स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि। धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाछ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते।।2.31।।
svadharmam api caavekshya na vikampitum arhasi dharmyaddhi yuddhachreyo anyat ksatriyasya na vidyate
Translation
Besides, considering your duty as a warrior, you should not waver. Indeed, for a warrior, there is no better engagement than fighting for upholding of righteousness.
Word Meanings
sva-dharmam — one’s own religious principles; api — also; ca — indeed; avekṣya — considering; na — never; vikampitum — to hesitate; arhasi — you deserve; dharmyāt — for religious principles; hi — indeed; yuddhāt — than fighting; śreyaḥ — better engagement; anyat — any other; kṣatriyasya — of the kṣatriya; na — does not; vidyate — exist.
Understanding the Verse
In this verse Arjuna is reminded of the supreme value of performing one's own duty (svadharma). The word svadharma implies the unique set of responsibilities that arise from one's nature, social position and stage of life. For a kshatriya, the warrior class, the highest calling is to protect dharma, even at the cost of personal discomfort or fear. By invoking the phrase ‘ca āvekṣya’ (considering also), the text tells Arjuna to look beyond the immediate emotional turmoil and examine his role from a broader, principled perspective.
The injunction ‘na vikampitum arhasi’ (you must not waver) serves as a direct antidote to the paralysis caused by doubt and attachment. It emphasizes that hesitation is incompatible with the kshatriya’s inner resolve. This is not a call for blind aggression; rather, it is a call for decisive, righteous action that aligns with the cosmic order. The verse therefore frames courage as an inner moral certainty, not a fleeting feeling of bravery.
The second part of the verse, ‘dharmyād dhi yuddhā śreyo ’nyat’, establishes that the act of fighting in defense of righteousness is itself the highest form of service. ‘Yuddha’ (war) is not glorified for its own sake; it is presented as a vehicle for the preservation and propagation of dharma. The term ‘śreyaḥ’ (better engagement) indicates that no other activity, even those considered noble, can match the spiritual merit of a war fought for the greater good. This teaching expands the concept of dharma beyond personal piety, suggesting that societal welfare can be a sacred duty when it sustains justice.
Finally, the verse declares ‘kṣatriyasya na vidyate anyat’ – there is nothing else for a warrior. This absolute statement removes any ambiguity about the hierarchy of duties: for the kshatriya, protecting dharma supersedes personal desire, familial attachment, or fear of loss. It acknowledges that the path of a warrior may involve hardship, but it also assures that such hardship is the very means by which the cosmic balance is maintained. By internalizing this teaching, Arjuna—and the reader—can transform personal conflict into an expression of universal principle, turning the battlefield into a sacred arena for the triumph of righteousness.
