Bhagavad Gita BG 11.33
Chapter 11, Verse 33 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
तस्माद्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व जित्वा शत्रून्भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम् । मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वं मेव निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन् ॥
tasmat tvam uttishtha yasho labhasva jitva shatrun bhunkshva rajyam samrddhAm mayaivete nihatah purvam eva nimittamatram bhava savyasachin
Meaning
Therefore, arise and win glory! Conquer the enemies and enjoy the prosperous kingdom. By Me alone they have already been slain — be you merely the instrument, O Savyasachin!
Understanding
The supreme instruction from the Vishvarupa vision: tasmat tvam uttishtha (therefore ARISE). Yasho labhasva (win/gain glory). Jitva shatrun bhunkshva rajyam samrddhAm (having conquered the enemies, enjoy the prosperous kingdom). Mayaiva ete nihatah purvam eva (by ME alone they have already been slain — purva eva, already, previously — in the cosmic order). Nimittamatram bhava (be you merely the instrument — nimittamatram, only an occasion/instrument). Savyasachin (one who shoots with both hands — an epithet for Arjuna). The teaching: do not consider yourself the author. Be the nimitta (instrument/occasion) of what the Divine is already accomplishing.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| उत्तिष्ठ | uttishtha | arise, stand up (imperative) |
| यशः | yashah | glory, fame, honor |
| निहताः | nihatah | slain, already killed |
| पूर्वमेव | purvam eva | already, previously, beforehand |
| निमित्तमात्रम् | nimittamatram | merely the instrument, only the occasion |
| सव्यसाचिन् | savyasachin | O Savyasachin (Arjuna — ambidextrous archer) |
| तस्मात् | tasmāt | therefore |
| त्वम् | tvam | you |
| उत्तिष्ठ | uttiṣṭha | arise, stand up |
| यशः | yaśaḥ | glory, fame |
| लभस्व | labhasva | gain, obtain |
| जित्वा | jitvā | having conquered |
| शत्रून् | śatrūn | the enemies |
| भुङ्क्ष्व | bhuṅkṣva | enjoy |
| राज्यम् | rājyam | the kingdom |
| समृद्धम् | samṛddham | prosperous, flourishing |
| मया | mayā | by Me |
| एव | eva | indeed |
| एते | ete | these |
| निहताः | nihatāḥ | slain, killed |
| पूर्वम् | pūrvam | already, previously |
| एव | eva | even |
| निमित्त-मात्रम् | nimitta-mātram | merely an instrument, a mere cause |
| भव | bhava | be, become |
| सव्यसाचिन् | savyasācin | O Arjuna (ambidextrous archer) |