Even mind, then act

Where we are

In the previous reading Krishna argued that walking away from this just fight would cost Arjuna his duty and his good name. Now he closes that practical line with a simple choice, then turns a corner: he asks Arjuna to meet gain and loss with the same steady mind, and introduces yoga, the discipline of acting without being bound by what you do.

The verses

1. 2.37

   Fall, and you reach heaven; win, and you enjoy the earth. Either way the outcome is not a loss, so stand up, son of Kuntī, with your mind made up to fight.

   अShow the SanskritHide the Sanskrit for verse 2.37

   हतो वा प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्गं जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम् ।
   तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः ॥ ३७ ॥

   Hear it

   hato vā prāpsyasi svargaṃ jitvā vā bhokṣyase mahīm
   tasmād uttiṣṭha kaunteya yuddhāya kṛtaniścayaḥ

   Say it

   huh-to vaa praap-syuh-si svur-gum ji-tvaa vaa bhok-shyuh-say muh-heem
   tuss-maa-doot-tish-thuh koun-tay-yuh yood-dhaa-yuh kri-tuh-nish-chuh-yuh

   Word by word

   hataḥ vā

   either, if slain

   prāpsyasi svargam

   you will reach heaven

   jitvā vā

   or, if victorious

   bhokṣyase mahīm

   you will enjoy the earth

   tasmāt uttiṣṭha

   therefore stand up

   kaunteya

   son of Kuntī (Arjuna)

   yuddhāya kṛta-niścayaḥ

   resolved to fight

2. 2.38

   Treat pleasure and pain, gain and loss, winning and losing as equal. Act from that even mind, and the action will not bring you wrongdoing.

   अShow the SanskritHide the Sanskrit for verse 2.38

   सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ ।
   ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि ॥ ३८ ॥

   Hear it

   sukhaduḥkhe same kṛtvā lābhālābhau jayājayau
   tato yuddhāya yujyasva naivaṃ pāpam avāpsyasi

   Say it

   soo-khuh-doo-khay suh-may kri-tvaa laa-bhaa-laa-bhou juh-yaa-juh-you
   tuh-to yood-dhaa-yuh yooj-yuss-vuh nai-vum paa-pum uh-vaap-syuh-si

   Word by word

   sukha-duḥkhe

   pleasure and pain

   same kṛtvā

   treating as equal

   lābha-alābhau

   gain and loss

   jaya-ajayau

   victory and defeat

   tataḥ yuddhāya yujyasva

   then commit yourself to the fight

   na evam pāpam avāpsyasi

   this way you will incur no wrong

3. 2.39

   So far I have explained this as Sāṅkhya, the analysis of what lasts and what passes. Now hear it as yoga, something you practise. Held by this understanding, son of Pṛthā, you will slip free of the chains action usually brings.

   अShow the SanskritHide the Sanskrit for verse 2.39

   एषा तेऽभिहिता साङ्ख्ये बुद्धिर्योगे त्विमां शृणु ।
   बुद्ध्या युक्तो यया पार्थ कर्मबन्धं प्रहास्यसि ॥ ३९ ॥

   Hear it

   eṣā te 'bhihitā sāṃkhye buddhir yoge tv imāṃ śṛṇu
   buddhyā yukto yayā pārtha karmabandhaṃ prahāsyasi

   Say it

   ay-shaa tay-bhi-hi-taa saan-khyay bud-dhir yo-gay tvi-maam shri-noo
   bud-dhyaa yook-to yuh-yaa paar-thuh kur-muh-bun-dhum pruh-haas-yuh-si

   Word by word

   eṣā te abhihitā

   this has been told to you

   sāṃkhye buddhiḥ

   the understanding as in Sāṅkhya (analysis)

   yoge tu imām śṛṇu

   now hear it as in yoga (practice)

   buddhyā yuktaḥ yayā

   joined with this understanding

   pārtha

   son of Pṛthā (Arjuna)

   karma-bandham prahāsyasi

   you will cast off the bondage of action

4. 2.40

   On this path no effort is wasted, and stumbling does no harm. Even a little of this practice shields you from great fear.

   अShow the SanskritHide the Sanskrit for verse 2.40

   नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते ।
   स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् ॥ ४० ॥

   Hear it

   nehābhikramanāśo 'sti pratyavāyo na vidyate
   svalpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt

   Say it

   nay-haa-bhi-kruh-muh-naa-sho-sti pruh-tyuh-vaa-yo nuh vid-yuh-tay
   svul-pum uh-pyuss-yuh dhur-muss-yuh traa-yuh-tay muh-huh-to bhuh-yaat

   Word by word

   na iha

   here there is no

   abhikrama-nāśaḥ asti

   loss of effort begun

   pratyavāyaḥ na vidyate

   nor any harm from falling short

   svalpam api

   even a little

   asya dharmasya

   of this practice

   trāyate mahataḥ bhayāt

   protects from great fear

Context and commentary

2.38 is a hinge. Having used the warrior's arguments of heaven, kingdom and honour, Krishna now asks Arjuna to stop weighing outcomes: gain and loss are to be held sama, the same. In 2.39 he names the shift from Sāṅkhya (the analysis of the undying self just given) to yoga (disciplined action, later defined as evenness of mind, 2.48). Interpretation: Śaṅkara reads these as two paths for different seekers; Rāmānuja sees self-knowledge as the ground for disciplined action; many modern readers hear "theory, then practice". 2.40 contrasts this with ritual, which fails if done imperfectly.