1 · Learn3 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.

700 verses37 detailed

Or browse by chapter

Chapter

Chapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized · 72 verses

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72

Deep profile← → keys move between verses

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.

Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›

Questions & crisisChapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized

2.2 2.4

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.3

Grief, confusion, and Arjuna accepting discipleship

Karma · Action

क्ल‍ैब्यं मा स्म गमः पार्थ नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते ।

क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परन्तप ॥ ३ ॥

klaibyaṁ mā sma gamaḥ pārtha

naitat tvayy upapadyate

kṣudraṁ hṛdaya-daurbalyaṁ

tyaktvottiṣṭha paran-tapa

Translation

O son of Pṛthā, 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.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Give Up Weakness of Heart

1
Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna to give up his unworthy weakness of heart and rise to fight.
2
As a warrior and Kṛṣṇa’s intimate friend, Arjuna would disgrace himself by abandoning the battle.
3
Kṛṣṇa saw Arjuna’s wish to spare Bhīṣma and his relatives as weakness, not true kindness. Arjuna should follow Kṛṣṇa’s direct guidance.

Key points from the purport

These notes cover verses 2.2–3

Krishna’s response seeing Arjuna’s lamentation — Krishna condemns by following words:

Non-Aryan (2.2)

Kasmalam – implies impurities (2.2)

Klaibyam – implies impotent (2.3)

Hrdoya daurbalyam – implies weakness of heart (2.3)