Chapter 2, Verse 31
Text
स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि | धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते ||२-३१||
Transliteration
svadharmamapi cāvekṣya na vikampitumarhasi . dharmyāddhi yuddhācchreyo.anyatkṣatriyasya na vidyate ||2-31||
Translations
In English by Swami Sivananda
2.31 Further, having regard to thy duty, shouldst not waver, for there is nothing higher for a Kshatriya than a righteous war.
In English by Swami Sivananda
2.31 स्वधर्मम् own duty, अपि also, च and, अवेक्ष्य looking at, न not, विकम्पितुम् to waver, अर्हसि (thou) oughtest, धर्म्यात् than righteous, हि indeed, युद्धात् than war, श्रेयः higher, अन्यत् other, क्षत्रियस्य of a Kshatriya, न not, विद्यते is.Commentary Lord Krishna now gives to Arjuna wordly reasons for fighting. Up to this time, He talked to Arjuna on the immortality of the Self and gave him philosophical reasons. Now He says to Arjuna, O Arjuna Fighting is a Kshatriyas own duty. You ought not to swerve from that duty. To a Kshatriyta (one born in the warrior or ruling class) nothing is more welcome than a righteous war. A warrior should fight.