In Bhagavad Gita 18.43, Krishna says heroism, vigour, steadfastness, skill, not fleeing in battle, generosity and leadership are the natural duties of the kshatriya nature.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
शौर्यं तेजो धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं
युद्धे चाप्यपलायनम्
दानमीश्वरभावश्च
क्षात्रं कर्म स्वभावजम् ॥ १८-४३ ॥
śauryaṃ tejo dhṛtirdākṣyaṃ
yuddhe cāpyapalāyanam
dānamīśvarabhāvaśca
kṣātraṃ karma svabhāvajam
English transliteration shauryam tejo dhritirdaakshyam
yuddhe chaapyapalaayanam
daanameeshvarabhaavashcha
kshaatram karma svabhaavajam ॥ 18.43 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Heroism, vigour, steadfastness, skill, not fleeing from battle, generosity and leadership are the duties of a kshatriya, born of his nature.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| शौर्यम् śauryam | heroism |
| तेजः tejaḥ | vigour |
| धृतिः dhṛtiḥ | steadfastness |
| दाक्ष्यम् dākṣyam | skill |
| युद्धे yuddhe | from battle |
| च ca | and |
| अपि api | also |
| अपलायनम् apalāyanam | not fleeing |
| दानम् dānam | generosity |
| ईश्वरभावः īśvarabhāvaḥ | leadership īśvara (lordly) + bhāvaḥ (nature) |
| च ca | and |
| क्षात्रम् kṣātram | of a kṣatriya |
| कर्म karma | duty |
| स्वभावजम् svabhāvajam | born of his nature |
Word-wise Chanting
- śaur–yaṃ te–jo dhṛ–tir–dākṣ–yaṃ 8 syllables shaur-yam te-jo dhri-tir-daaksh-yam
- yud–dhe cāp–ya–pa–lā–ya–nam | 8 syllables yud-dhe chaap-ya-pa-laa-ya-nam
- dā–na–mīś–va–ra–bhā–vaś–ca 8 syllables daa-na-meesh-va-ra-bhaa-vash-cha
- kṣāt–raṃ kar–ma sva–bhā–va–jam || 18-43 8 syllables kshaat-ram kar-ma sva-bhaa-va-jam
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 18 Verse 43
Context
Krishna describes the fourfold division of work according to nature (18.41–18.44).
Meaning
The kṣatriya nature shows śaurya, courage; tejas, energy; dhṛti, firmness; dākṣya, competence; apalāyana, never deserting one’s post; dāna, generosity; and īśvara-bhāva, the capacity to lead and protect.
These are the qualities of a protector and leader. Arjuna, a kṣatriya, is reminded that turning away from a righteous battle would go against his nature.
In Practice
Show courage and leadership in one situation today where it is needed.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). 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.