Chapter 2 Verse 7

 

Verse 7

कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभाव:

पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेता: |

यच्छ्रेय: स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे

शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् || 7||

Transliteration:

kArpanyadoshopahatasvabhAvaH

prucchAmi tvAM dharmasammUDhacetAH

yacchreyaH syAnnishcitaM brUhi tanme

shiShyaste.ahaM shAdhi mAM tvAM prapannam..

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Word by word meaning

कार्पण्य – cowardice; दोष – flaw; उपहत- damaged; ​स्वभाव: - nature; पृच्छामि- I ask; त्वां -  (to) you;धर्म – righteous; सम्मूढ – deluded; चेता: - intellect; यत् - which is; श्रेयः - the best; स्यात् – may be; निश्चितं – definitely; ब्रूहि – tell (me); तत् - that;  मे – for me; शिष्य: - disciple; ते – for you(your);अहं – I; शाधि – guide; मां – me; त्वां – your(to you); प्रपन्नम् - surrendered॥ ७॥

Meaning:

(Now) my nature is damaged by the flaw of cowardice , my intellect is deluded , I ask you the right (deed) which is definitely the best for me; Tell to this disciple of yours, who have surrendered to you.

Significance:

‘kArpanya’ is the nature of people who are weak , who lack spirit. Those people who are stingy are termed as ‘krupana’. This adjective suits who are narrow minded too. In whichever meaning this does not suit Arjuna here in the war-field. Arjuna identifies this flaw of his in an inappropriate situation.

He lacks the spirit to engage in war, his compassion stops him from doing his duty. He now asks for Krishna’s guidance to show him which is the dharma he has to follow , which is best for him. Even in our day-to-day life we pray for petty things to God, but we don’t know which will do good to us. A good disciple/devotee will surrender himself to Guru/God and take the path shown by them, for the trust in them that only they can show them the right path.