Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse 31 (2.31)
Reflective Prompt:
Imagine tomorrow is Monday. Adults have to return to work, and students have to return to school.
- ▪ Option 1: Skip it and say, "Who cares?"
- ▪ Option 2: Show up and ask, "What is my responsibility here?" When something feels unpleasant, how do you decide whether it is a duty to be done or something that can truly be avoided?
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse 31 (2.31)
स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि । धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते | | २-३१ | |
svadharmamapi chāvekṣhya na vikampitumarhasi dharmyāddhi yuddhāchchhreyo’nyatkṣhatriyasya na vidyate
Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
- व-धम
(Sva-dharmam)— धर्म(one's own duty) - अपि
(api)— भी(also) -
cjoined in chāvekṣhya - अएय
(avekshya)— अएय(considering) - न
(na)— नहीं है(does not exist) - इकइउ
(vikampitum)— तुम्हें कांपना नहीं चाहिए(you should not tremble) - अर्हसि
(arhasi)— तुम्हें कांपना नहीं चाहिए(you should not tremble)
Line 2:
- धय
(dharmyat)— धर्मयुक्त युद्ध से(than a righteous battle) -
dijoined in dharmyāddhi - उध
(yuddhat)— धर्मयुक्त युद्ध से(than a righteous battle) - श्रेयह्
(shreyah)— कुछ श्रेष्ठ(anything better) - अन्यत्
(anyat)— कुछ श्रेष्ठ(anything better) - क्षइयय
(kshatriyasya)— योद्धा(for a warrior) - न
(na)— नहीं है(does not exist) - विद्यते
(vidyate)— नहीं है(does not exist)
English: Considering his own duty as a Kshatriya, Arjuna should not waver, for no duty is higher than a righteous battle.
Learnings from Shloka 31:
- Dharma is not only organized religion:: In this verse, Krishna speaks about *svadharma*, the responsibility that belongs to Arjuna's role and situation.
- Dharma means doing the right thing:: It asks, "What is the right action here?" rather than "What is easiest for me right now?"
- Most of the time we know our dharma:: A student has student-dharma, a parent has parent-dharma, and a friend has the dharma of being trustworthy.
- Duty can feel difficult:: Krishna does not say Arjuna has no emotions. He says Arjuna should not let emotion make him abandon rightful duty.
Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz
Practice this shloka vocabularyMatch Sanskrit words from shloka 2.31 with their Hindi and English meanings.
Practice vocabulary
Krishna now speaks to Arjuna's specific duty as a warrior. For a kshatriya, a righteous battle to protect dharma is not something to fear or avoid.
The teaching is not a general praise of violence. It is about doing one's rightful duty when avoiding it would allow adharma to grow.