Step 4 of 7 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.

  1. 1Tap a chapter, then a verse
  2. 2Read what it means
  3. 3Try the practice
700 verses37 detailed
Or browse by chapter
Chapter

Chapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized · 72 verses

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172

Deep profile← → keys move between verses

Questions & crisisChapter 2 · Contents of the Gītā Summarized
2.62.8

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 2.7

The moment Arjuna becomes a disciple

कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः

पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेताः ।

यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्‍चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे

शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् ॥ ७ ॥

kārpaṇya-doṣopahata-svabhāvaḥ

pṛcchāmi tvāṁ dharma-sammūḍha-cetāḥ

yac chreyaḥ syān niścitaṁ brūhi tan me

śiṣyas te ’haṁ śādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam

Translation

Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

Surrendering for Spiritual Guidance

  1. 1Confused about his duty, Arjuna surrenders to Kṛṣṇa as His disciple and asks what is best for him.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa is the supreme spiritual master. Arjuna now seeks serious instruction, not friendly talks.
  3. 3To resolve life’s confusion, we should approach a genuine spiritual master in the disciplic succession and use human life for self-realization.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 2, Contents of the Gītā Summarized: grief, confusion, and arjuna accepting discipleship.

What it teaches

Study note

Admission of uncertainty opens the teacher–disciple relationship.

From the purport

Summary — read the full purport on Vedabase

Prabhupāda emphasizes approaching a bona fide spiritual master to resolve material perplexity.

How it feels

Interpretive

Humility

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Grief & illusion

Arjuna accepts Krishna as spiritual master.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where do I need guidance more than another attempt to defend my own conclusion?

Practice

Form one sincere question for a bona fide spiritual guide.

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 1.28Compassion entangled with attachmentBG 1.46The bow fallsBG 18.73My illusion is gone

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

Ask the study guide

Ask about BG 2.7 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

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.