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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse 1 (2.1)

Reflective Prompt:

Imagine your team has a soccer match tomorrow. Half the team is scared and says, "Maybe we should quit." The other half says, "We can still play with courage." - **Team Arjuna:** Convince Team Krishna that quitting is the better option. - **Team Krishna:** Convince Team Arjuna that quitting is not the right option. What would you say if your friend was overwhelmed just before an important duty?

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse 1 (2.1)

सञ्जय उवाच

तं तथा कृपयाविष्टमश्रुपूर्णाकुलेक्षणम् । विषीदन्तमिदं वाक्यमुवाच मधुसूदनः | | २-१ | |

sañjaya uvācha taṁ tathā kṛipayāviṣhṭamaśhrupūrṇākulekṣhaṇam viṣhīdantamidaṁ vākyamuvācha madhusūdanaḥ

Word-by-word guide:
Line 0:
  • सञ्जय (Sanjaya) — सञ्जय बोले(Sanjaya said)
  • उवाच (uvacha) — बोले(spoke these words)
Line 1:
  • तम् (tam) — उस अवस्था में उसे(him in that state)
  • तथा (tatha) — उस अवस्था में उसे(him in that state)
  • इपय (kripaya) — करुणा से अभिभूत(overcome by compassion)
  • अइत (avishtam) — करुणा से अभिभूत(overcome by compassion)
  • a joined in kṛipayāviṣhṭamaśhrupūrṇākulekṣhaṇam
  • श्री (shri) — श्री(honorific)
  • pur joined in kṛipayāviṣhṭamaśhrupūrṇākulekṣhaṇam
  • (na) — नहीं(not)
  • kuleksa joined in kṛipayāviṣhṭamaśhrupūrṇākulekṣhaṇam
  • (na) — नहीं(not)
  • m joined in kṛipayāviṣhṭamaśhrupūrṇākulekṣhaṇam
Line 2:
  • इइदत (vishidantam) — शोक(grieving)
  • इदम् (idam) — ये वचन कहे(spoke these words)
  • वाक्यम् (vakyam) — ये वचन कहे(spoke these words)
  • उवाच (uvacha) — बोले(spoke these words)
  • मधुसूदन (Madhusudana) — हे मधुसूदन(Krishna)
  • h joined in madhusūdanaḥ

English: Sanjaya says that Krishna spoke to Arjuna, who was overcome with compassion, tears, and grief.

💡 Commentary Note

Arjuna's grief represents the human condition when faced with overwhelming crisis. Krishna's silence at the start highlights the importance of allowing a person to express their sorrow fully before offering guidance.

Learnings from Shloka 1:
  • Acknowledge emotions:: It is natural to feel overwhelmed and experience grief when facing complex life crises.
  • Look for guidance:: Seeking a clear perspective or a wise mentor is essential when emotions cloud our judgment.

Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz

Practice this shloka vocabulary

Match Sanskrit words from shloka 2.1 with their Hindi and English meanings.

Practice vocabulary