Bhagavad Gita 2.8-9

Sanskrit

न हि प्रपश्यामि ममापनुद्याद् यच्छोकमुच्छोषणमिन्द्रियाणाम् । अवाप्य भूमावसपत्नमृद्धं राज्यं सुराणामपि चाधिपत्यम् ॥2.8॥एवमुक्त्वा हृषीकेशं गुडाकेशः परन्तप । न योत्स्य इति गोविन्दमुक्त्वा तूष्णीं बभूव ह ॥2.9॥

Transliteration

na hi prapaśyāmi mamāpanudyād yacchokamucchoṣaṇamindriyāṇām | avāpya bhūmāvasapatnamṛddhaṃ rājyaṃ surāṇāmapi cādhipatyam ‖2.8‖ evamuktvā hṛṣīkeśaṃ guḍākeśaḥ parantapa | na yotsya iti govindamuktvā tūṣṇīṃ babhūva ha ‖2.9‖

Meaning

“I see nothing that could dispel this grief which dries up my senses, not even unrivalled, prosperous kingship over the earth, nor lordship over the gods. Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus to Krishna, Arjuna said ‘I will not fight,’ and fell silent.”

Key learning

Arjuna says even a whole kingdom couldn't lift his grief, then goes silent. Sometimes sorrow runs so deep that no prize would fix it, and we simply shut down.

How to apply this today

When you're truly low, notice that more money, status, or wins won't touch it, the ache is somewhere else. Instead of chasing a quick fix, sit with a trusted friend or guide. Realizing "nothing out there will fix this" points you toward what actually can.

Theme: The Yoga of Knowledge

This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga , read all verses in this chapter.

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