Bhagavad Gita 4.42
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 42 of 42
तस्मादज्ञानसम्भूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनात्मनः । छित्त्वैनं संशयं योगमातिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भारत ॥
tasmād ajñāna-sambhūtaṃ hṛt-sthaṃ jñānāsinātmanaḥ | chittvainaṃ saṃśayaṃ yogam ātiṣṭhottiṣṭha bhārata ||
Cut with jñāna's sword this doubt born of ignorance in your heart. Stand in yoga — arise, O Arjuna!
Word by word (3)
- tasmāt ajñāna-sambhūtam hṛt-stham jñāna-asinā ātmanaḥ
- — therefore — cut this doubt born of ignorance, sitting in the heart — with the sword of jñāna of the Self · Tasmāt = therefore (drawing the conclusion from V34-41). Ajñāna-sambhūta = born of ignorance (ajñāna = non-knowledge; sambhūta = born from). Hṛt-stha = situated/sitting in the heart (hṛd = heart; stha = situated/dwelling). The doubt is located: in the heart, not just the mind. Jñāna-asinā = with the sword of jñāna (asi = sword). Ātmanaḥ = of the Self (genitive — the Self's own jñāna, not an imported concept). The Self uses jñāna as its own sword to cut its own heart's doubt.
- chittvā enam saṃśayam yogam ātiṣṭha uttiṣṭha bhārata
- — having cut this doubt — stand in yoga, arise, O descendant of Bharata · Chittvā = having cut (gerund of chid = to cut). Enam = this (the specific doubt of Arjuna's about whether to act). Saṃśayam = doubt. Yogam ātiṣṭha = stand in yoga/establish yourself in yoga (ātiṣṭha = stand upon, take your stand in — ā+sthā). Uttiṣṭha = arise! stand up! (imperative of ut+sthā = to rise up). Bhārata = O descendant of Bharata (Arjuna's royal lineage). The final two words — uttiṣṭha bhārata — echo the battle-field context. Arise, O Arjuna. Not theoretically — now.
- uttiṣṭha — the closing word of Chapter 4
- — arise! — the action-call that closes the entire Jñāna Yoga chapter · Uttiṣṭha (from ut+sthā) = to arise, to stand up, to rise from inaction. This is the same call that echoes across the Gita whenever Arjuna slips back into inaction: Ch.11.33 (uttiṣṭha), Ch.3.30 (yudhyasva), Ch.2.3 (uttiṣṭha). The Gita's teaching always resolves in action — not passive contemplation but engaged, knowing action. Jñāna does not produce withdrawal; it produces the most grounded, unbound action.
Therefore — cut with the sword of jñāna this doubt born of ignorance that sits in your heart. Establish yourself in yoga. Arise, O Arjuna!
A modern analogy
The surgeon who has studied thoroughly, the athlete who has trained completely — there comes a moment where all the knowledge must resolve into the single act: begin. This is how the chapter ends: the entire Jñāna Yoga teaching — from the opening verse where this imperishable yoga is traced back to the dawn of time, all the way to the portrait of the unbound one whose doubt has been cut — closes with two words: uttiṣṭha (arise). Not understand more, not study more. Arise.
Take with you
- Hṛt-stham (heart-situated): the doubt is not intellectual — it sits in the heart. Jñāna's sword reaches the heart.
- Jñānāsinā ātmanaḥ: the Self's own sword — knowledge belongs to you already. You will find it within yourself in time.
- Yogam ātiṣṭha (stand in yoga): the stable ground of yoga before the action. Not action from agitation but from yoga.
- Uttiṣṭha: arise! The chapter closes not with contemplation but with the command to rise and act.
Public-domain translations (5) compare all →
Therefore, O Bharata, cut asunder with the sword of knowledge this doubt about the Self born of ignorance, which is lodged in thy heart; and resorting to yoga, arise. [1]
Therefore, with the sword of knowledge cut asunder this doubt born of ignorance, residing in thy heart. Resort to yoga and arise, O Bharata. [4]
Therefore cut through this doubt in thy heart, which springs from ignorance, with the sword of wisdom, adopt devotion, and arise. [6]
Therefore, with sword of wisdom cut apart This doubt which thy heart holds, and hinder thee; Arise! and take thine arms, and act. [7]
Therefore cut away, with the sword of knowledge, this doubt about the Self arising from ignorance, dwelling in your heart; and, resorting to yoga, arise, O descendant of Bharata. [9]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
The ignorant, faithless, doubting self is destroyed — no happiness in this world, the next, or anywhere.
Arise and win glory! These warriors are already slain by Me — be merely the instrument, O Savyasācin!
Cast off this petty weakness of heart — rise. This is not who you are.
Even the wise are confused about action vs. inaction. I will explain — knowing this frees you from all wrong.
Knowing this you will not fall into delusion again — you will see all beings in the Self, and thus in Me.
Darkness, inertness, heedlessness, and delusion arise — know that tamas is predominant.
Verse 42 of 42 · back to Chapter 4