गुरूनहत्वा हि महानुभावान् श्रेयो भोक्तुं भेक्षमपीह लोके। हत्वार्थकामांस्तु गुरूनिहैव भुञ्जीय भोगान्रुधिरप्रदिग्धान्
It would be better in this world to live on alms than to slay these great-souled teachers; by killing my teachers, even if they desire wealth, I would enjoy pleasures stained with blood.
न चैतद्वीद्मः कतरन्नो गरीयो यद्वा जयम यदि वा नो जयेयुः। यानेव हत्वा न जिजीविषाम- स्तेऽवस्थिताः प्रमुखे धार्तराष्ट्राः
Nor do we know which is better for us—whether we should conquer them or they should conquer us; those very sons of Dhritarashtra, after killing whom we would not wish to live, stand before us in battle.
कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसंमूढचेताः। यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम्
My nature, afflicted by the fault of weakness, is confused about my duty; I ask you—tell me decisively what is truly best. I am your disciple; instruct me, for I have taken refuge in you.
न हि प्रपश्यामि ममापनुद्या- द्यच्छोकमुच्छोषणमिन्द्रियाणाम्। अवाप्य भूमावसपत्नमृद्धं राज्यं सुराणामपि चाधिपत्यम्
I do not see what could dispel this grief that dries up my senses, even if I were to obtain a prosperous, unrivaled kingdom on earth or sovereignty over the gods.
एवमुकत्वा हृषीकेशं गुडाकेशं परंतप । न योत्स्य इति गोविन्दमुक्त्वा तूष्णीं बभूव ह
Having spoken thus to Hrishikesha, Gudakesha, the scorcher of foes, declared, 'I will not fight,' and became silent, O Govinda.
तमुवाच हृषीकेशः प्रहसन्निव भारत। सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये विषीदन्तमिदं वचः
To him, Hrishikesha spoke these words, as if smiling, O Bharata, to the despondent one, standing between the two armies.
अशोच्यानन्वशोचस्त्वं प्रज्ञावादांश्च भाषसे। गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पाण्डिताः
You grieve for those who should not be grieved for, yet you speak words of wisdom; the wise do not mourn for the living or for the dead.
नत्वेवाहं जातु नासं न त्वं नेमे जनाधिपाः। न चैव नभविष्यामः सर्वे वयमतः परम्
Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor these rulers of men; nor shall we ever cease to exist hereafter.
देहिनोऽस्मिन्यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा। तथा देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्धीरस्तत्र न मुह्यति
Just as in this body the embodied soul passes through childhood, youth, and old age, so also does it pass into another body; the wise are not deluded by this.
मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः । आगमापायिनोऽनित्स्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत
O son of Kunti, contacts with sense objects produce cold and heat, pleasure and pain; they come and go and are impermanent—endure them, O Bharata.
यं हि व्यथयन्त्येते पुरुषं पुरुषर्षभ। समदुःखसुखं धीरं सोऽमृतत्वाय कल्पते
O best of men, that person whom these do not disturb—who is steady, the same in pain and pleasure—he is fit for immortality.
नासतो विद्यते भावो नाभावो विद्यते सतः। उभयोरपि दृष्टोऽन्तस्त्वनयोस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिःक
There is no existence for the unreal, nor is there non-existence for the real; the end of both has been seen by those who perceive the truth.
अविनाशि तु तद्विद्धि येन सर्वमिदं ततम्। विनाशमव्ययस्यास्य न कश्चित्कर्तुमर्हति
But know that to be indestructible by which all this is pervaded; no one can bring about the destruction of this imperishable.
अन्तवन्त इमे देहा नित्यस्योक्ताः शरीरिणः । अनाशिनोऽप्रमेयस्य तस्माद्युध्यस्व भारत
These bodies are said to have an end, but the embodied one is eternal, indestructible, and immeasurable; therefore, fight, O Bharata.
य एनं वेत्ति हन्तारं यश्चैनं मन्यते हतम्। उभौ तौ न विजानीतो नायं हन्ति न हन्यते
He who thinks this (self) is a killer, and he who thinks it is killed—both do not understand; this does not kill, nor is it killed.
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचि- न्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः । अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्तये हन्यमाने शरीरे
It is never born, nor does it ever die; having come into being, it does not cease to be again. It is unborn, eternal, everlasting, and ancient; it is not slain when the body is slain.
वेदाविनाशिनं नित्यं य एनमजमव्ययम्। कथं स पुरुषः पार्थ कं घातयति हन्ति कम्
O Pārtha, knowing this self to be indestructible, eternal, unborn, and unchanging, how can a person kill or cause anyone to be killed?
वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय नवानि गृह्णानि नरोऽपराणि। तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा- न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही
Just as a man, casting off worn-out garments, takes up new ones, so the embodied one, leaving behind worn-out bodies, enters new ones.
नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः। न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः
Weapons do not cut this, fire does not burn it, waters do not wet it, and wind does not dry it.
अच्छेद्योऽयमदाह्योऽयमक्लेद्योऽशोष्य एव च। नित्यः सर्वगतः स्थाणुरचलोऽयं सनातनः
This is uncuttable, unburnable, unwettable, and undryable; it is eternal, all-pervading, stable, immovable, and everlasting.
अव्यक्तोऽयमचिन्त्योऽयमविकार्योऽयमुच्यते। तस्मादेवं विदित्वैनं नानुशोचितुमर्हसि
This is said to be unmanifest, inconceivable, and unchanging; therefore, knowing it thus, you should not grieve for it.
अथ चैनं नित्यजातं नित्यं वा मन्यसे मृतम्। तथापि कत्वं महाबाहो नैनं शोचितुमर्हसि
But even if you think this is constantly born and constantly dies, even then, O mighty-armed, you should not grieve for it.
जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च। तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि
For death is certain for the born, and birth is certain for the dead; therefore, you should not grieve over what is unavoidable.
अव्यक्तादीनि भूतानि व्यक्तमध्यानि भारत। अव्यक्तनिधनान्येन तत्र का परिदेवना
Beings are unmanifest in their beginning, manifest in their middle, O Bharata, and unmanifest again in their end; what cause is there for lamentation?
आश्चर्यवत्पश्यति कश्चिदेन- माश्चर्यवद्वदति तथैव चान्यः। आश्चर्यवच्चैनमन्यः श्रृणोति श्रुत्वाऽप्येनं वेद न चैव कश्चित्
Someone sees this as a wonder, likewise another speaks of it as a wonder, another hears of it as a wonder, yet even after hearing, no one truly knows it.
देही नित्यमवध्योऽयं देहे सर्वस्य भारत। तस्मात्सर्वाणि भूतानि न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि
The embodied one in the body of everyone is always indestructible, O Bharata; therefore, you should not grieve for any beings.
स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि । धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते
Also, considering your own duty, you should not waver; for a warrior, there is nothing better than a righteous battle.
यदृच्छया चोपपन्नं स्वर्गद्वारमपावृतम् । सुखिनः क्षत्रियाः पार्थ लन्ते युद्धमीदृशम्
Happy are the warriors, O Pārtha, who encounter such a battle that comes of itself, opening the gates of heaven.
अथ चेत्त्वमिमं धर्म्यं संग्रामं न करिष्यसि। ततः स्वधर्मं कीर्तिं च हित्वा पापमवाप्स्यसि
But if you do not undertake this righteous battle, then forsaking your own duty and honor, you will incur sin.
अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम् । संभावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते
Even creatures will speak of your lasting disgrace; and for one who is esteemed, dishonor is worse than death.