Bhagavad Gita 2.38 · Sukha Duhkhe Same Kritvaसुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ।ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि ॥
sukha-duḥkhe same kṛitvā lābhālābhau jayājayau
tato yuddhāya yujyasva naivaṁ pāpam avāpsyasi
Sanskrit recitation
Duty when you are afraid · 2.31–2.38 · Teaching
Translation
Having made pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat equal, engage in battle for the sake of battle; thus, you shall not incur sin.
Hindi translation
जय-पराजय, लाभ-हानि और सुख-दुःखको समान करके फिर युद्धमें लग जा। इस प्रकार युद्ध करनेसे तू पापको प्राप्त नहीं होगा।
Meaning
This is the Yoga of equanimity or the doctrine of poise in action. If anyone does any action with the above mental attitude or balanced state of mind he will not reap the fruits of his action. Such an action will lead to the purification of his heart and freedom from birth and death. One has to develop such a balanced state of mind through continous struggle and vigilant efforts.
After Swami Sivananda
Duty when you are afraid· 2.31–2.38→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 2.31Further, having regard to your duty, you should not waver, for there is nothing higher for…
- 2.32Happy are the Kshatriyas, O Arjuna! who are called to fight in such a battle that comes of…
- 2.33But if you will not fight this righteous war, then having abandoned your own duty and…
- 2.34People will also recount your everlasting dishonor; and for one who has been honored,…
- 2.35The great chariot-warriors will think that you have withdrawn from the battle out of fear,…
- 2.36Your enemies, scoffing at your power, will speak many abusive words—what could be more…
- 2.37Slain, you will obtain heaven; victorious, you will enjoy the earth; therefore, stand up,…
2.38Having made pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat equal, engage in battle…
Word-by-word→
- na
- never
- evam
- thus
- sukha
- happiness
- pāpam
- sin
- tataḥ
- thereafter
- duḥkhe
- in distress
- yujyasva
- engage
- yuddhāya
- for fighting
- avāpsyasi
- shall incur
- jaya-ajayau
- victory and defeat
- same kṛitvā
- treating alike
- lābha-alābhau
- gain and loss
Related verses
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- 3.36Arjuna said, "But what compels man to commit sin, even against his wishes, O Varshneya…
- 1.1Dhritarashtra said, "What did my people and the sons of Pandu do when they had assembled…
- 11.55He who does all actions for Me, who regards Me as the Supreme, who is devoted to Me, who…