Chapter 2, Verse 2 (Bhagavad Gita 2.2)
Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yog – Transcendental Knowledge
Sanskrit Shloka
श्री भगवानुवाच कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम्। अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन
Transliteration
śhrī bhagavān uvācha kutastvā kaśhmalamidaṁ viṣhame samupasthitam anārya-juṣhṭamaswargyam akīrti-karam arjuna
Word Meanings
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha—the Supreme Lord said; kutaḥ—wherefrom; tvā—to you; kaśhmalam—delusion; idam—this; viṣhame—in this hour of peril; samupasthitam—overcome; anārya—crude person; juṣhṭam—practiced; aswargyam—which does not lead to the higher abodes; akīrti-karam—leading to disgrace; arjuna—Arjun
Translation
The Blessed Lord said, 'My dear Arjuna, how has this impurity come upon you? It is not at all befitting a man who knows the value of life. It leads not to higher planets but to infamy.'
Meaning & Commentary
This verse represents the divine intervention of the guru, who does not offer pity but instead challenges the student's momentary lapse in identity. Krishna addresses Arjuna’s paralysis not as an emotional sentiment, but as 'anarya'—a state unworthy of an evolved soul who understands duty. It teaches that dejection, when rooted in attachment and fear, is a spiritual blockage that obscures one's true nature and higher purpose. By confronting this 'impurity,' one learns that true strength lies in aligning personal action with universal righteousness rather than yielding to the ego's confusion. Ultimately, it reminds us that our hesitations often stem from a misplaced sense of self-identity that must be dismantled to reach spiritual liberation.