Even if I gained an unrivaled, prosperous kingdom on earth or lordship over the gods, I see nothing that could remove this grief that dries up my senses.
— Arjuna
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Bhagavad Gita · 2.8
Hindi · हिन्दी
पृथ्वीपर धनधान्यसमृद्ध और शत्रुरहितराज्य तथा स्वर्गमें देवताओंका आधिपत्य मिल जाय तो भी इन्द्रियोंको सुखानेवाला मेरा जो शोक है, वह दूर हो जाय ऐसा मैं नहीं देखता हूँ ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
न हिfor notप्रपश्यामिI seeममmyअपनुद्यात्could removeयत्that whichशोकम्griefउच्छोषणम्drying upइन्द्रियाणाम्of the sensesअवाप्यhaving obtainedभूमौon earthअसपत्नम्unrivaled, without enemiesऋद्धम्prosperousराज्यम्kingdomसुराणाम्of the godsअपिevenचandआधिपत्यम्lordship
Read literallyfor not · I see · my · could remove · that which · grief · drying up · of the senses · having obtained · on earth · unrivaled, without enemies · prosperous · kingdom · of the gods · even · and · lordship
Understanding the verse
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Arjuna says no earthly kingdom, not even lordship over the gods, could dry up this grief.
01
In plain words
What this verse means
Arjuna says that even the greatest possible power and wealth would not remove his grief. His mind is so overwhelmed that nothing outside can fix it.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Arjuna has already admitted confusion and weakness. Now he tells Krishna that even a rich, enemy-free earthly kingdom or rule over the gods would not dry up his sorrow. This is the depth of his collapse before Krishna begins to answer.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
Some people buy a bigger flat after a death in the family, hoping the move will help, and find the grief came along. Arjuna sees ahead of time that no kingdom would fix his.
The takeaway
“When grief takes over, even the biggest prizes stop looking valuable.”
Arjuna says that even the greatest possible power and wealth would not remove his grief. His mind is so overwhelmed that nothing outside can fix it.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 2.8?
Arjuna 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 2.8?
Verse 8 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 2.8 matter today?
Some people buy a bigger flat after a death in the family, hoping the move will help, and find the grief came along. Arjuna sees ahead of time that no kingdom would fix his.
Arjuna says no earthly kingdom, not even lordship over the gods, could dry up this grief.
What this verse means
Arjuna says that even the greatest possible power and wealth would not remove his grief. His mind is so overwhelmed that nothing outside can fix it.
Context & commentary
Arjuna has already admitted confusion and weakness. Now he tells Krishna that even a rich, enemy-free earthly kingdom or rule over the gods would not dry up his sorrow. This is the depth of his collapse before Krishna begins to answer.
What it looks like today
Some people buy a bigger flat after a death in the family, hoping the move will help, and find the grief came along. Arjuna sees ahead of time that no kingdom would fix his.
“When grief takes over, even the biggest prizes stop looking valuable.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), attachment (20 verses), arjuna vishada (14 verses)