Chapter 2, Verse 7
कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेताः । यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् ॥२-७॥
kārpaṇya-doṣopahata-svabhāvaḥ pṛcchāmi tvāṃ dharma-sammūḍha-cetāḥ | yac chreyaḥ syān niścitaṃ brūhi tan me śiṣyas te'haṃ śādhi māṃ tvāṃ prapannam ||2-7||
Meaning
My nature is overcome by the flaw of pity, and my mind is bewildered about my duty. I ask You to tell me decisively what is good for me. I am now Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
This is one of the most pivotal verses in the entire Gita — the moment of surrender that makes the entire teaching possible. Arjuna identifies three things with extraordinary self-awareness: his nature has been overpowered ('upahata-svabhāvaḥ'), his mind is confused about dharma ('dharma-sammūḍha-cetāḥ'), and he needs definitive guidance. This combination of self-awareness and humility is the prerequisite for genuine learning.
The word 'prapannam' — surrendered — is of immense significance in the devotional traditions. Arjuna is not merely asking for advice; he is formally placing himself as a disciple ('śiṣya') at Krishna's feet. He acknowledges that his own reasoning has failed him. This is not a defeat of the intellect but its highest use — recognizing the limits of unaided human understanding and opening to a higher source.
Modern life has much to teach us through this verse. We live in a culture that valorizes self-sufficiency and treats asking for help as weakness. But Arjuna — a great warrior, not a coward — recognizes that certain crises exceed individual capacity. True strength includes the wisdom to seek guidance, to say 'I am confused and I surrender my certainty to learn.' This moment of surrender is where transformation begins. In therapy, in mentorship, in spiritual practice — the willingness to say 'teach me' is the door through which all growth passes.
💡 Key Takeaway
Genuine surrender to a trustworthy guide, born of honest self-assessment, is not weakness but the prerequisite for transformation.
Related Verses
श्रीभगवानुवाच कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम् । अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन ॥२-२॥
śrī bhagavān uvāca kutas tvā kaśmalam idaṃ viṣame samupasthitam | anārya-juṣṭam asvargyam akīrti-karam arjuna ||2-2||
The Supreme Lord said: My dear Arjuna, how have these impurities come upon you at this critical moment? This is not befitting a man who knows what is valuable in life. It does not lead to higher planets but to infamy.
क्लैब्यं मा स्म गमः पार्थ नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते । क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परन्तप ॥२-३॥
klaibyaṃ mā sma gamaḥ pārtha naitat tvayy upapadyate | kṣudraṃ hṛdaya-daurbalyaṃ tyaktvottiṣṭha parantapa ||2-3||
Do not yield to this unmanliness, O Partha. It does not befit you. Shake off this faint-heartedness and arise, O scorcher of enemies.
अर्जुन उवाच कथं भीष्ममहं सङ्ख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन । इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन ॥२-४॥
arjuna uvāca kathaṃ bhīṣmam ahaṃ saṅkhye droṇaṃ ca madhusūdana | iṣubhiḥ pratiyotsyāmi pūjārhāv arisūdana ||2-4||
Arjuna said: O Madhusudana, how can I counterattack with arrows in battle against Bhishma and Drona, who are worthy of my worship, O destroyer of enemies?