Gita 02.37 – Knowledge of atma and dharma redefines lose-lose situation as win-win
hato vā prāpsyasi svargaṁ
jitvā vā bhokṣyase mahīm
tasmād uttiṣṭha kaunteya
yuddhāya kṛta-niścayaḥ (Bg 2.37)
Word-for-Word:
hataḥ — being killed; vā — either; prāpsyasi — you gain; svargam — the heavenly kingdom; jitvā — by conquering; vā — or; bhokṣyase — you enjoy; mahīm — the world; tasmāt — therefore; uttiṣṭha — get up; kaunteya — O son of Kuntī; yuddhāya — to fight; kṛta — determined; niścayaḥ — in certainty.
Translation:
O son of Kuntī, either you will be killed on the battlefield and attain the heavenly planets, or you will conquer and enjoy the earthly kingdom. Therefore, get up with determination and fight.
Explanation:
In this verse, Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna:
hato vā prāpsyasi svargaṁ: “If you are killed, you will attain heaven.
jitvā vā bhokṣyase mahīm: If you win, you will enjoy the earth.
tasmād uttiṣṭha kaunteya: Therefore, rise, O son of Kuntī —
yuddhāya kṛta-niścayaḥ: “— and fight with determination.”
This verse responds to Bhagavad-gītā 2.6, where Arjuna expresses his dilemma, saying he does not know what to do—whether it is better to win or lose the battle:
na caitad vidmaḥ kataran no garīyo
yad vā jayema yadi vā no jayeyuḥ
yān eva hatvā na jijīviṣāmas
te ’vasthitāḥ pramukhe dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ
At that moment, both choices seemed like lose-lose options to Arjuna. If he won, he would have to kill his relatives, making the victory tainted by the spoils of the blood of his loved ones. That would feel like a defeat. If he lost, he would be killed, which was unfortunate but expected in battle. If he chose not to fight, he would have to live dishonorably as a beggar—an unbearable fate for a kṣatriya, who is meant to live amidst honor and opulence.
What Arjuna perceived as a lose-lose situation, Kṛṣṇa redefines as a win-win once one understands the concepts of ātma (soul) and dharma (duty). Here, Kṛṣṇa concludes his first level of reasoning, based on karma-kāṇḍa, explaining why Arjuna should fight.
Karma-kāṇḍa is also rooted in the knowledge of the soul—recognizing that the soul exists beyond the body and can attain heaven after death. Kṛṣṇa here tells Arjuna:
hato vā—”If you are killed in battle, you will attain heaven (prāpsyasi svargaṁ).”
Even in the material world, a warrior who sacrifices his life for a righteous cause is honored. Martyrs are celebrated by the state, and monuments are built in their memory, recognizing their valor.
Dying in battle is considered honorable, as life does not end with death—it extends beyond. A kṣatriya who fights fearlessly and lays down his life in war attains heaven, as Kṛṣṇa explains in 2.31–32.
Kṛṣṇa then says: jitvā vā—”If you win, you will enjoy the earth (bhokṣyase mahīm).”
Regarding Arjuna’s main concern about the fate of his loved ones, Kṛṣṇa reassures him that they are eternal souls, and their bodies are like garments that will be replaced based on their karma. Thus, Arjuna should not grieve, as they are not truly perishing.
Kṛṣṇa repeatedly emphasizes “na tvaṁ śocitum arhasi” (“You should not grieve”) throughout verses 2.25 to 2.30.
Kṛṣṇa uses ātma-jñāna (knowledge of the soul) to counter Arjuna’s sorrow over the loss of his loved ones. He explains that death is inevitable and that avoiding duty will not change that. Instead of trying to escape the unavoidable, Arjuna must fulfill his duty as a kṣatriya. Thus, Kṛṣṇa urges him not to abandon his responsibility.
Kṛṣṇa first explains through ātma-jñāna that death is inevitable. Now, he gives a more positive perspective, emphasizing that fulfilling one’s duty leads to positive results.
Arjuna may think that by not fighting, he is sparing lives, but Kṛṣṇa reminds him that their deaths are inevitable regardless. However, by abandoning dharma, Arjuna will incur pāpa (sin) and akīrti (disgrace), leading to his own suffering.
Initially, Arjuna saw not fighting as the best among bad courses of action, but Kṛṣṇa redefines it as the worst choice. Instead, he says Arjuna has only good options ahead:
• If he dies a hero’s death in battle, he attains heaven.
• If he wins, he enjoys the earth (bhokṣyase mahīm).
Enjoying the world is not wrong if done within the boundaries of dharma, as it ensures righteousness and balance in life.
Dharma, artha, and kāma are all puruṣārthas (legitimate goals of life). A king enjoys royal opulence and position, but his duty is to uphold dharma—ultimately serving Kṛṣṇa at the highest level. By doing so, society remains on the path of progress, and the king uses his power, influence, and respect to guide people toward righteousness.
Kṛṣṇa then declares: “tasmād uttiṣṭha kaunteya” (“Therefore, O Arjuna, rise!”).
In Bhagavad-gītā 1.46, the last verse of the first chapter, it is described: “evam uktvārjunaḥ saṅkhye rathopastha upāviśat”—Arjuna sat down in his chariot, signaling his decision not to fight. Similarly, in 2.9, he explicitly states: “na yotsya iti govindam uktvā tūṣṇīṁ babhūva ha”—declaring he will not fight and becoming motionless and silent, essentially inactive.
Now, Kṛṣṇa commands:
“Uttiṣṭha”—”Rise!” This directive is both in a physical and emotional sense. Kṛṣṇa urges Arjuna to stand up physically and, more importantly, to rise above his confusion and dejection, regaining his clarity and determination.
Kṛṣṇa assures Arjuna that he has a bright path ahead, whether he wins or loses. Therefore, he must fight with determination—”yuddhāya kṛta-niścayaḥ”—meaning “Resolve firmly to fight.” Just as we say, “Make up your mind,” Kṛṣṇa is urging Arjuna to do the same.
This teaches an important lesson: when lost—much like a ship adrift in the ocean on a dark, cloudy night, unable to see the stars or navigate—one can feel directionless. In ancient times, without a compass or guiding tools, losing one’s way was easy. However, if someone is near the coast and sees a lighthouse in the distance, that lighthouse helps them navigate, showing which direction to follow and which to avoid. Similarly, in life, when faced with uncertainty, principles of dharma and the knowledge of ātma act as a lighthouse, guiding us toward the right path.
With these principles in mind, Kṛṣṇa has completely transformed Arjuna’s perspective. He has shown Arjuna that he is not truly suffering or trapped in a lose-lose situation. Instead, he has a win-win path ahead of him. Understanding this, Kṛṣṇa urges Arjuna to stand firm and fight with determination.
Thank you.
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