Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse 2 (2.2)
Reflective Prompt:
When someone is upset, is it better to immediately give advice, or first ask a question that helps them see what is happening?
- ▪ Option 1: Give advice right away.
- ▪ Option 2: Ask a clear and caring question first.
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse 2 (2.2)
श्रीभगवानुवाच
कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम् । अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन | | २-२ | |
śhrī bhagavān uvācha kutastvā kaśhmalamidaṁ viṣhame samupasthitam anāryajuṣhṭamasvargyamakīrtikaramarjuna
Word-by-word guide:
Line 0:
- श्री
(Sri)— श्री(the Blessed Lord said) - भगवान्
(Bhagavan)— भगवान(the Blessed Lord said) - उवाच
(uvacha)— बोले(the Blessed Lord said)
Line 1:
- कुतह्
(kutah)— कहां से(from where) - व
(tva)— तुम्हें(to you) - कश्मलम्
(kashmalam)— मोह या कमजोरी(this confusion or weakness) - इदम्
(idam)— यह भ्रम या कमजोरी(this confusion or weakness) - विषमे
(vishame)— कठिन समय में(has come at a difficult moment) - सउपइत
(samupasthitam)— कठिन समय में आया है(has come at a difficult moment)
Line 2:
- अनार्यजुष्टम्
(anarya-jushtam)— आर्यजनों के योग्य नहीं(not followed by the noble) - अस्वर्ग्यम्
(asvargyam)— स्वर्ग न देने वाला(not uplifting) - अकीर्तिकरम्
(akirti-karam)— अपयश देने वाला(fame-destroying) - अर्जुन
(arjuna)— अर्जुन(Arjuna)
English: Krishna asks Arjuna why such despair has come upon him at this decisive moment.
Learnings from Shloka 2:
- Krishna's first direct teaching moment:: This is the first line in the Gita clearly introduced as *Sri Bhagavan uvacha*, "The Blessed Lord said."
- A clarifying question:: Krishna does not begin with a lecture. He first asks Arjuna how such confusion has overtaken him at this critical moment.
- A gentle but firm challenge:: The words point out that Arjuna's despair is not noble, not uplifting, and not fame-giving.
- Language with force:: The repeated negative sense in *anarya-jushtam*, *asvargyam*, and *akirti-karam* shows that this weakness is pulling Arjuna away from his true nature.
- A meaningful contrast:: Arjuna's name suggests brightness and clarity, yet he is acting from confusion. Krishna's question invites him back to clarity.
Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz
Practice this shloka vocabularyMatch Sanskrit words from shloka 2.2 with their Hindi and English meanings.
Practice vocabulary
**Practice Point:** When confusion appears at an important moment, pause and ask: "Is this thought helping me act with clarity, or is it pulling me away from my dharma?"