Chapter 4, Verse 42
तस्मादज्ञानसम्भूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनात्मनः | छित्त्वैनं संशयं योगमातिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भारत ||४-४२||
tasmādajñānasambhūtaṃ hṛtsthaṃ jñānāsinātmanaḥ . chittvainaṃ saṃśayaṃ yogamātiṣṭhottiṣṭha bhārata ||4-42||
Meaning
4.42 Therefore with the sword of the knowledge (of the Self) cut asunder the doubt of the self born of ignorance, residing in thy heart, and take refuge in Yoga. Arise, O Arjuna.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
The chapter ends with a stirring call to action. Krishna gathers everything he has taught into a single command: take the jñāna-asi — the sword of knowledge — and cut away the doubt that, born of ignorance (ajñāna-sambhūta), still lodges in Arjuna's heart (hṛtstha). Doubt is the enemy within, and self-knowledge is the blade that severs it.
Then comes the ringing summons: yogam ātiṣṭha uttiṣṭha bhārata — 'establish yourself in yoga; arise, O Arjuna!' This is no abstract conclusion but a charge to act. Having understood the imperishable nature of the Self, the freedom of detached action, and the supremacy of knowledge, Arjuna is now told to rise and do his duty. The chapter that began with ancient lineage closes with a present, urgent imperative: cut your doubt, stand firm in yoga, and arise.
💡 Key Takeaway
Cut through inner doubt with the sword of self-knowledge, root yourself in yoga, and rise to meet your duty.
Related Verses
श्रीभगवानुवाच | इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम् | विवस्वान्मनवे प्राह मनुरिक्ष्वाकवेऽब्रवीत् ||४-१||
śrībhagavānuvāca . imaṃ vivasvate yogaṃ proktavānahamavyayam . vivasvānmanave prāha manurikṣvākave.abravīt ||4-1||
4.1 The Blessed Lord said I taught this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvan; he told it to Manu; Manu proclaimed it to Ikshvaku.
अर्जुन उवाच | अपरं भवतो जन्म परं जन्म विवस्वतः | कथमेतद्विजानीयां त्वमादौ प्रोक्तवानिति ||४-४||
arjuna uvāca . aparaṃ bhavato janma paraṃ janma vivasvataḥ . kathametadvijānīyāṃ tvamādau proktavāniti ||4-4||
4.4 Arjuna said Later on was Thy birth, and prior to it was the birth of Vivasvan (the Sun); how am I to understand that Thou taughtest this Yoga in the beginning?
जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यमेवं यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः | त्यक्त्वा देहं पुनर्जन्म नैति मामेति सोऽर्जुन ||४-९||
janma karma ca me divyamevaṃ yo vetti tattvataḥ . tyaktvā dehaṃ punarjanma naiti māmeti so.arjuna ||4-9||
4.9 He who thus know, in their true light, My divine birth and action, having abandoned the body, is not born again, he comes to Me, O Arjuna.