In the second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, after thoroughly dismantling Arjuna’s arguments for inaction with warnings of sin and infamy, Lord Krishna now concludes his motivational speech with a powerful, positive, and undeniable “win-win” proposition. The Hato Va Prapsyasi Svargam verse lays out the two possible outcomes of performing one’s duty in battle, showing that for a righteous warrior, either result leads to glory.
Sanskrit Verse
हतो वा प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्गं जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम् ।
तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः ॥ ३७ ॥Transliteration
hato vā prāpsyasi svargaṁ jitvā vā bhokṣyase mahīm
tasmād uttiṣṭha kaunteya yuddhāya kṛta-niścayaḥWord for Word Translation
hataḥ vā — either slain; prāpsyasi — you will attain; svargam — the heavenly kingdom; jitvā vā — or having conquered; bhokṣyase — you will enjoy; mahīm — the earth; tasmāt — therefore; uttiṣṭha — arise; kaunteya — O son of Kunti; yuddhāya — for fighting; kṛta-niścayaḥ — with determination.
English Translation
O son of Kunti, either you will be slain on the battlefield and attain the heavenly planets, or you will conquer and enjoy the earthly kingdom. Therefore, arise with determination and fight.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
This verse is the culmination of Krishna’s practical and duty-based arguments. It presents the choice to fight as the only logical path, as it guarantees a glorious outcome regardless of the result.
- Hato vā prāpsyasi svargam: “If slain, you will attain heaven.” This is the first glorious outcome. As established earlier, for a Kshatriya, dying while performing their duty in a righteous war is a direct ticket to `svargam`, the heavenly realms. So, death is not a defeat; it is a victory.
- Jitvā vā bhokṣyase mahīm: “Or if you conquer, you will enjoy the earth.” This is the second glorious outcome. If Arjuna is victorious, he will regain his kingdom (`mahīm`), rule righteously, and enjoy the fruits of his labor as is his right. So, victory is also victory.
- Tasmād uttiṣṭha… kṛta-niścayaḥ: “Therefore, arise… with determination.” `Tasmāt` (“therefore”) signals the final, inescapable conclusion. Since both potential outcomes are favorable, there is no logical reason to hesitate. Krishna commands him to `uttiṣṭha` (arise), the same command He gave in verse 2.3, but this time He adds `kṛta-niścayaḥ`—with determination, with a resolved mind. He is being told to shake off all doubt and commit to his sacred Dharma.
By presenting a no-lose scenario, Krishna masterfully eliminates fear of the unknown outcome, which is often a source of paralysis. He simplifies the complex, terrifying prospect of war into a simple choice between two types of glory. This is a powerful motivational tool designed to appeal to the practical and heroic mindset of a warrior like Arjuna.
Conclusion
This verse is the final word on why, from a worldly and duty-bound perspective, Arjuna must fight. All the previous arguments—warnings of sin, loss of honor, and eternal infamy—showed the negative consequences of inaction. This verse shows the positive, glorious consequences of action. Faced with a choice between sin and shame on one hand, and two kinds of glory on the other, the path of the warrior becomes clear. Krishna has left Arjuna with no room for further debate on the basis of conventional morality and duty.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 – Verse 38 – Sukha-duhkhe Same Krtva
