Bhagavad Gita · Verse 2.31
Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (सांख्ययोगः)
(The Supreme Lord said)
स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि । धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते ॥३१॥
svadharmamapi cāvekṣya na vikampitumarhasi | dharmyāddhi yuddhācchreyo'nyatkṣatriyasya na vidyate ||31||
Complete Shloka Translation
Considering your own duty too, you should not waver. For a warrior there is nothing better than a battle aligned with dharma.
Word-by-Word Translation (Padartha / Anvaya)
| Sanskrit Term (पद) | IAST Roman | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| स्वधर्मम् | svadharmam | one's own duty |
| धर्म्यात् | dharmyāt | aligned with dharma |
| स्वधर्ममपि | svadharmamapi | [term] in context of Considering your own duty too,... |
| चावेक्ष्य | cāvekṣya | [term] in context of Considering your own duty too,... |
| विकम्पितुमर्हसि | na | [term] in context of Considering your own duty too,... |
| धर्म्याद्धि | vikampitumarhasi | [term] in context of Considering your own duty too,... |
| युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य | dharmyāddhi | [term] in context of Considering your own duty too,... |
| विद्यते | yuddhācchreyo'nyatkṣatriyasya | [term] in context of Considering your own duty too,... |
| ३१ | na | [term] in context of Considering your own duty too,... |
one's own duty
aligned with dharma
[term] in context of Considering your own duty too,...
[term] in context of Considering your own duty too,...
[term] in context of Considering your own duty too,...
[term] in context of Considering your own duty too,...
[term] in context of Considering your own duty too,...
[term] in context of Considering your own duty too,...
[term] in context of Considering your own duty too,...
Detailed Commentary & Meaningful Thoughts
Svadharma here concerns Arjuna's warrior duty, and dharmya qualifies the conflict. The verse does not praise every war or every inherited expectation indiscriminately.
Philosophical Reflection & Self-Inquiry
"Krishna now considers the obligations of Arjuna's specific role."
Inquiry Question to Ponder:
How do you examine whether a role's demand is truly aligned with dharma?
Modern Life Implementation (Practical Real-Life Application)
Apply this verse when facing identity crisis or fear of failure: distinguish the unchanging inner self from transient life situations, and act with full dedication without anxiety over the final outcome.