Verse-2-3
Chapter 2 — Sānkhya Yog
Verse 2-3
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
|| Shree Bhagavaanuvaacha ||
kutastvā kaśmalamidaṁ viṣame samupasthitam
anāryajuṣṭamasvarg-yamkīrtikaramarjuna
klaibyaṁ mā sma gamaḥ pārtha naitattvayyupapadyate
kṣudraṁ hṛdayadaurbalyaṁ tyaktvottiṣṭha parantapa
🕉 English Translation
📜 Translation
English
Hey Arjun! How in this hour of difficulty, due to what cause have you become subject to this kind of delusion? It is not practised by enlightened men; neither will it lead to heaven nor to glory.
Therefore, Hey Arjun! Do not yield to impotence. It is unworthy of you. O Parantapa (killer of foes)! shake off this paltry weakness and stand up to fight.
In fact, this point is not the rightful beginning of the Gita's sermon. Arjun was in distress and was mentally broken. He was not in state of listening or expressing anything. In this state, whether any good advice would have an effect did not appear to be so. Therefore, there was no relevance for giving good advice. At this juncture, the Lord wanted that Arjun should emerge out of this grave state, wipe away his flowing tears, and then come to the state of saying and listening. Just as in a family situation when a child becomes annoyed and unhappy because of obstinacy and sits alone, gets mentally lost then parents need to use harsh words which he doesn't accept replies back to them.
The Lord uses harsh words for Arjun here with this object in mind.
An extremely soft-natured and loving friend, Krishna appears to be in state of confusion as regards Arjun. This language is undoubtedly the language of reprimand which is required in this situation. The warfield and everything was ready. Arjun himself asked for the chariot to be taken towards the midst of both the armies so that he might have a look as to which warriors had come for warfare. The same Arjun–such weakness, such cowardice, how could this happen for the warrior class? That is why the Lord stated clearly that your behavior is non-Aryan-like, not that of an enlightened person. By such behaviour you will neither attain to glory in this life time nor will you attain to heaven after your death.
Arjun is still silent, still continuing in the hopeless state of compassion and helplessness. Far from speaking or saying anything he is not even looking towards the Lord. Hence the words of Krishna became harsher. "Kailabayam ma sam gamah Parth"! Parth! Do not become impotent in this manner. At least keep the honour of the words of your mother Kunti 'Yadartham kshatriya sute kaloamagatah' (Mahabharata) implying that the reason for which a Kshatriya's mother begets a son the time has come for that. This coward-like conduct will be called impotence. So many battles have been fought, many powerful warriors were defeated, but the Kshatriyas never accepted defeat. That is why this is from any viewpoint not becoming of you. O Arjun! Get rid of this paltry weakness. Stand up for your duty.
The reprimand of the Blessed Lord had its effect. Arjun broke his silence. This is what the Lord wanted.