Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11, Verse 34

Chapter 11 – Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं च
कर्णं तथान्यानपि योधवीरान् ।
मया हतांस्त्वं जहि मा व्यथिष्ठा
युध्यस्व जेतासि रणे सपत्नान् ॥

Transliteration

droṇaṃ ca bhīṣmaṃ ca jayadrathaṃ ca karṇaṃ tathānyānapi yodhavīrān .
mayā hatāṃstvaṃ jahi mavyathiṣṭhā yudhyasva jetāsi raṇe sapatnān ॥

Meaning

Drona and Bhishma, Jayadratha and Karna, and the other heroic warriors as well — already slain by Me — do you slay. Do not be distressed. Fight: you shall conquer your foes in battle.

Word meanings

द्रोणम् – Drona
च – and
भीष्मम् – Bhishma
जयद्रथम् – Jayadratha
कर्णम् – Karna
तथा – likewise
अन्यान् – others
अपि – also
योधवीरान् – heroic warriors
मया – by Me
हतान् – slain
त्वम् – you
जहि – slay
मा व्यथिष्ठाः – do not be distressed, do not fear
युध्यस्व – fight
जेता असि – you shall be the victor
रणे – in battle
सपत्नान् – rivals, enemies

Anvaya (word order)

मया हतान् द्रोणम् च भीष्मम् च जयद्रथम् च कर्णम् तथा अन्यान् अपि योधवीरान् त्वम् जहि; मा व्यथिष्ठाः; युध्यस्व; रणे सपत्नान् जेता असि ।

Explanation

Here the Lord turns a general statement into a specific one. He has said that all the warriors are already slain; now He names them — Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna. These were precisely the names that stirred the deepest fear or hesitation in Arjuna. Drona was his own teacher, master of celestial weapons; Bhishma was the revered grandsire who could choose the hour of his own death; Jayadratha had a boon from his father that whoever caused his head to fall to the ground would have his own head shattered; and Karna held the unfailing weapon given by Indra and was Arjuna’s equal and rival.

Shankara and other commentators explain that this is why these four are singled out: they were considered invincible or beyond being slain. The Lord says ‘maya hatan’ — even these have been slain by Me. Arjuna’s fear was twofold: the fear of sin in killing his elders, and the doubt that he could defeat them at all. ‘Ma vyathishthah’, do not be distressed, answers both. When the Lord Himself is the real agent, neither the weight of sin rests on Arjuna’s ego nor is defeat a possibility.

Ramanuja stresses that the Lord’s own will is the cause of these warriors’ end, so Arjuna should not grieve over slaying teacher or kin. The closing words, ‘yudhyasva jetasi rane sapatnan’ — fight, you shall conquer — are both command and assurance. In 2.37 Krishna had said that if slain Arjuna would win heaven and if victorious he would enjoy the earth; now the cosmic Lord Himself gives a certain promise of victory.

Context

In verse 33 the Lord told Arjuna to be a mere instrument. Here He confirms it by naming the warriors thought to be invincible, and assures him of victory. In the next verse Sanjaya describes how Arjuna, trembling and with joined palms, spoke again.

Life lesson

The ‘Bhishmas and Dronas’ of our own lives — the obstacles that seem most unconquerable — are not beyond the divine order. Hold to the path of right, let go of fear; the courage to do what is right is already half the victory.

Key terms

Ma vyathishthah: do not be distressed — a denial of both fear and grief
Sapatna: rival, enemy
Yodha-vira: foremost heroic warrior