Gita 2-2
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मूलम्
श्रीभगवानुवाच
कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम् |
अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन || २-२ ||
Meaning
शब्दार्थाः (Word for word)
श्रीभगवान् -- The Lord (Sri Krishna); उवाच -- said; कुतः -- from where; त्वा -- to you; कश्मलम् -- impurity; इदम् -- this; विषमे -- in difficulty; समुपस्थितम् -- arrived; अनार्यजुष्टम् -- that which is not agreeable to noble people; अस्वर्ग्यम् -- that which does not lead to heaven; अकीर्तिकरम् -- that which causes ill-fame; अर्जुन -- O Arjuna!
अन्वयः (Word order)
श्रीभगवान् उवाच -- अर्जुन! कुतः त्वा इदम् अनार्यजुष्टम् अस्वर्ग्यम् अकीर्तिकरं कश्मलं विषमे समुपस्थितम?
अनुवादः (Translation)
The Lord said -- "O Arjuna! Whence did this impurity come to you? This (impurity) is not acceptable to noble people, it doesn't lead to heaven and leads to ill-fame.
Notes
Ramanuja does not comment on this verse separately.
Swami Ramsukhdasji points out that the impurity is not natural to Arjuna but has covered his true nature. He further notes the following three levels implicit in Krishna's statement:
- अनार्यजुष्टम् refers to an act unacceptable to the virtuous, i.e an act that does not lead to general welfare.
- At a lower level, अस्वर्ग्यम् refers to an act that does not even lead to heaven -- a personal, relatively long-term benefit.
- At an even lower level, अकीर्तिकरम् is an act which does not even lead to temporary fame on earth.
Practice Notes
(Balaji)
I have often repeated this verse to myself whenever I am waffling, weakening or wallowing in sorrow. I have usually found it very effective in snapping out of self-pity.