The Blessed Lord said: You grieve for what should not be grieved for, yet speak words of wisdom. The wise do not grieve for the dead or the living.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 2.11
Hindi · हिन्दी
श्रीभगवान् बोले तुमने शोक न करनेयोग्यका शोक किया है और पण्डिताईकी बातें कह रहे हो परन्तु जिनके प्राण चले गये हैं, उनके लिये और जिनके प्राण नहीं गये हैं, उनके लिये पण्डितलोग शोक नहीं करते ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
श्री भगवानुवाचthe Blessed Lord saidअशोच्यान्for the ungrievableअन्वशोचःyou have grievedत्वम्youप्रज्ञावादान्words of wisdomचandभाषसेyou speakगतासून्the departed breathअगतासून्the not-departed breathचandनnotअनुशोचन्तिgrieveपण्डिताःthe wise
Read literallythe Blessed Lord said · for the ungrievable · you have grieved · you · words of wisdom · and · you speak · the departed breath · the not-departed breath · and · not · grieve · the wise
Understanding the verse
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Krishna points out the mismatch: Arjuna talks like a wise man while grieving for those who need no grief.
Arjuna is mourning people who should not be mourned, while speaking as if he understands wisdom. Krishna says the wise do not grieve for either the dead or the living.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Arjuna has frozen between the two armies. His bow has fallen, and Krishna begins by correcting the confusion itself: Arjuna is speaking like a wise man while reacting like someone lost in grief. This verse starts the teaching that follows.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
You stand beside a hospital bed, rehearsing the perfect words while your chest tightens. The mind reaches for philosophy, but the heart is still caught in fear and loss.
The takeaway
“It brings relief by showing that clear seeing can hold loss without collapsing into sorrow.”
Explore related themes: viveka(15 verses), grief(10 verses)
Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 2.11 mean?
Arjuna is mourning people who should not be mourned, while speaking as if he understands wisdom. Krishna says the wise do not grieve for either the dead or the living.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 2.11?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Sankhya Yoga" (The Yoga of Knowledge).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 2.11?
Verse 11 sits in Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita — Sankhya Yoga, "The Yoga of Knowledge". The chapter has 72 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 2.11 matter today?
You stand beside a hospital bed, rehearsing the perfect words while your chest tightens. The mind reaches for philosophy, but the heart is still caught in fear and loss.
Krishna points out the mismatch: Arjuna talks like a wise man while grieving for those who need no grief.
What this verse means
Arjuna is mourning people who should not be mourned, while speaking as if he understands wisdom. Krishna says the wise do not grieve for either the dead or the living.
Context & commentary
Arjuna has frozen between the two armies. His bow has fallen, and Krishna begins by correcting the confusion itself: Arjuna is speaking like a wise man while reacting like someone lost in grief. This verse starts the teaching that follows.
What it looks like today
You stand beside a hospital bed, rehearsing the perfect words while your chest tightens. The mind reaches for philosophy, but the heart is still caught in fear and loss.
“It brings relief by showing that clear seeing can hold loss without collapsing into sorrow.”
Explore related themes: viveka (15 verses), grief (10 verses)