In Bhagavad Gita 11.33, Krishna tells Arjuna to rise, win glory and enjoy a prosperous kingdom, for these warriors are already slain by him; Arjuna should be merely the instrument.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व
जित्वा शत्रून् भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम्
मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वमेव
निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन् ॥ ११-३३ ॥
tasmāttvamuttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva
jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṃ samṛddham
mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvameva
nimittamātraṃ bhava savyasācin
English transliteration tasmaattvamuttishtha yasho labhasva
jitvaa shatroon bhunkshva raajyam samriddham
mayaivaite nihataah poorvameva
nimittamaatram bhava savyasaachin ॥ 11.33 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Therefore, stand up and win glory. Conquer your enemies and enjoy a prosperous kingdom. They have already been slain by Me; be merely the instrument, O ambidextrous archer.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| तस्मात् tasmāt | therefore |
| त्वम् tvam | you |
| उत्तिष्ठ uttiṣṭha | stand up |
| यशः yaśaḥ | glory |
| लभस्व labhasva | win |
| जित्वा jitvā | conquering |
| शत्रून् śatrūn | enemies |
| भुङ्क्ष्व bhuṅkṣva | enjoy |
| राज्यम् rājyam | kingdom |
| समृद्धम् samṛddham | prosperous |
| मया mayā | by Me |
| एव eva | already |
| एते ete | these |
| निहताः nihatāḥ | slain |
| पूर्वम् pūrvam | before |
| एव eva | indeed |
| निमित्तमात्रम् nimittamātram | merely the instrument nimitta (instrument) + mātram (merely) |
| भव bhava | be |
| सव्यसाचिन् savyasācin | O ambidextrous archer |
Word-wise Chanting
- tas–māt–tva–mut–tiṣ–ṭha ya–śo la–bhas–va 11 syllables tas-maat-tva-mut-tish-tha ya-sho la-bhas-va
- jit–vā śat–rūn bhuṅ–kṣva rāj–yaṃ sa–mṛd–dham | 11 syllables jit-vaa shat-roon bhun-kshva raaj-yam sa-mrid-dham
- ma–yai–vai–te ni–ha–tāḥ pūr–va–me–va 11 syllables ma-yai-vai-te ni-ha-taah poor-va-me-va
- ni–mit–ta–māt–raṃ bha–va sav–ya–sā–cin || 11-33 11 syllables ni-mit-ta-maat-ram bha-va sav-ya-saa-chin
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 11 Verse 33
Context
Krishna draws the practical conclusion from his revelation (11.32–11.34).
Meaning
Since the outcome is already decided by the Divine, Arjuna’s role is to be nimitta-mātra, merely the instrument. He should rise and do his duty. Krishna calls him savyasācin, one who can draw the bow with either hand, reminding him of his skill.
This is a liberating insight. We are instruments of a larger purpose, not its sole authors. We must still act, and act well, but the burden of ultimate outcomes is not ours alone.
In Practice
Before an important task, say inwardly: “Let me be an instrument for the good.”
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 11: Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga (The Vision of the Universal Form). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.