर्यवत्	as amazing	āścaryavat
पश्यति	sees	paśyati
कश्चित्	someone	kaścit
एनं	this soul	enaṃ
आश्चर्यवत्	as amazing	āścaryavat
वदति	speaks of	vadati
तथा	thus	tathā
एव	certainly	eva
च	also	ca
अन्यः	another	anyaḥ
आश्चर्यवत्	similarly amazing	āścaryavat
च	also	ca
एनं	this soul	enaṃ
अन्यः	another	anyaḥ
शृणोति	hears of	śṛṇoti
श्रुत्वा	having heard	śrutvā
अपि	even	api
एनं	this soul	enaṃ
वेद	knows	veda
न	never	na
च	and	ca
एव	certainly	eva
कश्चित्	someone.	kaścit

Some look on the soul as amazing, some describe him as amazing, and some hear of him as amazing, while others, even after hearing about him, cannot understand him at all.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
देही	the owner of the material body	dehī
नित्यं	eternally	nityaṃ
अवध्यः	cannot be killed	avadhyaḥ
अयं	this soul	ayaṃ
देहे	in the body	dehe
सर्वस्य	of everyone	sarvasya
भारत	O descendant of Bharata	bhārata
तस्मात्	therefore	tasmāt
सर्वाणि	all	sarvāṇi
भूतानि	living entities (that are born)	bhūtāni
न	never	na
त्वं	you	tvaṃ
शोचितुं	to lament	śocituṃ
अर्हसि	deserve.	arhasi

O descendant of Bharata, he who dwells in the body can never be slain. Therefore you need not grieve for any living being.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
स्वधर्मं	one's own religious principles	svadharmaṃ
अपि	also	api
च	indeed	ca
अवेक्ष्य	considering	avekṣya
न	never	na
विकम्पितुं	to hesitate	vikampituṃ
अर्हसि	you deserve	arhasi
धर्म्यात्	for religious principles	dharmyāt
हि	indeed	hi
युद्धात्	than fighting	yuddhāt
श्रेयः	better engagement	śreyaḥ
अन्यत्	any other	anyat
क्षत्रियस्य	of the ksatriya	kṣatriyasya
न	does not	na
विद्यते	exist.	vidyate

Considering your specific duty as a ksatriya, you should know that there is no better engagement for you than fighting on religious principles; and so there is no need for hesitation

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
च	also	ca
यदृच्छया	by its own accord	yadṛcchayā
उपपन्नं	arrived at	upapannaṃ
स्वर्ग	of the heavenly planets	svarga
द्वारं	door	dvāraṃ
अपावृतं	wide open	apāvṛtaṃ
सुखिनः	very happy	sukhinaḥ
क्षत्रियाः	the members of the royal order	kṣatriyāḥ
पार्थ	O son of Pritha	pārtha
लभन्ते	do achieve	labhante
युद्धं	war	yuddhaṃ
ईदृषं	like this.	īdṛṣaṃ

O Partha, happy are the ksatriyas to whom such fighting opportunities come unsought, opening for them the doors of the heavenly planets.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अथ	therefore	atha
चेत्	if	cet
त्वं	you	tvaṃ
इमं	this	imaṃ
धर्म्यं	as a religious duty	dharmyaṃ
संग्रामं	fighting	saṃgrāmaṃ
न	do not	na
करिष्यसि	perform	kariṣyasi
ततः	then	tataḥ
स्वधर्मं	your religious duty	svadharmaṃ
कीर्तिं	reputation	kīrtiṃ
च	also	ca
हित्वा	losing	hitvā
पापं	sinful reaction	pāpaṃ
अवाप्स्यसि	will gain.	avāpsyasi

However, you do not perform your religious duty of fighting, then you will certainly incur sins for neglecting your duties and thus lose your reputation as a fighter.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अकीर्तिं	infamy	akīrtiṃ
च	also	ca
अपि	over and above	api
भूतानि	all people	bhūtāni
कथयिष्यन्ति	will speak	kathayiṣyanti
ते	of you	te
अव्ययं	forever	avyayaṃ
सम्भावितस्य	for a respectable man	sambhāvitasya
च	also	ca
अकीर्तिः	ill fame	akīrtiḥ
मरणात्	than death	maraṇāt
अतिरिच्यते	becomes more.	atiricyate

People will always speak of your infamy, and for a respectable person, dishonor is worse than death.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
भयात्	out of fear	bhayāt
रणात्	from the battlefield	raṇāt
उपरतं	ceased	uparataṃ
मंस्यन्ते	they will consider	maṃsyante
त्वां	you	tvāṃ
महारथाः	the great generals	mahārathāḥ
येषां	for whom	yeṣāṃ
च	also	ca
त्वं	you	tvaṃ
बहुमतः	in great estimation	bahumataḥ
भूत्वा	having been	bhūtvā
यास्यसि	you will go	yāsyasi
लाघवं	decreased in value.	lāghavaṃ

The great generals who have highly esteemed your name and fame will think that you have left the battlefield out of fear only, and thus they will consider you insignificant.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अवाच्य	unkind	avācya
वादान्	fabricated words	vādān
च	also	ca
बहून्	many	bahūn
वदिष्यन्ति	will say	vadiṣyanti
तव	your	tava
अहिताः	enemies	ahitāḥ
निन्दन्तः	while vilifying	nindantaḥ
तव	your	tava
सामर्थ्यं	ability	sāmarthyaṃ
ततः	than that	tataḥ
दुःखतरं	more painful	duḥkhataraṃ
नु	of course	nu
किं	what is there.	kiṃ

Your enemies will describe you in many unkind words and scorn your ability. What could be more painful for you?

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
हतः	being killed	hataḥ
वा	either	vā
प्राप्स्यसि	you gain	prāpsyasi
स्वर्गं	the heavenly kingdom	svargaṃ
जित्वा	by conquering	jitvā
वा	or	vā
भोक्ष्यसे	you enjoy	bhokṣyase
महीं	the world	mahīṃ
तस्मात्	therefore	tasmāt
उत्तिष्ठ	get up	uttiṣṭha
कौन्तेय	O son of Kunti	kaunteya
युद्धाय	to fight	yuddhāya
कृत	determined	kṛta
निश्चयः	in certainty.	niścayaḥ

O son of Kunti, either you will be killed on the battlefield and attain the heavenly planets, or you will conquer and enjoy the earthly kingdom. Therefore, get up with determination and fight.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
सुख	happiness	sukha
दुःखे	and distress	duḥkhe
समे	in equanimity	same
कृत्वा	doing so	kṛtvā
लाभालाभौ	both profit and loss	lābhālābhau
जयाजयौ	both victory and defeat	jayājayau
ततः	thereafter	tataḥ
युद्धाय	for the sake of fighting	yuddhāya
युज्यस्व	engage (fight)	yujyasva
न	never	na
एवं	in this way	evaṃ
पापं	sinful reaction	pāpaṃ
अवाप्स्यसि	you will gain.	avāpsyasi

Do thou fight for the sake of fighting, without considering happiness or distress, loss or gain, victory or defeat – and by so doing you shall never incur sin.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
एषा	all this	eṣā
ते	unto you	te
अभिहिता	described	abhihitā
साङ्ख्ये	by analytical study	sāṅkhye
बुद्धिः	intelligence	buddhiḥ
योगे	in work without fruitive result	yoge
तु	but	tu
इमं	this	imaṃ
शृणु	just hear	śṛṇu
बुद्ध्या	by intelligence	buddhyā
युक्तः	dovetailed	yuktaḥ
यया	by which	yayā
पार्थ	O son of Pritha	pārtha
कर्मबन्धं	bondage of reaction	karmabandhaṃ
प्रहास्यसि	you can be released from.	prahāsyasi

Thus far I have described this knowledge to you through analytical study. Now listen as I explain it in terms of working without fruitive results. O son of Prtha, when you act in such knowledge you can free yourself from the bondage of works.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
न	there is not	na
इह	in this yoga	iha
अभिक्रम	in endeavoring	abhikrama
नाशः	loss	nāśaḥ
अस्ति	there is	asti
प्रत्यवायः	diminution	pratyavāyaḥ
न	never	na
विद्यते	there is	vidyate
स्वल्पं	a little	svalpaṃ
अपि	although	api
अस्य	of this	asya
धर्मस्य	occupation	dharmasya
त्रायते	releases	trāyate
महतः	from very great	mahataḥ
भयात्	danger.	bhayāt

In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
व्यवसायात्मिका	resolute in KRiShNa consciousness	vyavasāyātmikā
बुद्धिः	intelligence	buddhiḥ
एक	only one	eka
इह	in this world	iha
कुरुनन्दन	O beloved child of the Kurus	kurunandana
बहुशाखाः	having various branches	bahuśākhāḥ
हि	indeed	hi
अनन्ताः	unlimited	anantāḥ
च	also	ca
बुद्धयः	intelligence	buddhayaḥ
अव्यवसायिनां	of those who are not in KRiShNa consciousness.	avyavasāyināṃ

Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one. O beloved child of the Kurus, the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-branched.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
यामिमां	all these	yāmimāṃ
पुष्पितां	flowery	puṣpitāṃ
वाचं	words	vācaṃ
प्रवदन्ति	say	pravadanti
अविपश्चितः	men with a poor fund of knowledge	avipaścitaḥ
वेदवादरताः	supposed followers of the Vedas	vedavādaratāḥ
पार्थ	O son of Pritha	pārtha
न	never	na
अन्यत्	anything else	anyat
अस्ति	there is	asti
इति	thus	iti
वादिनः	the advocates	vādinaḥ

Men of small knowledge are very much attached to the flowery words of the Vedas, which recommend various fruitive activities for elevation to heavenly planets, resultant good birth, power, and so forth.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
कामात्मानः	desirous of sense gratification	kāmātmānaḥ
स्वर्गपराः	aiming to achieve heavenly planets	svargaparāḥ
जन्मकर्मफलप्रदां	resulting in good birth and other fruitive reactions	janmakarmaphalapradāṃ
क्रियाविशेष	pompous ceremonies	kriyāviśeṣa
बहुलां	various	bahulāṃ
भोग	in sense enjoyment	bhoga
ऐश्वर्य	and opulence	aiśvarya
गतिं	progress	gatiṃ
प्रति	towards.	prati

Being desirous of sense gratification and opulent life, they say that there is nothing more than this.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
भोग	to material enjoyment	bhoga
ऐश्वर्य	and opulence	aiśvarya
प्रसक्तानां	for those who are attached	prasaktānāṃ
तया	by such things	tayā
अपहृतचेतसां	bewildered in mind	apahṛtacetasāṃ
व्यवसायात्मिका	fixed in determination	vyavasāyātmikā
बुद्धिः	devotional service to the Lord	buddhiḥ
समाधौ	in the controlled mind	samādhau
न	never	na
विधीयते	does take place.	vidhīyate

In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence, and who are bewildered by such things, the resolute determination for devotional service to the Supreme Lord does not take place.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
त्रैगुण्य	pertaining to the three modes of material nature	traiguṇya
विषयाः	on the subject matter	viṣayāḥ
वेदाः	Vedic literatures	vedāḥ
निस्त्रैगुण्यः	transcendental to the three modes of material nature	nistraiguṇyaḥ
भव	be	bhava
अर्जुन	O Arjuna	arjuna
निर्द्वन्द्वः	without duality	nirdvandvaḥ
नित्यसत्त्वस्थः	in a pure state of spiritual existence	nityasattvasthaḥ
निर्योगक्षेमः	free from ideas of gain and protection	niryogakṣemaḥ
आत्मवान्	established in the self.	ātmavān

The Vedas deal mainly with the subject of the three modes of material nature. O Arjuna, become transcendental to these three modes. Be free from all dualities and from all anxieties for gain and safety, and be established in the self.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
यावान्	all that	yāvān
अर्थः	is meant	arthaḥ
उदपाने	in a well of water	udapāne
सर्वतः	in all respects	sarvataḥ
सम्प्लुतोदके	in a great reservoir of water	samplutodake
तावान्	similarly	tāvān
सर्वेषु	in all	sarveṣu
वेदेषु	Vedic literatures	vedeṣu
ब्राह्मणस्य	of the man who knows the Supreme Brahman	brāhmaṇasya
विजानतः	who is in complete knowledge.	vijānataḥ

All purposes served by a small well can at once be served by a great reservoir of water. Similarly, all the purposes of the Vedas can be served to one who knows the purpose behind them.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
कर्माणि	in prescribed duties	karmāṇi
एव	certainly	eva
अधिकारः	right	adhikāraḥ
ते	of you	te
मा	never	mā
फलेषु	in the fruits	phaleṣu
कदाचन	at any time	kadācana
मा	never	mā
कर्मफल	in the result of the work	karmaphala
हेतुः	cause	hetuḥ
भूः	become	bhūḥ
मा	never	mā
ते	of you	te
सङ्गः	attachment	saṅgaḥ
अस्तु	there should be	astu
अकर्मणि	in not doing prescribed duties.	akarmaṇi

You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
योगस्थः	equipoised	yogasthaḥ
कुरु	perform	kuru
कर्माणि	your duties	karmāṇi
सङ्गं	attachment	saṅgaṃ
त्यक्त्वा	giving up	tyaktvā
धनञ्जय	O Arjuna	dhanañjaya
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः	in success and failure	siddhyasiddhyoḥ
समः	equipoised	samaḥ
भूत्वा	becoming	bhūtvā
समत्वं	equanimity	samatvaṃ
योगः	yoga	yogaḥ
उच्यते	is called.	ucyate

Perform your duty equipoised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
दूरेण	discard it at a long distance	dūreṇa
हि	certainly	hi
अवरं	abominable	avaraṃ
कर्म	activity	karma
बुद्धियोगात्	on the strength of KRiShNa consciousness	buddhiyogāt
धनञ्जय	O conqueror of wealth	dhanañjaya
बुद्धौ	in such consciousness	buddhau
शरणं	full surrender	śaraṇaṃ
अन्विच्छ	try for	anviccha
कृपणाः	misers	kṛpaṇāḥ
फलहेतवः	those desiring fruitive results.	phalahetavaḥ

O Dhanañjaya, keep all abominable activities far distant by devotional service, and in that consciousness surrender unto the Lord. Those who want to enjoy the fruits of their work are misers.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
बुद्धियुक्तः	one who is engaged in devotional service	buddhiyuktaḥ
जहाति	can get rid of	jahāti
इह	in this life	iha
उभे	both	ubhe
सुकृतदुष्कृते	good and bad results	sukṛtaduṣkṛte
तस्मात्	therefore	tasmāt
योगाय	for the sake of devotional service	yogāya
युज्यस्व	be so engaged	yujyasva
योगः	KRiShNa consciousness	yogaḥ
कर्मसु	in all activities	karmasu
कौशलं	art.	kauśalaṃ

A man engaged in devotional service rids himself of both good and bad reactions even in this life. Therefore strive for yoga, which is the art of all work.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
कर्मजं	due to fruitive activities	karmajaṃ
बुद्धियुक्ताः	being engaged in devotional service	buddhiyuktāḥ
हि	certainly	hi
फलं	results	phalaṃ
त्यक्त्वा	giving up	tyaktvā
मनीषिणः	great sages or devotees	manīṣiṇaḥ
जन्मबन्ध	from the bondage of birth and death	janmabandha
विनिर्मुक्ताः	liberated	vinirmuktāḥ
पदं	position	padaṃ
गच्छन्ति	they reach	gacchanti
अनामयं	without miseries.	anāmayaṃ

Thus by engaging in devotional service to the Lord, great sages or devotees free themselves from the results of work in the material world. In this way, they become free from the cycle of birth and death and attain the state beyond all miseries .

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
यदा	when	yadā
ते	your	te
मोह	of illusion	moha
कलिलं	dense forest	kalilaṃ
बुद्धिः	transcendental service with intelligence	buddhiḥ
व्यतितरिष्यति	surpasses	vyatitariṣyati
तदा	at that time	tadā
गन्तासि	you shall go	gantāsi
निर्वेदं	callousness	nirvedaṃ
श्रोतव्यस्य	toward all that is to be heard	śrotavyasya
श्रुतस्य	all that is already heard	śrutasya
च	also.	ca

When your intelligence has passed out of the dense forest of delusion, you shall become indifferent to all that has been heard and all that is to be heard.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
श्रुति	of Vedic revelation	śruti
विप्रतिपन्ना	without being influenced by the fruitive results	vipratipannā
ते	your	te
यदा	when	yadā
स्थास्यति	remains	sthāsyati
निश्चला	unmoved	niścalā
समाधौ	in transcendental consciousness, or KRiShNa consciousness	samādhau
अचला	unflinching	acalā
बुद्धिः	intelligence	buddhiḥ
तदा	at that time	tadā
योगं	self-realization	yogaṃ
अवाप्स्यसि	you will achieve.	avāpsyasi

When your mind is no longer disturbed by the flowery language of the Vedas, and when it remains fixed in the trance of self-realization, then you will have attained the divine consciousness.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अर्जुन उवाच	Arjuna said	arjuna uvāca
स्थितप्रज्ञस्य	of one who is situated in fixed KRiShNa consciousness	sthitaprajñasya
का	what	kā
भाषा	language	bhāṣā
समाधिस्थस्य	of one situated in trance	samādhisthasya
केशव	O KRiShNa	keśava
स्थितधीः	one fixed in KRiShNa consciousness	sthitadhīḥ
किं	what	kiṃ
प्रभाषेत	speaks	prabhāṣeta
किं	how	kiṃ
आसीत	does remain still	āsīta
व्रजेत	walks	vrajeta
किं	how.	kiṃ

Arjuna said: O Krsna, what are the symptoms of one whose consciousness is thus merged in transcendence? How does he speak, and what is his language? How does he sit, and how does he walk?

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
श्रीभगवानुवाच	the Supreme Personality of Godhead said	śrībhagavānuvāca
प्रजहाति	gives up	prajahāti
यदा	when	yadā
कामान्	desires for sense gratification	kāmān
सर्वान्	of all varieties	sarvān
पार्थ	O son of Pritha	pārtha
मनोगतान्	of mental concoction	manogatān
आत्मानि	in the pure state of the soul	ātmāni
एव	certainly	eva
आत्मना	by the purified mind	ātmanā
तुष्टः	satisfied	tuṣṭaḥ
स्थितप्रज्ञः	transcendentally situated	sthitaprajñaḥ
तदा	at that time	tadā
उच्यते	is said.	ucyate

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O Partha, when a man gives up all varieties of desire for sense gratification, which arise from mental concoction, and when his mind, thus purified, finds satisfaction in the self alone, then he is said to be in pure transcendental consciousness.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
दुःखेषु	in the threefold miseries	duḥkheṣu
अनुद्विग्नमनाः	without being agitated in mind	anudvignamanāḥ
सुखेषु	in happiness	sukheṣu
विगतस्पृहः	without being interested	vigataspṛhaḥ
वीत	free from	vīta
राग	attachment	rāga
भय	fear	bhaya
क्रोधः	and anger	krodhaḥ
स्थितधीः	whose mind is steady	sthitadhīḥ
मुनिः	a sage	muniḥ
उच्यते	is called.	ucyate

One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold miseries or elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
यः	one who	yaḥ
सर्वत्र	everywhere	sarvatra
अनभिस्नेहः	without affection	anabhisnehaḥ
तत्	that	tat
तत्	that	tat
प्राप्य	achieving	prāpya
शुभ	good	śubha
अशुभं	evil	aśubhaṃ
न	never	na
अभिनन्दती	praises	abhinandatī
न	never	na
द्वेष्टि	envies	dveṣṭi
तस्य	his	tasya
प्रज्ञा	perfect knowledge	prajñā
प्रतिष्ठिता	fixed.	pratiṣṭhitā

In the material world, one who is unaffected by whatever good or evil he may obtain, neither praising it nor despising it, is firmly fixed in perfect knowledge.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
यदा	when	yadā
संहरते	winds up	saṃharate
च	also	ca
अयं	he	ayaṃ
कूर्मः	tortoise	kūrmaḥ
अङ्गानि	limbs	aṅgāni
इव	like	iva
सर्वशः	altogether	sarvaśaḥ
इन्द्रियाणि	senses	indriyāṇi
इन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः	from the sense objects	indriyārthebhyaḥ
तस्य	his	tasya
प्रज्ञा	consciousness	prajñā
प्रतिष्ठिता	fixed.	pratiṣṭhitā

One who is able to withdraw his senses from sense objects, as the tortoise draws its limbs within the shell, is firmly fixed in perfect consciousness.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
विषयाः	objects for sense enjoyment	viṣayāḥ
विनिवर्तन्ते	are practiced to be refrained from	vinivartante
निराहारस्य	by negative restrictions	nirāhārasya
देहीनः	for the embodied	dehīnaḥ
रसवर्जं	giving up the taste	rasavarjaṃ
रसः	sense of enjoyment	rasaḥ
अपि	although there is	api
अस्य	his	asya
परं	far superior things	paraṃ
दृष्ट्वा	by experiencing	dṛṣṭvā
निवर्तते	he ceases from.	nivartate

Though the embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, the taste for sense objects remains. But, ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher taste, he is fixed in consciousness.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
यततः	while endeavoring	yatataḥ
हि	certainly	hi
अपि	in spite of	api
कौन्तेय	O son of Kunti	kaunteya
पुरुषस्य	of a man	puruṣasya
विपश्चितः	full of discriminating knowledge	vipaścitaḥ
इन्द्रियाणि	the senses	indriyāṇi
प्रमाथीनि	agitating	pramāthīni
हरन्ति	throw	haranti
प्रसभं	by force	prasabhaṃ
मनः	the mind.	manaḥ

The senses are so strong and impetuous, O Arjuna, that they forcibly carry away the mind even of a man of discrimination who is endeavoring to control them.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
तानि	those senses	tāni
सर्वाणि	all	sarvāṇi
संयम्य	keeping under control	saṃyamya
युक्तः	engaged	yuktaḥ
आसीत	should be situated	āsīta
मत्परः	in relationship with Me	matparaḥ
वशे	in full subjugation	vaśe
हि	certainly	hi
यस्य	one whose	yasya
इन्द्रियाणि	senses	indriyāṇi
तस्य	his	tasya
प्रज्ञा	consciousness	prajñā
प्रतिष्ठिता	fixed.	pratiṣṭhitā

One who restrains his senses, keeping them under full control, and fixes his consciousness upon Me, is known as a man of steady intelligence.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
ध्यायतः	while contemplating	dhyāyataḥ
विषयान्	sense objects	viṣayān
पुंसः	of a person	puṃsaḥ
सङ्गः	attachment	saṅgaḥ
तेषु	in the sense objects	teṣu
उपजायते	develops	upajāyate
सङ्गात्	from attachment	saṅgāt
सञ्जायते	develops	sañjāyate
कामः	desire	kāmaḥ
कामात्	from desire	kāmāt
क्रोधः	anger	krodhaḥ
अभिजायते	becomes manifest.	abhijāyate

While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.