Chapter 7, Verse 11 (Bhagavad Gita 7.11)
Chapter 7: Jñāna Vijñāna Yog – Self-Knowledge and Enlightenment
Sanskrit Shloka
बलं बलवतां चाहं कामरागविवर्जितम्। धर्माविरुद्धो भूतेषु कामोऽस्मि भरतर्षभ
Transliteration
balaṁ balavatāṁ chāhaṁ kāma-rāga-vivarjitam dharmāviruddho bhūteṣhu kāmo ’smi bharatarṣhabha
Word Meanings
balam—strength; bala-vatām—of the strong; cha—and; aham—I; kāma—desire; rāga—passion; vivarjitam—devoid of; dharma-aviruddhaḥ—not conflicting with dharma; bhūteṣhu—in all beings; kāmaḥ—sexual activity; asmi—(I) am; bharata-ṛiṣhabha—Arjun, the best of the Bharats
Translation
I am the strength of the strong, devoid of desire and attachment; and in all beings, I am the desire that is in harmony with Dharma, O Arjuna.
Meaning & Commentary
In this sloka, Lord Krishna clarifies that true strength is not rooted in ego or worldly cravings, but in a divine alignment with righteousness. By identifying Himself as the desire that follows Dharma, Lord Krishna teaches us that not all desires are obstacles; those that align with duty and universal order are manifestations of His own presence. This wisdom invites us to transform our daily actions by purifying our motivations and shedding selfish attachments. When we act according to Dharma, we allow the power of Lord Krishna to flow through us, turning our mundane existence into a spiritual journey. Ultimately, we learn that true strength arises when we surrender our individual will to the divine order of Lord Krishna.