Bhagavad Gita 2.31 — Consider Your Own Duty: For a Warrior, a Righteous War Is the Highest Good
स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि।
धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते॥ २.३१॥
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Considering also your own duty, you should not waver. For a warrior, there is no higher good than a war based on righteousness.
Transliteration (IAST)
Word Separation
The Sanskrit verse is separated into individual words (Padched) for easier study.
Word Meanings
| Line 1 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| svadharmam | one's own duty, one's natural duty |
| api | also |
| cha | and |
| avekṣhya | having considered, looking at |
| na | not |
| vikampitum | to waver, to tremble |
| arhasi | you should |
| Line 2 | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| dharmyāt | than one based on righteousness |
| hi | indeed |
| yuddhāt | than a war |
| śhreyaḥ | better, higher good |
| anyat | other |
| kṣhatriyasya | for a warrior (kṣhatriya) |
| na | not |
| vidyate | exists |
| Line 1 | Line 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanskrit Word | Meaning | Sanskrit Word | Meaning |
| svadharmam | one's own duty, one's natural duty | dharmyāt | than one based on righteousness |
| api | also | hi | indeed |
| cha | and | yuddhāt | than a war |
| avekṣhya | having considered, looking at | śhreyaḥ | better, higher good |
| na | not | anyat | other |
| vikampitum | to waver, to tremble | kṣhatriyasya | for a warrior (kṣhatriya) |
| arhasi | you should | na | not |
| vidyate | exists | ||
Detailed Meaning
Introduction
In this verse Lord Krishna moves from the knowledge of the Self to the practical subject of duty. He tells Arjuna to consider his own svadharma and not to waver, since for a warrior there is nothing better than a war that upholds dharma. The verse introduces one of the central ideas of the Gita: acting according to one's own responsibility.
Essence
Svadharma: one's own duty
Lord Krishna says svadharmam api cāvekṣya na vikampitum arhasi. 'Looking also at your own duty, you should not tremble.' The word svadharma combines sva, one's own, with dharma, the duty and righteous conduct that sustain life. It refers to the responsibility that belongs to a person according to their role, nature, and situation.
Vikampitum (to waver, to tremble): The word describes the shaking of the mind. Arjuna has been trembling inwardly, and Krishna tells him that once duty is seen clearly, there is no justification for such wavering.
Kṣatriya-dharma and the just war
Dharmyād yuddhāt (than a war that is in accordance with dharma): Krishna's statement is made in a specific context. Arjuna is a kṣatriya, a member of the warrior class whose duty includes protecting the people and upholding justice. The war is not an aggressive conquest. Elsewhere in the epic, the Pāṇḍavas attempted to avoid it and sought peace, but those efforts were refused. The phrase dharmyam yuddham signals that this is a war of last resort, fought to defend justice.
Śreyo 'nyat na vidyate (there is nothing better): For a person in Arjuna's position, fulfilling this responsibility is the highest good available. The Gita later develops the idea of svadharma further, linking it to a person's inner nature and aptitudes, and teaching that it is better to follow one's own path imperfectly than to imitate another's path perfectly.
Why this argument follows the philosophy
Krishna first removes Arjuna's false grief using the knowledge of the Self. Now He addresses the question of what Arjuna should do. Knowledge without action would be incomplete. The purpose of the teaching is to enable right action, free from confusion.
Message for Everyday Life (Knowing Your Own Responsibility)
Each of us has particular responsibilities: as parents, professionals, citizens, and friends. Confusion often arises when we neglect these or try to avoid the discomfort they bring.
Ask what your role truly asks of you: Clarity about duty can cut through much of the paralysis of indecision.
Choose righteous action over comfort: There are moments when doing what is right is difficult, and the steadiness of understanding helps us meet them.
Svadharma: one's own duty
Lord Krishna says svadharmam api cāvekṣya na vikampitum arhasi. 'Looking also at your own duty, you should not tremble.' The word svadharma combines sva, one's own, with dharma, the duty and righteous conduct that sustain life. It refers to the responsibility that belongs to a person according to their role, nature, and situation.
Vikampitum (to waver, to tremble): The word describes the shaking of the mind. Arjuna has been trembling inwardly, and Krishna tells him that once duty is seen clearly, there is no justification for such wavering.
Kṣatriya-dharma and the just war
Dharmyād yuddhāt (than a war that is in accordance with dharma): Krishna's statement is made in a specific context. Arjuna is a kṣatriya, a member of the warrior class whose duty includes protecting the people and upholding justice. The war is not an aggressive conquest. Elsewhere in the epic, the Pāṇḍavas attempted to avoid it and sought peace, but those efforts were refused. The phrase dharmyam yuddham signals that this is a war of last resort, fought to defend justice.
Śreyo 'nyat na vidyate (there is nothing better): For a person in Arjuna's position, fulfilling this responsibility is the highest good available. The Gita later develops the idea of svadharma further, linking it to a person's inner nature and aptitudes, and teaching that it is better to follow one's own path imperfectly than to imitate another's path perfectly.
Why this argument follows the philosophy
Krishna first removes Arjuna's false grief using the knowledge of the Self. Now He addresses the question of what Arjuna should do. Knowledge without action would be incomplete. The purpose of the teaching is to enable right action, free from confusion.
Message for Everyday Life (Knowing Your Own Responsibility)
Each of us has particular responsibilities: as parents, professionals, citizens, and friends. Confusion often arises when we neglect these or try to avoid the discomfort they bring.
Ask what your role truly asks of you: Clarity about duty can cut through much of the paralysis of indecision.
Choose righteous action over comfort: There are moments when doing what is right is difficult, and the steadiness of understanding helps us meet them.
Next Topic
Krishna has told Arjuna that for a warrior no path is better than a righteous war, and that he should not tremble before his duty. He now describes the nature of this opportunity. In the next verse He says that such a battle, coming unsought, is like an open door to heaven for fortunate warriors.
Hidden Messages In This Shloka
Reflect on this verse from different perspectives and see which deeper message opens up for you.
Wisdom Nuggets
Know your role; fulfil it with integrity.
Doubt thrives when duty is unclear.
The right action often requires the harder path.
Purpose steadies the trembling hand.
Silence in front of injustice is not peace.
Being true to your role is being true to yourself.
A clear duty is a gift in a confused time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'svadharma' (one's own duty) mean?
What is a 'dharmya yuddha' (righteous war)?
Why does Krishna say there is nothing better ('śhreyaḥ') for a kṣhatriya?
What does 'na vikampitum arhasi' (you should not waver) mean?
Does this verse justify violence in general?
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