न हि प्रपश्यामि ममापनुद्या द्यच्छोकमुच्छोषणमिन्द्रियाणाम्। अवाप्य भूमावसपत्नमृद्धम् राज्यं सुराणामपिचाधिपत्यम्।।2.8।।
na hi prapashyami mama apanudyat yat shokam ucchoshanam indriyanam avapya bhumau asapatnam rddham rajyam suranam api ca adhipatyam
Translation
I can find no means of driving away this anguish that is drying up my senses. Even if I win a prosperous and unrivalled kingdom on the earth, or gain sovereignty like the celestial gods, I will be unable to dispel this grief.
Word Meanings
na — do not; hi — certainly; prapaśyāmi — I see; mama — my; apanudyāt — can drive away; yat — that which; śokam — lamentation; ucchoṣaṇam — drying up; indriyāṇām — of the senses; avāpya — achieving; bhūmau — on the earth; asapatnam — without rival; ṛddham — prosperous; rājyam — kingdom; surāṇām — of the demigods; api — even; ca — also; ādhipatyam — supremacy.
Understanding the Verse
In this poignant verse Arjuna expresses the depth of his despair after learning that his beloved teacher, Krishna, is the commander of the opposing army. The sorrow has become so overwhelming that his senses are metaphorically 'drying up' (ucchoṣaṇam), indicating a loss of vitality and clarity. The word "prapashyāmi" (I see) conveys that this is not a vague fear; he consciously perceives the torment within himself.\n\nArjuna then contemplates that even if he were to achieve a "asapatnam" (unrivalled) kingdom on earth, rich in material wealth (ṛddham) and power (rājyam), such external successes would not alleviate his inner pain. The reference to "surāṇām" (the demigods) and "ādhipatyam" (supremacy) underscores the magnitude of worldly achievements he imagines—control comparable to that of the gods themselves. Yet, these grand attainments are presented as futile in the face of his emotional crisis.\n\nThe verse serves as a turning point in the Gita, illustrating how attachment to material targets cannot resolve existential distress. Arjuna's inability to "apanudyāt" (drive away) his grief reveals a fundamental truth of the human condition: external validation and power are insufficient for true peace. This realization paves the way for Krishna’s deeper teachings on duty (dharma), self‑knowledge (ātman), and the impermanence of material existence.\n\nFrom a philosophical perspective, the verse also introduces the concept of "indriyāṇām" (the senses) being affected by emotional states. When the senses are clouded, perception of reality becomes distorted, leading to misguided actions. By highlighting the drying up of the senses, the text suggests that emotional imbalance can impair one's ability to fulfill dharma, especially in the context of a warrior's duty on the battlefield.\n\nIn practical terms, this verse invites readers to reflect on their own lives: what kingdoms or positions of power do they pursue, and will those achievements ever truly cure the inner "śokam" (grief) that arises from attachment, loss, or moral conflict? The answer, as the Gita will later demonstrate, lies not in external conquest but in inner equanimity achieved through right knowledge and selfless action.\n\nThus, Verse 2.8 encapsulates the paradox of worldly success amidst spiritual crisis. It sets the stage for Krishna’s instruction that true liberation comes from understanding the eternal self (brahman) and performing one's duty without attachment to outcomes, thereby transforming grief into wisdom.
