Bhagavad Gita 2.7
Spoken by Arjuna ☆ Key verse · Verse 7 of 72 · Arjuna's Journey
कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेताः। यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम्॥
kārpaṇya-doṣopahata-svabhāvaḥ pṛcchāmi tvāṃ dharma-sammūḍha-cetāḥ / yac chreyaḥ syān niścitaṃ brūhi tan me śiṣyas te 'haṃ śādhi māṃ tvāṃ prapannam
I am your student. My mind is bewildered about what is right. Teach me.
Word by word (7)
- kārpaṇya-doṣa-upahata-svabhāvaḥ
- — my nature overwhelmed by the weakness of miserliness/pity · 'Kārpaṇya' — from kṛpaṇa (miserly, helpless, wretched). A strong self-diagnosis: Arjuna calls his state not just grief but a kind of moral smallness that has overtaken his true nature. Shankaracharya comments: kārpaṇya is the excessive sorrow that leads to loss of discrimination.
- pṛcchāmi tvām
- — I ask you / I am asking you
- dharma-sammūḍha-cetāḥ
- — with my mind bewildered about dharma / confused about what is right · 'Dharma-sammūḍha': completely confused (sam + mūḍha) about dharma. This is Arjuna's self-diagnosis: he is not just sad — he cannot determine what duty requires. This is the precise gap the Gita's teaching will fill.
- yat śreyaḥ syāt niścitam
- — what is definitely the good / what is certainly beneficial (śreyas)
- brūhi tan me
- — tell that to me
- śiṣyaḥ te aham
- — I am your disciple · The formal declaration of discipleship. By saying 'śiṣyas te 'ham' Arjuna enters the guru-śiṣya relationship explicitly. The Gita's teaching officially begins at this moment.
- śādhi mām tvām prapannam
- — instruct me who has taken refuge in you · 'Prapannam' — one who has taken refuge, surrendered. This is the first use of śaraṇāgati (refuge) in the Gita. The full expression comes in 18.66: 'take refuge in Me alone.'
'My nature is overwhelmed by the weakness of excessive grief. My mind is completely confused about what dharma requires. I ask you — tell me clearly what is good for me. I am your disciple. Teach me. I have taken refuge in you.'
A modern analogy
The person who has tried to figure everything out on their own, reached the end of their resources, and finally says: 'I need help. I don't know what to do. Will you teach me?' This is not failure. This is the beginning of the most important learning. Arjuna's 'śiṣyas te 'ham' — I am your disciple — is one of the most important sentences in world literature.
Take with you
- 'Dharma-sammūḍha-cetāḥ' — confused about dharma. Arjuna's problem is precisely named: not grief, not fear, but not knowing what is right.
- 'Śiṣyas te 'ham' — I am your disciple. The formal declaration of willingness to receive teaching. Nothing can be taught to someone who isn't ready to learn.
- 'Prapannam' — taken refuge. The first act of surrender in the Gita. The teaching begins here.
Public-domain translations (5) compare all →
My being is overwhelmed with the fault of weakness; my mind is bewildered about duty. I ask Thee: what is certainly better — that tell me. I am Thy disciple — teach me who have taken refuge in Thee. [1]
My heart is overwhelmed with the taint of pity; my mind is confused as to duty. I ask Thee: tell me decisively what is good for me. I am Thy disciple. Instruct me, who has taken refuge in Thee. [4]
My heart is overpowered by a miserable dejection; my mind is confused in regard to duty. I ask Thee which may be better — that tell me decidedly. I am Thy disciple and entreat Thee, who art my refuge, to instruct me. [6]
My heart is faint with grief! I scarce know good From ill; I have forgotten all my lore Of holy wisdom, O, thou Teacher! hear! For I am thy disciple; come to me For refuge, and instruct me. [7]
My very being is stricken with the taint of pitifulness; my mind is bewildered as to duty. I ask thee which may be the better — that tell me for certain. I am thy pupil; teach me, who am seeking refuge in thee. [9]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
You grieve for those who should not be grieved for — and call it wisdom.
Approach the teacher with prostration, inquiry, and service. The knowers of truth will instruct you in jñāna.
Abandon all dharmas, take refuge in Me alone — I will liberate you from all sins; do not grieve.
With mind attached, practising yoga, taking refuge in Me — hear how you shall know Me fully, without doubt.
Destroyed is my delusion, memory restored by Your grace — I stand firm, free of doubt, and will do Your word.
Whoever teaches this supreme secret among My devotees, with supreme bhakti — comes to Me without doubt.
Verse 7 of 72 · back to Chapter 2