Chapter 2, Verse 3 (Bhagavad Gita 2.3)
Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yog – Transcendental Knowledge
Sanskrit Shloka
क्लैब्यं मा स्म गमः पार्थ नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते। क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परन्तप
Transliteration
klaibyaṁ mā sma gamaḥ pārtha naitat tvayyupapadyate kṣhudraṁ hṛidaya-daurbalyaṁ tyaktvottiṣhṭha parantapa
Word Meanings
klaibyam—unmanliness; mā sma—do not; gamaḥ—yield to; pārtha—Arjun, the son of Pritha; na—not; etat—this; tvayi—to you; upapadyate—befitting; kṣhudram—petty; hṛidaya—heart; daurbalyam—weakness; tyaktvā—giving up; uttiṣhṭha—arise; param-tapa—conqueror of enemies
Translation
Do not yield to impotence, O son of Pritha. It does not befit you. Cast off this base weakness of the heart and arise, O conqueror of foes.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse serves as a spiritual wake-up call, urging the individual to transcend emotional paralysis that stems from misplaced sentimentality. Krishna teaches that true strength arises when one aligns their duty with their higher consciousness, rather than being swayed by the temporary fluctuations of fear or attachment. This 'weakness of heart' represents the ego-driven hesitation that blinds a person to their divine purpose and moral responsibility. By commanding Arjuna to stand up, Krishna emphasizes that the path of righteousness requires proactive courage and the shedding of victimhood. It is a timeless lesson that overcoming internal indecision is the fundamental prerequisite for achieving greatness and performing right action.