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सञ्जय उवाच तं तथा कृपयाऽविष्टमश्रुपूर्णाकुलेक्षणम्। विषीदन्तमिदं वाक्यमुवाच मधुसूदनः।।2.1।।
Sanjaya said: To him, who was thus overcome with pity, despondent, with eyes full of tears and agitated, Madhusudana …
श्री भगवानुवाच कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम्। अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन।।2.2।।
The Blessed Lord said, "From whence has this perilous strait come upon you, this dejection which is unworthy of you, …
क्लैब्यं मा स्म गमः पार्थ नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते। क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परन्तप।।2.3।।
Do not yield to impotence, O Arjuna, son of Pritha. It does not befit you. Cast off this mean weakness of the heart! …
अर्जुन उवाच कथं भीष्ममहं संख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन। इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन।।2.4।।
Arjuna said, "O Madhusudana, how can I fight in battle with arrows against Bhishma and Drona, who are worthy of being…
गुरूनहत्वा हि महानुभावान् श्रेयो भोक्तुं भैक्ष्यमपीह लोके। हत्वार्थकामांस्तु गुरूनिहैव भुञ्जीय भोगान् रुधिरप्रदिग्धान्।।2.5।।
Better it is, indeed, in this world to accept alms than to slay the most noble teachers. But if I were to kill them, …
न चैतद्विद्मः कतरन्नो गरीयो यद्वा जयेम यदि वा नो जयेयुः। यानेव हत्वा न जिजीविषाम स्तेऽवस्थिताः प्रमुखे धार्तराष्ट्राः।।2.6।।
I can hardly tell which would be better, that we should conquer them or that they should conquer us. Even the sons of…
कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसंमूढचेताः। यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्िचतं ब्रूहि तन्मे शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम्।।2.7।।
My heart is overpowered by the taint of pity; my mind is confused as to my duty. I ask Thee: Tell me decisively what …
न हि प्रपश्यामि ममापनुद्या द्यच्छोकमुच्छोषणमिन्द्रियाणाम्। अवाप्य भूमावसपत्नमृद्धम् राज्यं सुराणामपि चाधिपत्यम्।।2.8।।
I do not see that this sorrow that burns up my senses would be removed, even if I were to attain prosperous and unriv…
सञ्जय उवाच एवमुक्त्वा हृषीकेशं गुडाकेशः परन्तप। न योत्स्य इति गोविन्दमुक्त्वा तूष्णीं बभूव ह।।2.9।।
Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus to Hrishikesha, the Lord of the senses, Arjuna, the conqueror of sleep and destroyer…
तमुवाच हृषीकेशः प्रहसन्निव भारत। सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये विषीदन्तमिदं वचः।।2.10।।
To him who was despondent in the midst of the two armies, Krishna, smiling, O Bharata, spoke these words.
श्री भगवानुवाच अशोच्यानन्वशोचस्त्वं प्रज्ञावादांश्च भाषसे। गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः।।2.11।।
The Blessed Lord said, "You have grieved for those who should not be grieved for; yet, you speak words of wisdom. The…
न त्वेवाहं जातु नासं न त्वं नेमे जनाधिपाः। न चैव न भविष्यामः सर्वे वयमतः परम्।।2.12।।
Nor, at any time, was I not, nor thou, nor these rulers of men; nor, verily, shall we ever cease to be hereafter.
देहिनोऽस्मिन्यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा। तथा देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्धीरस्तत्र न मुह्यति।।2.13।।
Just as the embodied soul passes through childhood, youth, and old age in this body, so too does it pass into another…
मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः। आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत।।2.14।।
The contact of the senses with the objects, O son of Kunti, which causes heat and cold, pleasure and pain, has a begi…
यं हि न व्यथयन्त्येते पुरुषं पुरुषर्षभ। समदुःखसुखं धीरं सोऽमृतत्वाय कल्पते।।2.15।।
That firm man, whom surely these afflictions do not, O chief among men, to whom pleasure and pain are the same, is fi…
नासतो विद्यते भावो नाभावो विद्यते सतः। उभयोरपि दृष्टोऽन्तस्त्वनयोस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः।।2.16।।
The unreal has no being; there is no non-being of the real; the truth about both has been seen by the knowers of the …
अविनाशि तु तद्विद्धि येन सर्वमिदं ततम्। विनाशमव्ययस्यास्य न कश्चित् कर्तुमर्हति।।2.17।।
Know that to be indestructible, by which all this is pervaded. No one can cause the destruction of that, the Imperish…
अन्तवन्त इमे देहा नित्यस्योक्ताः शरीरिणः। अनाशिनोऽप्रमेयस्य तस्माद्युध्यस्व भारत।।2.18।।
These bodies of the embodied Self, which are eternal, indestructible, and immeasurable, are said to have an end. Ther…
य एनं वेत्ति हन्तारं यश्चैनं मन्यते हतम्। उभौ तौ न विजानीतो नायं हन्ति न हन्यते।।2.19।।
He who takes the Self to be the slayer and he who thinks it is slain, neither of them knows. It does not slay, nor is…
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचि न्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः। अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे।।2.20।।
It is not born, nor does it ever die; after having been, it again does not cease to be; unborn, eternal, changeless, …
वेदाविनाशिनं नित्यं य एनमजमव्ययम्। कथं स पुरुषः पार्थ कं घातयति हन्ति कम्।।2.21।।
Whoever knows it to be indestructible, eternal, unborn, and inexhaustible, how can that person slay, O Arjuna, or cau…
वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि। तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही।।2.22।।
Just as a man casts off worn-out clothes and puts on new ones, so too the embodied Self casts off worn-out bodies and…
नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः। न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः।।2.23।।
Weapons cannot cut it, fire cannot burn it, water cannot wet it, wind cannot dry it.
अच्छेद्योऽयमदाह्योऽयमक्लेद्योऽशोष्य एव च। नित्यः सर्वगतः स्थाणुरचलोऽयं सनातनः।।2.24।।
This Self cannot be cut, burned, wetted, nor dried up; it is eternal, all-pervasive, stable, immovable, and ancient.
अव्यक्तोऽयमचिन्त्योऽयमविकार्योऽयमुच्यते। तस्मादेवं विदित्वैनं नानुशोचितुमर्हसि।।2.25।।
This Self is said to be unmanifested, unthinkable, and unchangeable. Therefore, knowing this to be so, you should not…
अथ चैनं नित्यजातं नित्यं वा मन्यसे मृतम्। तथापि त्वं महाबाहो नैवं शोचितुमर्हसि।।2.26।।
But even if thou thinkest of It as constantly being born and constantly dying, even then, O mighty-armed one, thou sh…
जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च। तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि।।2.27।।
For the born, death is certain, and for the dead, birth is certain; therefore, you should not grieve over the inevita…
अव्यक्तादीनि भूतानि व्यक्तमध्यानि भारत। अव्यक्तनिधनान्येव तत्र का परिदेवना।।2.28।।
Beings are unmanifest in their beginning, manifest in their middle state, O Arjuna, and unmanifest again in their end…
आश्चर्यवत्पश्यति कश्चिदेन माश्चर्यवद्वदति तथैव चान्यः। आश्चर्यवच्चैनमन्यः श्रृणोति श्रुत्वाप्येनं वेद न चैव कश्चित्।।2.29।।
One sees this (the Self) as a wonder; another speaks of it as a wonder; another hears of it as a wonder; yet, having …
देही नित्यमवध्योऽयं देहे सर्वस्य भारत। तस्मात्सर्वाणि भूतानि न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि।।2.30।।
This indweller in the body of everyone is ever indestructible, O Arjuna; therefore, you should not grieve for any cre…
स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि। धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाछ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते।।2.31।।
Further, having regard to your duty, you should not waver, for there is nothing higher for a Kshatriya than a righteo…
यदृच्छया चोपपन्नं स्वर्गद्वारमपावृतम्। सुखिनः क्षत्रियाः पार्थ लभन्ते युद्धमीदृशम्।।2.32।।
Happy are the Kshatriyas, O Arjuna! who are called to fight in such a battle that comes of its own accord as an open …
अथ चैत्त्वमिमं धर्म्यं संग्रामं न करिष्यसि। ततः स्वधर्मं कीर्तिं च हित्वा पापमवाप्स्यसि।।2.33।।
But if you will not fight this righteous war, then having abandoned your own duty and reputation, you will incur sin.
अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम्। संभावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते।।2.34।।
People will also recount your everlasting dishonor; and for one who has been honored, dishonor is worse than death.
भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः। येषां च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम्।।2.35।।
The great chariot-warriors will think that you have withdrawn from the battle out of fear, and you will be held in lo…
अवाच्यवादांश्च बहून् वदिष्यन्ति तवाहिताः। निन्दन्तस्तव सामर्थ्यं ततो दुःखतरं नु किम्।।2.36।।
Your enemies, scoffing at your power, will speak many abusive words—what could be more painful than this?
हतो वा प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्गं जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम्। तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः।।2.37।।
Slain, you will obtain heaven; victorious, you will enjoy the earth; therefore, stand up, O son of Kunti, resolved to…
सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ। ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि।।2.38।।
Having made pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat equal, engage in battle for the sake of battle; thus…
एषा तेऽभिहिता सांख्ये बुद्धिर्योगे त्विमां श्रृणु। बुद्ध्यायुक्तो यया पार्थ कर्मबन्धं प्रहास्यसि।।2.39।।
This, which has been taught to you, is wisdom concerning Sankhya. Now listen to wisdom concerning Yoga, endowed with …
नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते। स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात्।।2.40।।
In this, there is no loss of effort, nor is there any harm produced, nor any transgression. Even a little of this kno…
व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिरेकेह कुरुनन्दन। बहुशाखा ह्यनन्ताश्च बुद्धयोऽव्यवसायिनाम्।।2.41।।
Here, O joy of the Kurus, there is only one single-pointed determination; many-branched and endless are the thoughts …
यामिमां पुष्पितां वाचं प्रवदन्त्यविपश्चितः। वेदवादरताः पार्थ नान्यदस्तीति वादिनः।।2.42।।
The unwise, taking pleasure in the eulogizing words of the Vedas, utter flowery speech, saying, "There is nothing els…
कामात्मानः स्वर्गपरा जन्मकर्मफलप्रदाम्। क्रियाविशेषबहुलां भोगैश्वर्यगतिं प्रति।।2.43।।
Full of desires, with heaven as their goal, (they speak words that are directed to ends) leading to new births as the…
भोगैश्वर्यप्रसक्तानां तयापहृतचेतसाम्। व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिः समाधौ न विधीयते।।2.44।।
For those who are attached to pleasure and power, whose minds are drawn away by such teachings, their determinate rea…
त्रैगुण्यविषया वेदा निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवार्जुन। निर्द्वन्द्वो नित्यसत्त्वस्थो निर्योगक्षेम आत्मवान्।।2.45।।
The Vedas deal with the three attributes; be thou above these three attributes. O Arjuna, free yourself from the pair…
यावानर्थ उदपाने सर्वतः संप्लुतोदके। तावान्सर्वेषु वेदेषु ब्राह्मणस्य विजानतः।।2.46।।
To the Brahmana who has known the Self, all the Vedas are of as much use as a reservoir of water would be in a place …
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन। मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि।।2.47।।
Your right is only to work, but not to its results; do not let the results of action be your motive, nor let your att…
योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय। सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते।।2.48।।
Perform action, O Arjuna, being steadfast in Yoga, abandoning attachment and balanced in success and failure; evennes…
दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय। बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः।।2.49।।
Far lower than the Yoga of wisdom is action, O Arjuna. Seek thou refuge in wisdom; wretched are those whose motive is…
बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते। तस्माद्योगाय युज्यस्व योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्।।2.50।।
Endowed with wisdom and evenness of mind, one casts off in this life both good and evil deeds; therefore, devote your…
कर्मजं बुद्धियुक्ता हि फलं त्यक्त्वा मनीषिणः। जन्मबन्धविनिर्मुक्ताः पदं गच्छन्त्यनामयम्।।2.51।।
The wise, possessing knowledge, having abandoned the fruits of their actions, and being freed from the bonds of birth…
यदा ते मोहकलिलं बुद्धिर्व्यतितरिष्यति। तदा गन्तासि निर्वेदं श्रोतव्यस्य श्रुतस्य च।।2.52।।
When your intellect passes beyond the mire of delusion, then you will attain indifference to what has been heard and …
श्रुतिविप्रतिपन्ना ते यदा स्थास्यति निश्चला। समाधावचला बुद्धिस्तदा योगमवाप्स्यसि।।2.53।।
When your intellect, which is perplexed by the Vedic texts you have read, stands immovable and steady in the Self, th…
अर्जुन उवाच स्थितप्रज्ञस्य का भाषा समाधिस्थस्य केशव। स्थितधीः किं प्रभाषेत किमासीत व्रजेत किम्।।2.54।।
Arjuna said, "O Krishna, what is the description of one who has steady wisdom and is merged in the superconscious sta…
श्री भगवानुवाच प्रजहाति यदा कामान् सर्वान् पार्थ मनोगतान्। आत्मन्येवात्मना तुष्टः स्थितप्रज्ञस्तदोच्यते।।2.55।।
The Blessed Lord said, "When a man completely casts off, O Arjuna, all the desires of the mind and is satisfied in th…
दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः। वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते।।2.56।।
He whose mind is not shaken by adversity, who does not long for pleasures, and is free from attachment, fear, and ang…
यः सर्वत्रानभिस्नेहस्तत्तत्प्राप्य शुभाशुभम्। नाभिनन्दति न द्वेष्टि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता।।2.57।।
He who is everywhere without attachment, upon encountering anything good or bad, neither rejoices nor hastens; his wi…
यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः। इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता।।2.58।।
When, like the tortoise which withdraws all its limbs on all sides, he withdraws his senses from the sense-objects, t…
विषया विनिवर्तन्ते निराहारस्य देहिनः। रसवर्जं रसोऽप्यस्य परं दृष्ट्वा निवर्तते।।2.59।।
The objects of the senses turn away from the abstinent man, leaving the longing behind; but his longing also turns aw…
यततो ह्यपि कौन्तेय पुरुषस्य विपश्चितः। इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि हरन्ति प्रसभं मनः।।2.60।।
The turbulent senses, O Arjuna, can violently carry away the mind of a wise person, even though they are striving to …
तानि सर्वाणि संयम्य युक्त आसीत मत्परः। वशे हि यस्येन्द्रियाणि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता।।2.61।।
Having restrained them all, he should sit steadfast, intent on Me; his wisdom is steady whose senses are under control.
ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते। सङ्गात् संजायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते।।2.62।।
When one thinks of objects, attachment to them arises; from attachment, desire is born; from desire, anger arises.
क्रोधाद्भवति संमोहः संमोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः। स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति।।2.63।।
Anger leads to delusion, which causes loss of memory; this, in turn, leads to the destruction of discrimination, resu…
रागद्वेषवियुक्तैस्तु विषयानिन्द्रियैश्चरन्। आत्मवश्यैर्विधेयात्मा प्रसादमधिगच्छति।।2.64।।
But the self-controlled man, moving among objects with the senses restrained and free from attraction and repulsion, …
प्रसादे सर्वदुःखानां हानिरस्योपजायते। प्रसन्नचेतसो ह्याशु बुद्धिः पर्यवतिष्ठते।।2.65।।
In that peace, all pains are destroyed; for the intellect of the tranquil-minded soon becomes steady.
नास्ति बुद्धिरयुक्तस्य न चायुक्तस्य भावना। न चाभावयतः शान्तिरशान्तस्य कुतः सुखम्।।2.66।।
There is no knowledge of the Self for the unsteady, and no meditation is possible for the unsteady, and no peace for …
इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां यन्मनोऽनुविधीयते। तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञां वायुर्नावमिवाम्भसि।।2.67।।
For the mind, which follows in the wake of the wandering senses, carries away his discrimination, as the wind carries…
तस्माद्यस्य महाबाहो निगृहीतानि सर्वशः। इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता।।2.68।।
Therefore, O mighty-armed Arjuna, his knowledge is steady whose senses are completely restrained from sense objects.
या निशा सर्वभूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी। यस्यां जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतो मुनेः।।2.69।।
That which is night to all beings, in that the self-controlled man is awake; when all beings are awake, that is night…
आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत्। तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी।।2.70।।
He attains peace into whom all desires enter, just as waters enter the ocean which, filled from all sides, remains un…
विहाय कामान्यः सर्वान्पुमांश्चरति निःस्पृहः। निर्ममो निरहंकारः स शांतिमधिगच्छति।।2.71।।
That person attains peace who, abandoning all desires, moves about without longing, without the sense of ownership, a…
एषा ब्राह्मी स्थितिः पार्थ नैनां प्राप्य विमुह्यति। स्थित्वाऽस्यामन्तकालेऽपि ब्रह्मनिर्वाणमृच्छति।।2.72।।
O son of Pritha, this is the eternal state, the Brahmic seat. Attaining this, one is not deluded. Being established i…