In Bhagavad Gita 2.8, Arjuna says that not even an unrivalled kingdom on earth or lordship over the gods could remove the grief that is drying up his senses.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
न हि प्रपश्यामि ममापनुद्याद्
यच्छोकमुच्छोषणमिन्द्रियाणाम्
अवाप्य भूमावसपत्नमृद्धं
राज्यं सुराणामपि चाधिपत्यम् ॥ २-८ ॥
na hi prapaśyāmi mamāpanudyād
yacchokamucchoṣaṇamindriyāṇām
avāpya bhūmāvasapatnamṛddhaṃ
rājyaṃ surāṇāmapi cādhipatyam
English transliteration na hi prapashyaami mamaapanudyaad
yachchhokamuchchhoshanamindriyaanaam
avaapya bhoomaavasapatnamriddham
raajyam suraanaamapi chaadhipatyam ॥ 2.8 ॥
Translation / Meaning
I do not see anything that could remove this grief which dries up my senses, even if I were to gain an unrivalled and prosperous kingdom on earth, or even sovereignty over the gods.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| हि hi | indeed |
| प्रपश्यामि prapaśyāmi | I see |
| मम mama | my |
| अपनुद्यात् apanudyāt | would remove |
| यत् yat | which |
| शोकम् śokam | grief |
| उच्छोषणम् ucchoṣaṇam | drying up |
| इन्द्रियाणाम् indriyāṇām | of the senses |
| अवाप्य avāpya | gaining |
| भूमौ bhūmau | on earth |
| असपत्नम् asapatnam | without rival |
| ऋद्धम् ṛddham | prosperous |
| राज्यम् rājyam | kingdom |
| सुराणाम् surāṇām | over the gods |
| अपि api | even |
| च ca | and |
| आधिपत्यम् ādhipatyam | sovereignty |
Word-wise Chanting
- na hi pra–paś–yā–mi ma–mā–pa–nud–yād 11 syllables na hi pra-pash-yaa-mi ma-maa-pa-nud-yaad
- yac–cho–ka–muc–cho–ṣa–ṇa–min–dri–yā–ṇām | 11 syllables yach-chho-ka-much-chho-sha-na-min-dri-yaa-naam
- a–vāp–ya bhū–mā–va–sa–pat–na–mṛd–dhaṃ 11 syllables a-vaap-ya bhoo-maa-va-sa-pat-na-mrid-dham
- rāj–yaṃ su–rā–ṇā–ma–pi cā–dhi–pat–yam || 2-8 11 syllables raaj-yam su-raa-naa-ma-pi chaa-dhi-pat-yam
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 8
Context
Arjuna completes his plea (2.4–2.8) by admitting that no external gain could heal him.
Meaning
Arjuna recognises that his problem is not one that worldly success can solve. Even the richest kingdom, even rule over the gods, would not remove the grief that is drying up his senses. He has reached the limit of what the outer world can offer.
This recognition is essential for spiritual growth. As long as we believe that some outer achievement will end our sorrow, we keep searching outward. Arjuna has realised that the medicine must come from another level. This is exactly what Krishna will provide: not a new situation, but a new understanding.
In Practice
Think of a worry you hope some outer change will fix. Ask honestly whether that change would end the worry, or whether an inner shift is also needed.
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.