Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse 38 (2.38)

सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ । ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि | | २-३८ | |

sukhaduḥkhe same kṛitvā lābhālābhau jayājayau tato yuddhāya yujyasva naivaṁ pāpamavāpsyasi

Word-by-word guide:

Line 1:

उख-उए (Sukha-duhkhe) — सुख-दुःख(making pleasure and pain equal)
सए (same) — सुख-दुःख(making pleasure and pain equal)
कृत्वा (kritva) — सुख-दुःख(making pleasure and pain equal)
la joined in lābhālābhau
बल (bala) — बल/ताकत(strength)
bau joined in lābhālābhau
ja joined in jayājayau
यत् (yat) — जो कि(that which)
a joined in jayājayau
यः (yah) — जो(who)
u joined in jayājayau

Line 2:

ततः (tatah) — युद्ध(then engage in battle)
उधय (yuddhaya) — युद्ध(then engage in battle)
उयव (yujyasva) — युद्ध(then engage in battle)
न (na) — नहीं(thus you will not incur fault)
ivam joined in naivaṁ
पप (papam) — पाप(thus you will not incur fault)
अवप्स्यसि (avapsyasi) — आप शल्ल् प्राप्त करते हैं(thus you will not incur fault)

English: Treating pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat alike, Arjuna should fight and avoid wrongdoing.

💡 Commentary Note

**Practice Point:** When a duty feels uncomfortable, separate two questions: "Do I like this?" and "Is this the right thing to do?" Krishna is teaching Arjuna to let the second question lead.

### Shlokas 39-53 **Karmayoga, the Yoga of Selfless Action, described.**

Learnings from Shloka 38:

Duty of a Kshatriya:: A warrior must perform the duty of protecting dharma, especially in a righteous struggle.
Responsibility over attachment:: Krishna asks Arjuna to act from responsibility, not from personal fear or emotional attachment.
Courage in action:: Courage does not mean the situation is easy. It means acting rightly even when the heart is heavy.
Consequences of inaction:: Avoiding duty out of fear can lead to dishonor, regret, and loss of inner strength.
Equanimity begins here:: Krishna prepares Arjuna for Karma Yoga by asking him to hold pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat with balance.

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