Bhagavad Gita BG 2.7
Chapter 2, Verse 7 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेताः । यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् ॥ ७ ॥
kārpaṇya-doṣopahata-svabhāvaḥ pṛcchāmi tvāṃ dharma-sammūḍha-cetāḥ yac chreyaḥ syān niścitaṃ brūhi tan me śiṣyas te 'haṃ śādhi māṃ tvāṃ prapannam
Meaning
My nature is overcome by the weakness of pity, and my mind is confused about duty. I ask You: tell me decisively what is good for me. I am Your disciple. Teach me, who am taking refuge in You.
Understanding
This is the turning point of Chapter 2 — and of the entire Gita. Arjuna formally surrenders to Krishna as a disciple: 'śiṣyas te 'ham' — I am Your disciple; 'śādhi mām tvāṃ prapannam' — teach me, I have taken refuge in You. The word 'prapannam' (surrendered, taken refuge) is deeply significant in Vaishnava theology. Arjuna acknowledges his mind is 'dharma-sammūḍha' — confused about duty. It is precisely this confusion that the Gita will resolve.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः | kārpaṇya-doṣopahata-svabhāvaḥ | whose nature is overcome by the defect of pity/weakness |
| धर्मसम्मूढचेताः | dharma-sammūḍha-cetāḥ | whose mind is confused about dharma (duty) |
| श्रेयः | śreyaḥ | that which is truly good / the highest benefit |
| शिष्यः | śiṣyaḥ | disciple / student |
| शाधि | śādhi | please teach / instruct |
| प्रपन्नम् | prapannam | one who has surrendered / taken refuge |
| पृच्छामि | pṛcchāmi | I ask / I inquire |
| त्वाम् | tvām | you (accusative) |
| यत् | yat | which / that which (is good) |
| स्यात् | syāt | would be / might be |
| निश्चितम् | niścitam | decisively / with certainty |
| ब्रूहि | brūhi | tell / say (imperative) |
| तन् मे | tan me | that to me / tell me that |
| ते | te | your (disciple) |
| अहम् | aham | I |
| माम् | māṃ | me (who has taken refuge) |