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Chapter 2 · Verse 5 · Sankhya Yoga

Bhagavad Gita 2.5

philosophical Dharma & Duty Karma & Action Attachment & Letting Go

Sanskrit

गुरूनहत्वा हि महानुभावान् श्रेयो भोक्तुं भैक्ष्यमपीह लोके। हत्वार्थकामांस्तु गुरूनिहैव भुञ्जीय भोगान् रुधिरप्रदिग्धान्।।2.5।।

Transliteration

gurūnahatvā hi mahānubhāvān śhreyo bhoktuṁ bhaikṣhyamapīha loke hatvārtha-kāmāṁstu gurūnihaiva bhuñjīya bhogān rudhira-pradigdhān

हिंदी अर्थ

गुरुजनों को मारकर भिक्षा माँगना इस लोक में अच्छा है, परंतु गुरुओं को मारकर उनके धन और भोग को भोगना उनके रक्त से सने हुए भोगों को भोगने जैसा है।

Word by Word

gurūn teachers
ahatvā not killing
hi certainly
mahā-anubhāvān noble elders
śhreyaḥ better
bhoktum to enjoy life
bhaikṣhyam by begging
api even
iha loke in this world
hatvā killing
artha gain
kāmān desiring
tu but
gurūn noble elders
iha in this world
eva certainly
bhuñjīya enjoy
bhogān pleasures
rudhira blood
pradigdhān tainted with
Simplified Perspective

Arjuna's crisis is not about killing or not killing — it is about the poisoning of the soul through betrayal of dharma. To live by begging rather than fulfill one's sacred duty is to preserve the body while starving the spirit.

Even if we must act against those we revere, acting with clarity and righteousness cleanses the soul, while inaction born of attachment stains us with the blood of our own cowardice. In our modern lives, we too face moments where duty demands we disappoint those we love — the question is whether we will honor truth or hide behind sentiment.

Listen

Bhagavad Gita 2.5 — BG 2.5

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

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