Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 37

Chapter 2 – Sankhya Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

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

Transliteration

hato vā prāpsyasi svargaṃ jitvā vā bhokṣyase mahīm .
tasmāduttiṣṭha kaunteya yuddhāya kṛtaniścayaḥ ॥

Meaning

If you are slain, you will attain heaven; if you conquer, you will enjoy the earth. Therefore arise, O son of Kunti, resolved to fight.

Word meanings

हतः – slain
वा – either
प्राप्स्यसि – you will attain
स्वर्गम् – heaven
जित्वा – having conquered
वा – or
भोक्ष्यसे – you will enjoy
महीम् – the earth
तस्मात् – therefore
उत्तिष्ठ – arise
कौन्तेय – O son of Kunti
युद्धाय – for battle
कृतनिश्चयः – with firm resolve

Anvaya (word order)

(त्वं) हतः वा स्वर्गं प्राप्स्यसि, जित्वा वा महीं भोक्ष्यसे । तस्मात् कौन्तेय, युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः उत्तिष्ठ ।

Explanation

This is the concluding sentence of the argument from svadharma. In 2.6 Arjuna said he did not know whether victory or defeat would be better. Krishna now answers that very confusion: in a righteous war both outcomes are good. If you fall heroically, heaven awaits; if you win, you will rule the earth in righteousness.

It is a situation with no fear of loss. When one stands on the side of dharma, one is secure whatever the outcome; even defeat becomes a kind of victory. Many heroes in history have resisted injustice in this very spirit.

‘Uttishtha Kaunteya yuddhaya krita-nishchayah’ — arise, resolved to fight. The word ‘krita-nishchaya’ matters. Arjuna's problem was indecision; Krishna is leading him towards resolve. Work undertaken half-heartedly never succeeds.

Note that this is still an argument from results — heaven or a kingdom. In the very next verse Krishna rises above it, telling Arjuna to fight treating victory and defeat, gain and loss alike. Thus the Gita's teaching climbs step by step to higher ground.

Context

In 2.31–2.36 Krishna argued from duty and honour. Here He concludes that both outcomes of the battle are beneficial, so Arjuna should rise. In the next verse (2.38) He asks him to fight with equanimity, beyond concern for results.

Life lesson

When you stand on the right side, let go of the fear of results — success is yours, and so is the offering made in the struggle. Begin your work with firm resolve; a half-hearted effort stays incomplete.

Key terms

Krita-nishchaya: firmly resolved
Mahi: the earth, sovereignty
Svarga: heaven, the reward of the heroic