स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि। धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते॥
svadharmamapi cāvekṣya na vikampitumarhasi । dharmyāddhi yuddhācchreyo'nyatkṣatriyasya na vidyate ॥
PM's MessageThe valor and prowess of the Indian Army in protecting the honor and dignity of the country makes all countrymen proud. Their passion to sacrifice their lives for Mother India is inspiring to everyone.
Meaning of Svadharmamapi Cāvekṣya Na Vikampitumarhasi
When one becomes aware of one's duty, there should be no hesitation or fear of any kind in the mind, because the struggle undertaken to protect religion and honour on the altar of justice is the most excellent and most glorious path to self-welfare for a warrior.
Word by word
- स्वधर्मम्svadharmam
your own dharma
स्व + धर्म
- अपि चapi ca
and also
- अवेक्ष्यavekṣya
having considered
अव + √ईक्ष्
- न विकम्पितुम्na vikampitum
to waver
वि + √कम्प्
- अर्हसिarhasi
you ought not
√अर्ह्
- धर्म्यात्dharmyāt
than a righteous
√धृ
- हि युद्धात्hi yuddhāt
indeed than war
√युध्
- श्रेयःśreyaḥ
better
श्रेयस्
- अन्यत्anyat
anything else
अन्य
- क्षत्रियस्यkṣatriyasya
for a kshatriya
क्षत्र
- न विद्यतेna vidyate
does not exist
√विद्
Commentary
Spoken by Krishna to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, this verse addresses the particular duty of a kshatriya. Krishna asks Arjuna not to waver when he considers his own dharma, because for a kshatriya no good is held higher than a righteous war. The verse does not say that svadharma removes every fear or doubt, nor does it promise glory regardless of the outcome. The supplied meaning broadens kshatriya to any warrior and softens yuddha into struggle; those are applications of the verse beyond its specific address to Arjuna.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More from Bhagavad Gita
View source pageनित्यं परिचरेच्चैव तद्वै सुकृतमुत्तमम्। कीर्तिं पुण्यं यशो लोकान् प्राप्स्यसे राजसत्तम॥
nityaṃ paricareccaiva tadvai sukṛtamuttamam । kīrtiṃ puṇyaṃ yaśo lokān prāpsyase rājasattama ॥
Daily service is praised as an excellent deed that brings merit, renown and higher realms.
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च। निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी॥
adveṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca । nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī ॥
The Bhagavad Gita describes a character free from hatred and ego, friendly to all beings and steady in joy and sorrow.
स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः। स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु॥
sve sve karmaṇyabhirataḥ saṁsiddhiṁ labhate naraḥ । svakarmanirataḥ siddhiṁ yathā vindati tacchṛṇu ॥
The Bhagavad Gita teaches that devotion to one's own work is a path to perfection.
More subhashitams on Duty
View topic pageवत्सराजोऽपि तं प्राप्तं प्रदत्तोपायनं नृपम्। प्रीत्या सम्मानयामास शूरा हि प्रणतिप्रियाः॥
vatsarājo 'pi taṃ prāptaṃ pradattopāyanaṃ nṛpam । prītyā sammānayāmāsa śūrā hi praṇatipriyāḥ ॥
Vatsaraja honours a king who comes with gifts, illustrating the brave person's regard for respectful homage.
भस्मीकृतस्वार्थसौख्यपरिचर्चितविग्रहाः। स्वराज्ययोगनिर्मग्ना धन्यास्ते वीरयोगिनः॥
bhasmīkṛtasvārthasaukhyaparicarcitavigrahāḥ । svarājyayoganirmagnā dhanyās te vīrayoginaḥ ॥
The verse praises heroic practitioners who renounce personal comforts and devote themselves fully to self-rule.
नित्यं परिचरेच्चैव तद्वै सुकृतमुत्तमम्। कीर्तिं पुण्यं यशो लोकान् प्राप्स्यसे राजसत्तम॥
nityaṃ paricareccaiva tadvai sukṛtamuttamam । kīrtiṃ puṇyaṃ yaśo lokān prāpsyase rājasattama ॥
Daily service is praised as an excellent deed that brings merit, renown and higher realms.