In Bhagavad Gita 2.32, Krishna says that fortunate are the kshatriyas who meet such a war, come of its own accord, as an open door to heaven.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यदृच्छया चोपपन्नं
स्वर्गद्वारमपावृतम्
सुखिनः क्षत्रियाः पार्थ
लभन्ते युद्धमीदृशम् ॥ २-३२ ॥
yadṛcchayā copapannaṃ
svargadvāramapāvṛtam
sukhinaḥ kṣatriyāḥ pārtha
labhante yuddhamīdṛśam
English transliteration yadrichchhayaa chopapannam
svargadvaaramapaavritam
sukhinah kshatriyaah paartha
labhante yuddhameedrisham ॥ 2.32 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Happy are the kshatriyas, O Partha, who are offered such a war, which comes of its own accord as an open door to heaven.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यदृच्छया yadṛcchayā | by chance, of its own accord |
| च ca | and |
| उपपन्नम् upapannam | come |
| स्वर्गद्वारम् svargadvāram | the gate of heaven svarga (heaven) + dvāram (gate) |
| अपावृतम् apāvṛtam | wide open |
| सुखिनः sukhinaḥ | happy, fortunate |
| क्षत्रियाः kṣatriyāḥ | kṣatriyas |
| पार्थ pārtha | O Pārtha |
| लभन्ते labhante | obtain |
| युद्धम् yuddham | war |
| ईदृशम् īdṛśam | such |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–dṛc–cha–yā co–pa–pan–naṃ 8 syllables ya-drich-chha-yaa cho-pa-pan-nam
- svar–gad–vā–ra–ma–pā–vṛ–tam | 8 syllables svar-gad-vaa-ra-ma-paa-vri-tam
- su–khi–naḥ kṣat–ri–yāḥ pār–tha 8 syllables su-khi-nah kshat-ri-yaah paar-tha
- la–bhan–te yud–dha–mī–dṛ–śam || 2-32 8 syllables la-bhan-te yud-dha-mee-dri-sham
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 32
Context
Krishna continues the argument from duty begun in 2.31.
Meaning
Krishna speaks here within the values of the warrior tradition. A righteous war that comes unsought, not provoked by personal ambition, was seen as an opportunity for a warrior to fulfil his highest duty. The Pandavas had tried every way to avoid war; this one had come “of its own accord.”
The deeper meaning is that some challenges arrive unbidden, and meeting them with courage is a blessing in disguise. Not every difficulty is a misfortune; some are doors. When a situation that calls for our best comes to us without our seeking it, the Gita invites us to see it as an opportunity rather than a burden.
In Practice
Think of a challenge that has come to you unasked. Consider how it might be an open door to growth, and step through it with courage.
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.