Verse-38
Chapter 2 — Sānkhya Yog
Verse 38
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
sukhaduḥkhe same kṛtvā lābhālābhau jayājayau
tato yuddhāya yujyasva naivaṁ pāpamavāpsyasi
🕉 English Translation
📜 Translation
English
Treating victory–defeat, loss–gain, pleasure and pain with equanimity, thereafter get ready for the war, thus fighting in this manner you shall not incur sin.
Arjun had said to Lord Krishna in the first chapter, "Why do we not see evil in the opposing friends and why should we not give a thought to avoid such an evil?" 'Mitra drohe ch patakam'–Gita1. 38. 'Katham na Gyeyamsamabhih papadasmannivartitum'–Gita1. 39.
The act of killing is not an evil. The soldier standing on the border of the nation gets as big a reward for the number opponents he kills. Comparison in this case because of personal relations or friendship, amounts to rebellion. At this point of time, the Kauravas are on the opposite side, and their side is of unrighteousness, and they have been informed by Dharmaraj (upholder of righteousness) Yudhishtir that whoever desires to come over to their side of righteousness is welcome. This is a war of righteousness and whoever is standing on the side of unrighteousness his slaying is the call of the duty now. Lord Krishna says, "Parth! Do your duty but at the same time keep this in mind that you do not have to keep in view pleasure or pain, gain or loss and conquest or defeat. This is a main hurdle towards maintaining single-mindedness towards one's duty. The view becomes one-sided."