In Bhagavad Gita 2.38, Krishna teaches Arjuna to treat pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat alike, and then fight, for then he will incur no sin.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा
लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ
ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व
नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि ॥ २-३८ ॥
sukhaduḥkhe same kṛtvā
lābhālābhau jayājayau
tato yuddhāya yujyasva
naivaṃ pāpamavāpsyasi
English transliteration sukhaduhkhe same kritvaa
laabhaalaabhau jayaajayau
tato yuddhaaya yujyasva
naivam paapamavaapsyasi ॥ 2.38 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Treating alike pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat, engage in battle for the sake of the battle. Thus you will not incur sin.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सुखदुःखे sukhaduḥkhe | pleasure and pain sukha (pleasure) + duḥkhe (pain) |
| समे same | equal |
| कृत्वा kṛtvā | making |
| लाभालाभौ lābhālābhau | gain and loss lābha (gain) + alābhau (loss) |
| जयाजयौ jayājayau | victory and defeat jaya (victory) + ajayau (defeat) |
| ततः tataḥ | then |
| युद्धाय yuddhāya | for battle |
| युज्यस्व yujyasva | engage |
| न na | not |
| एवम् evam | thus |
| पापम् pāpam | sin |
| अवाप्स्यसि avāpsyasi | you will incur |
Word-wise Chanting
- su–kha–duḥ–khe sa–me kṛt–vā 8 syllables su-kha-duh-khe sa-me krit-vaa
- lā–bhā–lā–bhau ja–yā–ja–yau | 8 syllables laa-bhaa-laa-bhau ja-yaa-ja-yau
- ta–to yud–dhā–ya yuj–yas–va 8 syllables ta-to yud-dhaa-ya yuj-yas-va
- nai–vaṃ pā–pa–ma–vāp–sya–si || 2-38 8 syllables nai-vam 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 38
Context
This verse bridges the argument from duty (2.31–2.37) and the teaching on yoga that follows (2.39 onward).
Meaning
Here Krishna gives the key that frees action from sin: equanimity. If Arjuna fights without attachment to pleasure or pain, gain or loss, victory or defeat, his action will not bind him. Sin, in this sense, comes not from action itself but from action driven by selfish desire and aversion.
This is the seed of karma yoga. We cannot avoid acting, but we can change the state of mind in which we act. When we hold every outcome with an even mind, action becomes pure and free. This principle applies to any work: do it well, and release the demand that it bring you only gain and pleasure.
In Practice
Before a task today, consciously accept in advance both success and failure. Then give it your full effort with an even mind.
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.