In Bhagavad Gita 2.33, Krishna warns that if Arjuna does not fight this righteous war, he will abandon his duty and his honour and incur sin.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अथ चेत्त्वमिमं धर्म्यं
सङ्ग्रामं न करिष्यसि
ततः स्वधर्मं कीर्तिं च
हित्वा पापमवाप्स्यसि ॥ २-३३ ॥
atha cettvamimaṃ dharmyaṃ
saṅgrāmaṃ na kariṣyasi
tataḥ svadharmaṃ kīrtiṃ ca
hitvā pāpamavāpsyasi
English transliteration atha chettvamimam dharmyam
sangraamam na karishyasi
tatah svadharmam keertim cha
hitvaa paapamavaapsyasi ॥ 2.33 ॥
Translation / Meaning
But if you do not fight this righteous war, then, having abandoned your own duty and honour, you will incur sin.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अथ atha | but |
| चेत् cet | if |
| त्वम् tvam | you |
| इमम् imam | this |
| धर्म्यम् dharmyam | righteous |
| सङ्ग्रामम् saṅgrāmam | war |
| न na | not |
| करिष्यसि kariṣyasi | will do |
| ततः tataḥ | then |
| स्वधर्मम् svadharmam | own duty sva (own) + dharmam (duty) |
| कीर्तिम् kīrtim | honour |
| च ca | and |
| हित्वा hitvā | abandoning |
| पापम् pāpam | sin |
| अवाप्स्यसि avāpsyasi | will incur |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–tha cet–tva–mi–maṃ dhar–myaṃ 8 syllables a-tha chet-tva-mi-mam dhar-myam
- saṅ–grā–maṃ na ka–riṣ–ya–si | 8 syllables san-graa-mam na ka-rish-ya-si
- ta–taḥ sva–dhar–maṃ kīr–tiṃ ca 8 syllables ta-tah sva-dhar-mam keer-tim cha
- hit–vā pā–pa–ma–vāp–sya–si || 2-33 8 syllables hit-vaa paa-pa-ma-vaap-sya-si
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 33
Context
Krishna continues his argument from duty (2.31–2.38), now describing the consequences of refusal.
Meaning
Arjuna believed that fighting would bring sin (1.36). Krishna reverses this: refusing his duty is what would bring sin. For one whose role is to protect justice, failure to act when action is required is itself a wrong. Inaction is not neutral; it has consequences too.
This is a hard but important teaching. We often think that avoiding a difficult decision keeps our hands clean. The Gita shows that when we are responsible, not acting is also a choice, and sometimes the wrong one. Moral courage includes the willingness to act when action is our duty.
In Practice
Identify one situation where you have been avoiding action because it feels uncomfortable. Ask whether your inaction is harming someone, and take one right step.
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.