तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व जित्वा शत्रून् भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम्। मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वमेव निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन्।।11.33।।
tasmāt tvam uttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṁ samṛddham. mayai evete nihitāḥ pūrvam eva nimitta‑mātraṁ bhava savyasācin.
Translation
Therefore, arise and obtain fame, having conquered the enemies; enjoy a prosperous kingdom. These foes have already been slain by Me; become only the instrument of My will, O marvelously skilled archer.
Word Meanings
tasmāt — therefore; tvam — you; uttiṣṭha — arise; yaśaḥ — fame; labhasva — obtain; jitvā — having conquered; śatrūn — enemies; bhuṅkṣva — enjoy; rājyaṁ — kingdom; samṛddham — prosperous; mayai — by Me; eva — certainly; ete — these; nihatāḥ — slain; pūrvam — earlier; eva — indeed; nimitta‑mātraṁ — as mere instrument; bhava — become; savyasācin — O skillful archer
Understanding the Verse
In this pivotal moment of the Divine Vision (Vibhuti‑Yoga), Lord Krishna exhorts Arjuna to rise above his paralysis and fulfill his Kshatriya duty. The opening word तस्मात् (tasmāt) – ‘therefore’ – links directly to the preceding revelation where Arjuna witnessed Krishna’s universal form, realizing that all opposition is already doomed. By urging "उत्तिष्ठ" (uttiṣṭha – arise), Krishna commands immediate action, dispelling Arjuna’s hesitations.
The promise of "यशो लभस्व" (yaśo labhasva – obtain fame) appeals to the warrior’s dharma of seeking honor through righteous combat. Yet the fame is not vanity; it is the natural outcome of performing one’s prescribed role in alignment with divine order. The phrase "जित्वा शत्रून्" (jitvā śatrūn – having conquered the enemies) reinforces that victory is assured, because the adversaries are already destined to fall.
"भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम्" (bhuṅkṣva rājyaṁ samṛddham – enjoy a prosperous kingdom) shifts focus to the material reward awaiting the victorious, reminding Arjuna of his rightful claim to the throne of Hastinapura. However, Krishna immediately qualifies this reward by stating "मयै एव एते निहताः" (mayai eva ete nihitāḥ – these foes have already been slain by Me). The divine agency becomes explicit: the apparent contest is merely a play of the Lord’s will.
The expression "पूर्वमेव" (pūrvam eva – indeed already) underscores the preordained nature of the war; the outcome is not contingent on Arjuna’s personal effort but on the cosmic plan already set in motion. By adding "निमित्तमात्रं भव" (nimitta‑mātraṁ bhava – become merely the instrument), Krishna positions Arjuna as a dharma‑vehicle, a conduit through which divine purpose is fulfilled.
Finally, the epithet "सव्यसाचिन्" (savyasācin – O skillful archer) is a reminder of Arjuna’s unparalleled prowess. It serves both as a compliment and as a call to appropriate his unique skill for the greater good. The verse thus blends spiritual insight with practical encouragement: Arjuna must rise, act, and in doing so, realize that his individual effort merges seamlessly with Krishna’s universal will, leading to both spiritual liberation and worldly success.
From an exegetical perspective, commentators such as Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and Śaṅkara interpret this verse as an affirmation of "lila" – the divine play. The enemies are already destroyed in the divine sphere; the earthly battle is an illusion that provides the human actor the experience of duty and surrender. By internalizing this teaching, a seeker learns that true empowerment lies not in personal ambition but in aligning with the supreme consciousness that orchestrates all events. This realization transforms the battlefield into a sacred arena where the soul can attain both material fulfillment and spiritual emancipation.
