Do not yield to weakness, Partha. It does not suit you. Cast off this petty weakness of heart and rise, scorcher of foes.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 2.3
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे पृथानन्दन अर्जुन इस नपुंसकताको मत प्राप्त हो क्योंकि तुम्हारेमें यह उचित नहीं है । हे परंतप हृदयकी इस तुच्छ दुर्बलताका त्याग करके युद्धके लिये खड़े हो जाओ ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
मा स्मdo notपार्थO Parthaनnotएतत्thisत्वयिin youउपपद्यतेis fittingक्षुद्रम्pettyहृदयदौर्बल्यम्weakness of heartत्यक्त्वाhaving abandonedउत्तिष्ठriseपरन्तपO scorcher of foes
Read literallydo not · O Partha · not · this · in you · is fitting · petty · weakness of heart · having abandoned · rise · O scorcher of foes
Understanding the verse
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Krishna calls it petty weakness of heart and tells Partha to stand up, because it does not suit him.
Krishna tells Arjuna not to sink into weakness. He must drop this small-hearted fear and stand up to fight.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Arjuna has frozen in grief and doubt. Krishna answers sharply, telling him this collapse does not belong to him. The moment demands courage and leaves no room for self-pity.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
Halfway through a hard talk with your father about his drinking, your voice starts shaking and you want to stop. Krishna's word to Arjuna is to stand up and finish what has to be done.
The takeaway
“When weakness takes over at the wrong moment, the first step is to stand back up.”
Krishna tells Arjuna not to sink into weakness. He must drop this small-hearted fear and stand up to fight.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 2.3?
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 2.3?
Verse 3 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 2.3 matter today?
Halfway through a hard talk with your father about his drinking, your voice starts shaking and you want to stop. Krishna's word to Arjuna is to stand up and finish what has to be done.
Krishna calls it petty weakness of heart and tells Partha to stand up, because it does not suit him.
What this verse means
Krishna tells Arjuna not to sink into weakness. He must drop this small-hearted fear and stand up to fight.
Context & commentary
Arjuna has frozen in grief and doubt. Krishna answers sharply, telling him this collapse does not belong to him. The moment demands courage and leaves no room for self-pity.
What it looks like today
Halfway through a hard talk with your father about his drinking, your voice starts shaking and you want to stop. Krishna's word to Arjuna is to stand up and finish what has to be done.
“When weakness takes over at the wrong moment, the first step is to stand back up.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), arjuna (52 verses)