In Bhagavad Gita 11.34, Krishna tells Arjuna to slay Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna and the other heroes already slain by him, not to be distressed, and to fight, for he will conquer his foes.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं च
कर्णं तथान्यानपि योधवीरान्
मया हतांस्त्वं जहि मा व्यथिष्ठा
युध्यस्व जेतासि रणे सपत्नान् ॥ ११-३४ ॥
droṇaṃ ca bhīṣmaṃ ca jayadrathaṃ ca
karṇaṃ tathānyānapi yodhavīrān
mayā hatāṃstvaṃ jahi mā vyathiṣṭhā
yudhyasva jetāsi raṇe sapatnān
English transliteration dronam cha bheeshmam cha jayadratham cha
karnam tathaanyaanapi yodhaveeraan
mayaa hataamstvam jahi maa vyathishthaa
yudhyasva jetaasi rane sapatnaan ॥ 11.34 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna and the other heroic warriors have already been slain by Me. Slay them; do not be distressed. Fight! You will conquer your enemies in battle.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| द्रोणम् droṇam | Droṇa |
| च ca | and |
| भीष्मम् bhīṣmam | Bhīṣma |
| च ca | and |
| जयद्रथम् jayadratham | Jayadratha |
| च ca | and |
| कर्णम् karṇam | Karṇa |
| तथा tathā | also |
| अन्यान् anyān | other |
| अपि api | also |
| योधवीरान् yodhavīrān | heroic warriors yodha (warriors) + vīrān (heroic) |
| मया mayā | by Me |
| हतान् hatān | slain |
| त्वम् tvam | you |
| जहि jahi | slay |
| मा mā | do not |
| व्यथिष्ठाः vyathiṣṭhāḥ | be distressed |
| युध्यस्व yudhyasva | fight |
| जेता jetā | will conquer |
| असि asi | you |
| रणे raṇe | in battle |
| सपत्नान् sapatnān | enemies |
Word-wise Chanting
- dro–ṇaṃ ca bhīṣ–maṃ ca ja–yad–ra–thaṃ ca 11 syllables dro-nam cha bheesh-mam cha ja-yad-ra-tham cha
- kar–ṇaṃ ta–thān–yā–na–pi yo–dha–vī–rān | 11 syllables kar-nam ta-thaan-yaa-na-pi yo-dha-vee-raan
- ma–yā ha–tāṃs–tvaṃ ja–hi mā vya–thiṣ–ṭhā 11 syllables ma-yaa ha-taams-tvam ja-hi maa vya-thish-thaa
- yudh–yas–va je–tā–si ra–ṇe sa–pat–nān || 11-34 11 syllables yudh-yas-va je-taa-si ra-ne sa-pat-naan
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 34
Context
Krishna concludes his answer (11.32–11.34).
Meaning
Krishna names the greatest warriors on the opposing side, those Arjuna fears most: Droṇa, his teacher; Bhīṣma, his grandsire; Jayadratha; and Karṇa. They are already slain by the Divine. Arjuna need not be vyathita, distressed. He should fight, and he will win.
The context is a righteous war that cannot be avoided. Krishna removes Arjuna’s sense of personal guilt by showing the larger order at work. The teaching for us is to do our rightful duty without being crushed by its weight.
In Practice
Face one duty you have been avoiding, trusting that you are part of a larger order.
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.