In Bhagavad Gita 2.7, Arjuna, confused about his duty and weighed down by weakness, surrenders to Krishna as a disciple and asks to be told decisively what is best.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः
पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेताः
यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे
शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् ॥ २-७ ॥
kārpaṇyadoṣopahatasvabhāvaḥ
pṛcchāmi tvāṃ dharmasammūḍhacetāḥ
yacchreyaḥ syānniścitaṃ brūhi tanme
śiṣyaste’haṃ śādhi māṃ tvāṃ prapannam
English transliteration kaarpanyadoshopahatasvabhaavah
prichchhaami tvaam dharmasammoodhachetaah
yachchhreyah syaannishchitam broohi tanme
shishyaste’ham shaadhi maam tvaam prapannam ॥ 2.7 ॥
Translation / Meaning
My nature is overcome by the flaw of faint-heartedness, and my mind is confused about my duty. I ask you: tell me decisively what is truly good for me. I am your disciple; instruct me, for I have taken refuge in you.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः kārpaṇyadoṣopahatasvabhāvaḥ | my nature overcome by the flaw of faint-heartedness kārpaṇya (miserliness of spirit) + doṣa (flaw) + upahata (overcome) + svabhāvaḥ (nature) |
| पृच्छामि pṛcchāmi | I ask |
| त्वाम् tvām | you |
| धर्मसम्मूढचेताः dharmasammūḍhacetāḥ | my mind confused about dharma dharma (duty) + sammūḍha (confused) + cetāḥ (mind) |
| यत् yat | what |
| श्रेयः śreyaḥ | truly good |
| स्यात् syāt | may be |
| निश्चितम् niścitam | decisively |
| ब्रूहि brūhi | tell |
| तत् tat | that |
| मे me | to me |
| शिष्यः śiṣyaḥ | disciple |
| ते te | your |
| अहम् aham | I |
| शाधि śādhi | instruct |
| माम् mām | me |
| त्वाम् tvām | to you |
| प्रपन्नम् prapannam | surrendered |
Word-wise Chanting
- kār–paṇ–ya–do–ṣo–pa–ha–tas–va–bhā–vaḥ 11 syllables kaar-pan-ya-do-sho-pa-ha-tas-va-bhaa-vah
- pṛc–chā–mi tvāṃ dhar–ma–sam–mū–ḍha–ce–tāḥ | 11 syllables prich-chhaa-mi tvaam dhar-ma-sam-moo-dha-che-taah
- yac–chre–yaḥ syān–niś–ci–taṃ brū–hi tan–me 11 syllables yach-chhre-yah syaan-nish-chi-tam broo-hi tan-me
- śiṣ–yas–te–‘haṃ śā–dhi māṃ tvāṃ pra–pan–nam || 2-7 11 syllables shish-yas-te-‘ham shaa-dhi maam tvaam pra-pan-nam
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 7
Context
The turning point of the Gita. After all his arguments (1.28–2.6), Arjuna stops arguing and asks to be taught.
Meaning
Here Arjuna becomes a student. He diagnoses himself honestly: his nature is clouded by kārpaṇya, a smallness of spirit, and his understanding of dharma is confused. He asks not for comfort but for śreyas, the truly good, stated decisively. Then he speaks the words of surrender: “I am your disciple; teach me; I take refuge in you.”
This verse is the doorway of the whole Gita. Real learning begins when we stop defending our views and open ourselves to guidance. Śiṣya means one who is ready to be taught. Prapanna means one who has taken refuge. With these two words, the friendship of Krishna and Arjuna becomes the relationship of teacher and disciple, and the teaching can begin.
In Practice
Choose one area where you are confused. Approach a trusted teacher, a wise friend or the scripture you study as a genuine learner, ready to be corrected.
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.