In the second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna builds upon his previous point about `svadharma`. After establishing that fighting in a righteous war is a Kshatriya’s highest duty, He now reframes the entire situation. The battle is not a grim necessity or a terrible burden; it is a rare and glorious opportunity. The Yadrcchaya Copapannam verse is a powerful motivational statement, designed to appeal directly to the noble aspirations of a warrior like Arjuna.
Sanskrit Verse
यदृच्छया चोपपन्नं स्वर्गद्वारमपावृतम् ।
सुखिनः क्षत्रियाः पार्थ लभन्ते युद्धमीदृशम् ॥ ३२ ॥Transliteration
yadṛcchayā copapannaṁ svarga-dvāram apāvṛtam
sukhinaḥ kṣatriyāḥ pārtha labhante yuddham īdṛśamWord for Word Translation
yadṛcchayā — by its own accord; ca — and; upapannam — arrived at; svarga-dvāram — the door of the heavenly planets; apāvṛtam — wide open; sukhinaḥ — very happy; kṣatriyāḥ — the members of the warrior class; pārtha — O son of Pritha; labhante — obtain; yuddham — a war; īdṛśam — like this.
English Translation
O Partha, happy are the kshatriyas to whom such fighting opportunities come unsought, opening for them the doors of the heavenly planets.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
Krishna now presents the war not as a problem, but as a prize. He highlights three key points to shift Arjuna’s perspective from dread to glorious opportunity.
- Yadṛcchayā copapannam: “Arrived at by its own accord.” The word `yadṛcchayā` implies that this opportunity has come without any selfish endeavor. Arjuna did not seek this war; it came to him as a matter of cosmic circumstance. This makes the battle a pure test of his Dharma, not a war of personal ambition.
- Svarga-dvāram apāvṛtam: “An open door to the heavenly planets.” For a Kshatriya, dying in a righteous battle was considered the most glorious possible end, guaranteeing passage to the celestial abodes known as Svarga. Krishna is telling Arjuna that this battle is a golden ticket, a wide-open gate to a blessed afterlife that warriors strive for.
- Sukhinaḥ kṣatriyāḥ: “Happy are the kshatriyas…” Instead of being a cause for grief, Krishna says such a war should be a source of happiness (`sukhinaḥ`) for a warrior. It is the ultimate chance to fulfill one’s purpose, display one’s valor, uphold righteousness, and secure a glorious future. It is a gift, not a curse.
Conclusion
This verse is a masterstroke of divine motivation. Krishna is not just giving philosophical reasons to fight; he is appealing directly to Arjuna’s core identity and the values he has been trained to cherish. He reframes the bloody battlefield as a wide-open gate to heaven, and the terrible duty as a rare stroke of good fortune. By presenting the war as an unsought, glorious opportunity, Krishna encourages Arjuna to shake off his despondency and embrace his destiny with the joy and vigor befitting a great hero.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 – Verse 33 – Atha Cet Tvam Imam
