Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yoga – Yoga of Contemplation on Self: Verse 37
हतो वा प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्गं जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम् ।
तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चय: ॥
hato vā prāpsyasi svargaṃ jitvā vā bhokṣyase mahīm
tasmād-uttiṣṭha kaunteya yuddhāya kṛta-niścaya: – 2.37
If slain, you will attain heaven. If you win, you will enjoy the prosperous earth. Therefore, by all means, O son of Kunti, get up with full resolve to fight.
Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yoga – Yoga of Contemplation on Self - Verse 37
Ma Gurupriya
Krishna first exposed the spiritual truth of life. Everyone is the Soul, and therefore has no death or destruction at all. He also presented worldly and social viewpoints, to confirm that for a kshatriya to fight in battlefield is the proper and rewarding course.
To breathe his last at home is shameful for a fighter. His fulfilment consists in fighting righteously for safeguarding society’s welfare. Here, the war was thrust on Pandava brothers despite their having tried to avoid it.
The only way now is to fight, as is the wont. Eventually, Arjuna could not have won the war solely based on his own skills. Every time Krishna had to interfere with expedient measures. Knowing all this well, Krishna concludes: “Should you fight and die, heavens will greet you, or else prosperity will grace you. In either case, you will lose nothing. Get up then to fight.” What a succinct exhortation!
