Chapter 2, Verse 9 (Bhagavad Gita 2.9)
Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yog – Transcendental Knowledge
Sanskrit Shloka
सञ्जय उवाच एवमुक्त्वा हृषीकेशं गुडाकेशः परन्तप। न योत्स्य इति गोविन्दमुक्त्वा तूष्णीं बभूव ह
Transliteration
sañjaya uvācha evam-uktvā hṛiṣhīkeśhaṁ guḍākeśhaḥ parantapa na yotsya iti govindam uktvā tūṣhṇīṁ babhūva ha
Word Meanings
sañjayaḥ uvācha—Sanjay said; evam—thus; uktvā—having spoken; hṛiṣhīkeśham—to Shree Krishna, the master of the mind and senses; guḍākeśhaḥ—Arjun, the conquerer of sleep; parantapaḥ—Arjun, the chastiser of the enemies; na yotsye—I shall not fight; iti—thus; govindam—Krishna, the giver of pleasure to the senses; uktvā—having addressed; tūṣhṇīm—silent; babhūva—became ha
Translation
Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus to Hrishikesha, the Lord of the senses, Arjuna, the conqueror of sleep and destroyer of foes, said to Govinda, 'I will not fight,' and became silent.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse marks the climax of Arjuna's internal crisis, where intellect gives way to emotional paralysis. By addressing Krishna as Hrishikesha, Arjuna unconsciously acknowledges that his very senses are being governed by his clouded judgment. His silence is not merely an absence of speech, but a profound state of spiritual exhaustion where worldly duty clashes with moral confusion. This teaches us that true transformation often begins only when we admit our helplessness and surrender our ego-driven plans. It serves as a reminder that before one can attain divine wisdom, one must first confront the depths of their own despair and hesitation.