Chapter 2 Overview
Verse 2.33
अथ चैत्त्वमिमं धर्म्यं संग्रामं न करिष्यसि। ततः स्वधर्मं कीर्तिं च हित्वा पापमवाप्स्यसि।।2.33।।
atha chet tvam imaṁ dharmyaṁ saṅgrāmaṁ na kariṣhyasi tataḥ sva-dharmaṁ kīrtiṁ cha hitvā pāpam avāpsyasi
Sanskrit Chant Recitation
Chapter 2, Verse 33
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Scripture Translation Room
Sanskrit to English Translation
Translator:
But if you will not fight this righteous war, then having abandoned your own duty and reputation, you will incur sin.
A Reading - Rantideb
Why: the warning about lost dharma and fame appeals to something more familiar than metaphysics, the story other people will tell about you.
In life: reputation and self-respect are real motivators, even if they're not the noblest ones available.
Teaching: it's fine to use practical, even ego-based reasons to push yourself toward the right action, as long as they get you there.
atha chetif, however
tvamyou
imamthis
dharmyam saṅgrāmamrighteous war
nanot
kariṣhyasiact
tataḥthen
sva-dharmamone’s duty in accordance with the Vedas
kīrtimreputation
chaand
hitvāabandoning
pāpamsin
avāpsyasiwill incur
Deep Classical Commentary (Bhashya)
Author:
2.33 अथ चेत् but if? त्वम् thou? इमम् this? धर्म्यम् righteous? संग्रामम् warfare? न not? करिष्यसि will do? ततः,then? स्वधर्मम् own duty? कीर्तिम् fame? च and? हित्वा having abandoned? पापम् sin? अवाप्स्यसि shall incur.Commentary The Lord reminds Arjuna of the fame he had already earned and which he would now lose if he refused to fight. Arjuna had acired great fame by fighting with Lord Siva. Arjuna proceeded on a pilgrimage to the Himalayas. He fought with Siva Who appeared in the guise of a mountaineer (Kirata) and got from Him the Pasupatastra? a celestial weapon.