Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7 Verse 11 (7.11)
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7 Verse 11 (7.11)
बलं बलवतां चाहं कामरागविवर्जितम् । धर्माविरुद्धो भूतेषु कामोऽस्मि भरतर्षभ | | ७-११ | |
balaṁ balavatāṁ chāhaṁ kāmarāgavivarjitam dharmāviruddho bhūteṣhu kāmo’smi bharatarṣhabha
Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
- बलम्
(balam)— बल(strength) - बलवताम्
(bala-vatam)— बलवानों का(of the strong) -
cjoined in chāhaṁ - अहम्
(aham)— मैं(I) - कामरागविवर्जितम्
(kama-raga-vivarjitam)— काम और राग से रहित(free from selfish desire and attachment)
Line 2:
- धर्म
(dharma)— धर्म(righteousness/duty) -
viriddojoined in dharmāviruddho - भूतेषु
(bhuteshu)— प्राणियों में(in living beings) - कामः
(kamah)— काम(desire/passion) - अस्मि
(asmi)— हूँ(I am) -
baratarsabajoined in bharatarṣhabha
English: I am the strength of the strong when it is free from selfish desire, and I am desire that follows dharma.
Learnings from Shloka 11:
- Purified strength:: True strength is calm, protective, and free from personal craving.
- Sacred desires:: Not all desires are bad; those that support dharma are expressions of the Divine.
- Living in harmony:: Spiritual life does not mean destroying all desire, but aligning it with virtue.
Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz
Practice this shloka vocabularyMatch Sanskrit words from shloka 7.11 with their Hindi and English meanings.
Practice vocabulary
Most strength is driven by ego, greed, or anger. Krishna says He is the strength that is free from these passions. Furthermore, He is desire (kama) when it is aligned with righteousness (dharma) and natural order (e.g., the desire to help others or raise a family).