Therefore, rise and win fame. Conquer your enemies and enjoy a prosperous kingdom. They have already been slain by me; become only the instrument, Arjuna.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 11.33
Hindi · हिन्दी
इसलिये तुम युद्धके लिये खड़े हो जाओ और यशको प्राप्त करो तथा शत्रुओंको जीतकर धनधान्यसे सम्पन्न राज्यको भोगो । ये सभी मेरे द्वारा पहलेसे ही मारे हुए हैं । हे सव्यसाचिन् तुम निमित्तमात्र बन जाओ ॥
Krishna tells Arjuna to stand up, fight, and claim the kingdom, but without ego. The enemies are already defeated in the larger order; Arjuna must only act as the instrument.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Having shown Arjuna his cosmic form, Krishna turns the vision into action: Arjuna must rise, fight, and reclaim the kingdom, but without claiming authorship of the result.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A surgeon's assistant steadies the patient while the surgeon makes the cut, and the outcome rests on far more than her hands. Krishna asks Arjuna for that kind of work: do your part fully and drop the claim of authorship.
The takeaway
“You can move with full force without carrying the burden of control.”
Krishna tells Arjuna to stand up, fight, and claim the kingdom, but without ego. The enemies are already defeated in the larger order; Arjuna must only act as the instrument.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 11.33?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga" (The Universal Form).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 11.33?
Verse 33 sits in Chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita — Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga, "The Universal Form". The chapter has 55 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 11.33 matter today?
A surgeon's assistant steadies the patient while the surgeon makes the cut, and the outcome rests on far more than her hands. Krishna asks Arjuna for that kind of work: do your part fully and drop the claim of authorship.
"Be only the instrument," Krishna says: the enemies are already slain, so Arjuna should rise and fight.
What this verse means
Krishna tells Arjuna to stand up, fight, and claim the kingdom, but without ego. The enemies are already defeated in the larger order; Arjuna must only act as the instrument.
Context & commentary
Having shown Arjuna his cosmic form, Krishna turns the vision into action: Arjuna must rise, fight, and reclaim the kingdom, but without claiming authorship of the result.
What it looks like today
A surgeon's assistant steadies the patient while the surgeon makes the cut, and the outcome rests on far more than her hands. Krishna asks Arjuna for that kind of work: do your part fully and drop the claim of authorship.
“You can move with full force without carrying the burden of control.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), karma yoga (55 verses), vishwarupa (50 verses)