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Chapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized · 72 verses

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Duty & actionChapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized
2.302.32

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.31

The duty of a kṣatriya and equanimity

स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि ।

धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते ॥ ३१ ॥

sva-dharmam api cāvekṣya

na vikampitum arhasi

dharmyād dhi yuddhāc chreyo ’nyat

kṣatriyasya na vidyate

Translation

Considering your specific duty as a kṣatriya, you should know that there is no better engagement for you than fighting on religious principles; and so there is no need for hesitation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Duty on Religious Principles

  1. 1For a kṣatriya, there is no better engagement than fighting on religious principles, so there is no need to hesitate.
  2. 2A kṣatriya protects others from harm and is trained to fight because religious violence is sometimes necessary.
  3. 3Specific duties are ordained by the Lord. Performing them according to religious principles helps one progress toward liberation.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 2, Contents of the Gītā Summarized: the duty of a kṣatriya and equanimity.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Act dutifully without attachment to fruits.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Prescribed duty

Arjuna is reminded of his duty as a kṣatriya.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 2.31 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to duty & action?

Practice

Do one task today purely because it is right.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 2 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 3.35Act according to your proper dutyBG 18.47Natural duties and perfection through workBG 18.66The heart of surrender

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.