Bhagavad Gita BG 2.2
Chapter 2, Verse 2 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
श्रीभगवानुवाच । कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम् । अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन ॥ २ ॥
śrī bhagavān uvāca kutas tvā kaśmalam idaṃ viṣame samupasthitam anārya-juṣṭam asvargyam akīrti-karam arjuna
Meaning
The Blessed Lord said: Whence has this dejection come upon you in this crisis, O Arjuna? It is unworthy of noble people, does not lead to heaven, and brings disgrace.
Understanding
Krishna's first words are a gentle but firm rebuke. He does not coddle Arjuna's grief but calls it 'kaśmalam' — impurity or faint-heartedness. He says it is 'anārya-juṣṭam' — not befitting an Aryan (noble person), 'asvargyam' — not leading to heaven, and 'akīrti-karam' — causing infamy. Krishna begins by addressing the social and moral consequences of Arjuna's withdrawal, before moving to the deeper philosophical teaching.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कुतः | kutaḥ | from where / how |
| कश्मलम् | kaśmalam | impurity / faint-heartedness / delusion |
| विषमे | viṣame | at this crisis / at this difficult moment |
| अनार्यजुष्टम् | anārya-juṣṭam | not befitting a noble person (Aryan) |
| अकीर्तिकरम् | akīrti-karam | causing infamy / dishonour |
| श्रीभगवान् उवाच | śrī bhagavān uvāca | The Blessed Lord said (speaker attribution) |
| त्वा | tvā | you (short accusative form) |
| इदम् | idam | this (impurity / dejection) |
| समुपस्थितम् | samupasthitam | come upon / arisen / arrived |
| अस्वर्ग्यम् | asvargyam | not leading to heaven / inauspicious |
| अर्जुन | arjuna | O Arjuna |