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Chapter 2 · Verse 4 · Sankhya Yoga

Bhagavad Gita 2.4

contemplative Dharma & Duty Fear & Courage Relationships

Sanskrit

अर्जुन उवाच कथं भीष्ममहं संख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन। इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन।।2.4।।

Transliteration

arjuna uvācha kathaṁ bhīṣhmam ahaṁ sankhye droṇaṁ cha madhusūdana iṣhubhiḥ pratiyotsyāmi pūjārhāvari-sūdana

हिंदी अर्थ

अर्जुन कहते हैं - हे कृष्ण, मैं युद्ध में भीष्म और द्रोण के विरुद्ध कैसे तीर चला सकता हूँ, जब वे पूजनीय और सम्मानित हैं। मैं इन गुरुजनों को मारने के लिए अपने बाण कैसे चला सकता हूँ, यह मेरे लिए सही नहीं है।

Word by Word

arjunaḥ uvācha Arjun said
katham how
bhīṣhmam Bheeshma
aham I
sankhye in battle
droṇam Dronacharya
cha and
madhu-sūdana Shree Krishn, slayer of the Madhu demon
iṣhubhiḥ with arrows
pratiyotsyāmi shall I shoot
pūjā-arhau worthy of worship
ari-sūdana destroyer of enemies
Simplified Perspective

Arjun's anguish here reveals the deepest conflict: how can the bow-hand that worships also wound? This is the eternal human dilemma — duty and love appearing to collide.

Yet Krishna will show him that true worship lies not in the absence of action, but in surrendering the fruits of righteous action to the Divine. When we face our own impossible choices, we too must learn that honoring our teachers and performing our duty are not contradictory — they are two expressions of the same sacred commitment to dharma.

Listen

Bhagavad Gita 2.4 — BG 2.4

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Sanskrit text from the Bhagavad Gita (public domain). Commentary © Mahakatha.

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