Following his initial, sharp rebuke, Lord Krishna does not soften his approach. Instead, he intensifies the pressure, delivering what is arguably one of the most direct and startling commands in the entire scripture. In the Klaibyam Ma Sma Gamah Partha verse, Krishna moves beyond questioning Arjuna’s honor and directly confronts his state of mind, diagnosing it as a paralyzing weakness. This is the culmination of the divine “shock therapy,” a final, powerful summons designed to cut through every last shred of Arjuna’s grief-stricken logic and compel him to remember who he truly is.
Sanskrit Verse
क्लैब्यं मा स्म गमः पार्थ नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते ।
क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परंतप ॥ ३ ॥Transliteration
klaibyaṁ mā sma gamaḥ pārtha naitat tvayy upapadyate
kṣudraṁ hṛdaya-daurbalyaṁ tyaktvottiṣṭha parantapaWord for Word Translation
klaibyam – impotence; unmanliness; mā sma gamaḥ – do not yield to; pārtha – O son of Pṛthā; na – never; etat – this; tvayi – in you; upapadyate – is fitting; kṣudram – petty; insignificant; hṛdaya-daurbalyam – weakness of heart; tyaktvā – giving up; uttiṣṭha – stand up; parantapa – O chastiser of the enemy.
English Translation
O son of Pritha, do not yield to this degrading impotence. It does not become you. Give up such petty weakness of heart and arise, O chastiser of the enemy.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
This verse is a powerful appeal to Arjuna’s core identity. Krishna uses specific names and concepts to remind Arjuna of who he is and what is expected of him. This statement is a direct assault on the weakness that has possessed Arjuna.
- Klaibyaṁ mā sma gamaḥ: “Do not yield to impotence.” This is the verse’s most shocking and potent phrase. The word klaibyam translates to a lack of manliness, impotence, or a profound lack of vigor. It is a deeply insulting term for a warrior of Arjuna’s stature, designed to jolt him out of his state by showing him how his noble compassion now appears as a dishonorable weakness.
- Pārtha… naitat tvayyupapadyate: “O son of Pritha, this does not befit you.” Krishna addresses him as Pārtha, son of his aunt Kunti (Pritha). This is a reminder of his noble lineage, a family of great and righteous warriors. He is reminding Arjuna that such weakness is an insult to his very bloodline and the legacy of his heroic mother.
- Kṣudraṁ hṛdaya-daurbalyam: “Petty weakness of heart.” Krishna dismisses Arjuna’s complex moral crisis—his fear of sin and compassion for his family—as nothing more than “petty” or “insignificant” weakness of the heart. He is reframing Arjuna’s grief, not as a profound ethical dilemma, but as a small-minded emotional reaction that must be overcome for the sake of a greater principle, Dharma.
- Tyaktvottiṣṭha Parantapa: “Giving this up, arise, O chastiser of the enemy!” The verse ends with a thundering command. Krishna uses another of Arjuna’s famous titles, Parantapa, which means “scorcher” or “chastiser of foes.” It is a reminder of his true nature and God-given role. He is not meant to grieve on the chariot floor; he is meant to rise (uttiṣṭha) and confront evil. This concept is central to the duties of the Kshatriya class.
Conclusion
This powerful command is not born of cruelty, but of divine love. Krishna sees that Arjuna’s compassion, while seemingly noble, has become a paralyzing force that is preventing him from performing his sacred duty. He uses these harsh words to act as a surgeon’s knife, cutting away the “petty” infection of emotional weakness so that the true, heroic nature of Arjuna—the Parantapa—can emerge. This verse teaches that there are times when succumbing to emotion, even for noble reasons, is a greater failure than taking difficult but righteous action.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 – Verse 4 – Arjuna Uvaca Katham Bhishmam Aham Sankhye
