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Chapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized · 72 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 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
2.52.7

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.6

Grief, confusion, and Arjuna accepting discipleship

Karma · Action

न चैतद्विद्मः कतरन्नो गरीयो

यद्वा जयेम यदि वा नो जयेयुः ।

यानेव हत्वा न जिजीविषाम-

स्तेऽवस्थिताः प्रमुखे धार्तराष्ट्राः ॥ ६ ॥

na caitad vidmaḥ kataran no garīyo

yad vā jayema yadi vā no jayeyuḥ

yān eva hatvā na jijīviṣāmas

te ’vasthitāḥ pramukhe dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ

Translation

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

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

3 study points

Arjuna’s Doubt and Detachment

  1. 1

    Arjuna does not know whether winning or losing is better. If they kill the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, he would not care to live.

  2. 2

    Though born in a royal family, Arjuna was willing to live by begging. Prabhupāda explains that this showed his detachment.

  3. 3

    Arjuna’s knowledge, devotion, control of his mind and senses, and faith in Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s instructions made him fit for liberation.

Key points from the purport

“Indecision” — Arjuna is confused whether to fight or not to fight

Arjuna is confused and indecisive based on the following aspects

If he fights:

He may win – Still he will not be able to enjoy without his relatives (1.31 – 1.35)

He may not emerge victorious in spite of so much bloodshed – No enjoyment guaranteed

If he does not fight:

Begging will be his only means of subsistence – For a ksatriya it is difficult and therefore no enjoyment

First four arguments covered in chapter one:

Arjuna’s first four arguments are covered in Texts 1.28 — 1.43

Connected verses · 1

Texts 2.6 & 2.7

Perplexed yet eager for enlightenment, Arjuna recites the following verse

Further reading

Arjuna’s Further Doubts & Surrender To Krishna

Arjuna’s further reasons for not fighting

Surrenders to Krishna

Chapter 2, section I: Arjuna’s Further Doubts & Surrender To Krishna
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanor
  2. caalso
  3. etatthis
  4. vidmaḥdo we know
  5. kataratwhich
  6. naḥfor us
  7. garīyaḥbetter
  8. yat vāwhether
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: saṁśaya, viṣāda.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 2.6 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to questions & crisis?

Practice

Write down the real question behind your current dilemma.

5

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 2 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 2.1Grief, confusion, and Arjuna accepting discipleshipBG 2.2Grief, confusion, and Arjuna accepting discipleshipBG 1.28Compassion entangled with attachmentBG 1.46The bow falls
Live this todayAsk for Spiritual GuidanceA practice from BG 2.7, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 4 of 9 · 10 minChapters & storiesGo chapter by chapter, with the Mahābhārata stories that explain what is happening.Back · LearnPrabhupāda's Introduction