In Bhagavad Gita 2.5, Arjuna says it would be better to live on alms in this world than to kill his noble teachers and enjoy pleasures stained with their blood.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
गुरूनहत्वा हि महानुभावान्
श्रेयो भोक्तुं भैक्ष्यमपीह लोके
हत्वार्थकामांस्तु गुरूनिहैव
भुञ्जीय भोगान् रुधिरप्रदिग्धान् ॥ २-५ ॥
gurūnahatvā hi mahānubhāvān
śreyo bhoktuṃ bhaikṣyamapīha loke
hatvārthakāmāṃstu gurūnihaiva
bhuñjīya bhogān rudhirapradigdhān
English transliteration guroonahatvaa hi mahaanubhaavaan
shreyo bhoktum bhaikshyamapeeha loke
hatvaarthakaamaamstu guroonihaiva
bhunjeeya bhogaan rudhirapradigdhaan ॥ 2.5 ॥
Translation / Meaning
It is better to live in this world even by begging than to slay these noble teachers. For by killing my teachers, though they seek worldly gain, I would enjoy here only pleasures stained with blood.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| गुरून् gurūn | the teachers, elders |
| अहत्वा ahatvā | not killing |
| हि hi | indeed |
| महानुभावान् mahānubhāvān | noble, great-souled mahā (great) + anubhāvān (of dignity) |
| श्रेयः śreyaḥ | better |
| भोक्तुम् bhoktum | to live on |
| भैक्ष्यम् bhaikṣyam | alms |
| अपि api | even |
| इह iha | here |
| लोके loke | in this world |
| हत्वा hatvā | by killing |
| अर्थकामान् arthakāmān | seeking worldly gain artha (wealth) + kāmān (desiring) |
| तु tu | but |
| गुरून् gurūn | teachers |
| इह iha | here |
| एव eva | indeed |
| भुञ्जीय bhuñjīya | I would enjoy |
| भोगान् bhogān | pleasures |
| रुधिरप्रदिग्धान् rudhirapradigdhān | stained with blood rudhira (blood) + pradigdhān (smeared) |
Word-wise Chanting
- gu–rū–na–hat–vā hi ma–hā–nu–bhā–vān 11 syllables gu-roo-na-hat-vaa hi ma-haa-nu-bhaa-vaan
- śre–yo bhok–tuṃ bhaikṣ–ya–ma–pī–ha lo–ke | 11 syllables shre-yo bhok-tum bhaiksh-ya-ma-pee-ha lo-ke
- hat–vār–tha–kā–māṃs–tu gu–rū–ni–hai–va 11 syllables hat-vaar-tha-kaa-maams-tu gu-roo-ni-hai-va
- bhuñ–jī–ya bho–gān ru–dhi–rap–ra–dig–dhān || 2-5 11 syllables bhun-jee-ya bho-gaan ru-dhi-rap-ra-dig-dhaan
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 5
Context
Arjuna continues his reply to Krishna (2.4–2.8), now in the longer triṣṭubh metre, a sign of deepening emotion.
Meaning
Arjuna proposes the life of a mendicant as a better alternative to war. For a kṣatriya, begging was considered beneath dignity, yet he would accept it rather than enjoy a kingdom bought with his teachers’ blood. He even admits that his elders are motivated by worldly gain, yet he still cannot bring himself to fight them.
Arjuna’s words show a real nobility of feeling, but also a confusion between renunciation and escape. Walking away from his duty would not make him a sage; it would leave injustice unopposed. The Gita will teach a renunciation that happens within action, not by abandoning it. Outer withdrawal is not the same as inner freedom.
In Practice
When you are tempted to escape a difficult responsibility, ask whether leaving would truly be wiser, or only easier.
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.