In Bhagavad Gita 2.10, Sanjaya describes Krishna, as if smiling, speaking to the grieving Arjuna in the middle of the two armies.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
तमुवाच हृषीकेशः
प्रहसन्निव भारत
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये
विषीदन्तमिदं वचः ॥ २-१० ॥
tamuvāca hṛṣīkeśaḥ
prahasanniva bhārata
senayorubhayormadhye
viṣīdantamidaṃ vacaḥ
English transliteration tamuvaacha hrisheekeshah
prahasanniva bhaarata
senayorubhayormadhye
visheedantamidam vachah ॥ 2.10 ॥
Translation / Meaning
O descendant of Bharata, then Hrishikesha, as if smiling, spoke these words to him who was grieving between the two armies.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| तम् tam | to him |
| उवाच uvāca | spoke |
| हृषीकेशः hṛṣīkeśaḥ | Hṛṣīkeśa |
| प्रहसन् prahasan | smiling |
| इव iva | as if |
| भारत bhārata | O descendant of Bharata |
| सेनयोः senayoḥ | of the armies |
| उभयोः ubhayoḥ | both |
| मध्ये madhye | in the middle |
| विषीदन्तम् viṣīdantam | the grieving one |
| इदम् idam | these |
| वचः vacaḥ | words |
Word-wise Chanting
- ta–mu–vā–ca hṛ–ṣī–ke–śaḥ 8 syllables ta-mu-vaa-cha hri-shee-ke-shah
- pra–ha–san–ni–va bhā–ra–ta | 8 syllables pra-ha-san-ni-va bhaa-ra-ta
- se–na–yo–ru–bha–yor–madh–ye 8 syllables se-na-yo-ru-bha-yor-madh-ye
- vi–ṣī–dan–ta–mi–daṃ va–caḥ || 2-10 8 syllables vi-shee-dan-ta-mi-dam va-chah
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 2 Verse 10
Context
The last narrative verse before Krishna’s great teaching on the Self begins (2.11).
Meaning
Krishna’s smile is one of the most beautiful details in the Gita. He is not mocking Arjuna; he is untouched by the despair that has gripped his friend. From his vantage point the crisis is real but not ultimate, and the smile carries both compassion and assurance. Everything is happening “between the two armies,” in the midst of conflict.
The smile reveals the nature of wisdom: it can stand in the middle of the battlefield and remain at peace. Krishna does not wait for the conflict to end before teaching. The deepest truth is offered right in the middle of life’s struggles, not after them.
In Practice
In the middle of a tense situation today, see whether you can find a quiet inner smile, not of dismissal but of trust that something deeper holds you.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge). 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.