In Bhagavad Gita 2.37, Krishna says that if Arjuna is slain he will attain heaven, and if he wins he will enjoy the earth, so he should arise, resolved to fight.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
हतो वा प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्गं
जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम्
तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय
युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः ॥ २-३७ ॥
hato vā prāpsyasi svargaṃ
jitvā vā bhokṣyase mahīm
tasmāduttiṣṭha kaunteya
yuddhāya kṛtaniścayaḥ
English transliteration hato vaa praapsyasi svargam
jitvaa vaa bhokshyase maheem
tasmaaduttishtha kaunteya
yuddhaaya kritanishchayah ॥ 2.37 ॥
Translation / Meaning
If you are slain, you will attain heaven; if you are victorious, you will enjoy the earth. Therefore arise, O son of Kunti, determined to fight.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| हतः hataḥ | slain |
| वा vā | either |
| प्राप्स्यसि prāpsyasi | you will attain |
| स्वर्गम् svargam | heaven |
| जित्वा jitvā | having conquered |
| वा vā | or |
| भोक्ष्यसे bhokṣyase | you will enjoy |
| महीम् mahīm | the earth |
| तस्मात् tasmāt | therefore |
| उत्तिष्ठ uttiṣṭha | arise |
| कौन्तेय kaunteya | O son of Kuntī |
| युद्धाय yuddhāya | for battle |
| कृतनिश्चयः kṛtaniścayaḥ | with firm resolve kṛta (made) + niścayaḥ (resolve) |
Word-wise Chanting
- ha–to vā prāp–sya–si svar–gaṃ 8 syllables ha-to vaa praap-sya-si svar-gam
- jit–vā vā bhokṣ–ya–se ma–hīm | 8 syllables jit-vaa vaa bhoksh-ya-se ma-heem
- tas–mā–dut–tiṣ–ṭha kaun–te–ya 8 syllables tas-maa-dut-tish-tha kaun-te-ya
- yud–dhā–ya kṛ–ta–niś–ca–yaḥ || 2-37 8 syllables yud-dhaa-ya kri-ta-nish-cha-yah
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 37
Context
Krishna concludes the argument from duty and honour (2.31–2.37) with a call to action.
Meaning
Krishna presents both outcomes as good. Death in a righteous battle brings heaven; victory brings the kingdom. There is nothing to lose by doing one’s duty. Once again, the call is uttiṣṭha, arise, now joined with kṛta-niścaya, firm resolve.
The verse shows that when an action is right, both success and failure have meaning. A person acting from duty does not need to fear the outcome, because every result is acceptable. This prepares the way for the next verse, where Krishna will teach that the outcome itself should be held with equanimity.
In Practice
For a challenge you face, write down what you would gain if it succeeds and what you would gain if it fails. Then commit to it with firm resolve.
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.