Chapter 2, Verse 37 (Bhagavad Gita 2.37)
Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yog – Transcendental Knowledge
Sanskrit Shloka
हतो वा प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्गं जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम्। तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः
Transliteration
hato vā prāpsyasi swargaṁ jitvā vā bhokṣhyase mahīm tasmād uttiṣhṭha kaunteya yuddhāya kṛita-niśhchayaḥ
Word Meanings
hataḥ—slain; vā—or; prāpsyasi—you will attain; swargam—celestial abodes; jitvā—by achieving victory; vā—or; bhokṣhyase—you shall enjoy; mahīm—the kingdom on earth; tasmāt—therefore; uttiṣhṭha—arise; kaunteya—Arjun, the son of Kunti; yuddhāya—for fight; kṛita-niśhchayaḥ—with determination
Translation
If slain, you will attain heaven; if victorious, you will enjoy the earth; therefore, arise, O son of Kunti, resolved to fight.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse addresses the paralysis of hesitation by highlighting that for a warrior of righteousness, there is no losing outcome. It teaches that when one acts in alignment with duty (Dharma), the ego's anxiety over consequences dissolves, as both life and death become sacred offerings. By focusing on the resolve rather than the reward, Krishna encourages Arjuna to transcend his fear of mortality and attachment to worldly gains. Ultimately, it signifies that true victory is found in the courage to perform one's prescribed duties with total commitment, regardless of external results.