Verse 18.43
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
शौर्यं तेजो धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं युद्धे चाप्यपलायनम् | दानमीश्वरभावश्च क्षात्रं कर्म स्वभावजम् ||४३||
Transliteration (IAST)
śauryaṁ tejo dhṛtir dākṣyaṁ yuddhe cāpy apalāyanam | dānam īśvara-bhāvaś ca kṣātraṁ karma svabhāva-jam ||43||
Word-by-Word Meanings
śauryam-heroism/valor
tejaḥ-vigor/brilliance
dhṛtiḥ-firmness/fortitude
dākṣyam-resourcefulness
yuddhe-in battle
apalāyanam-not fleeing
dānam-generosity
īśvara-bhāvaḥ-lordliness/leadership
Translation
Heroism, vigor, firmness, resourcefulness, not fleeing from battle, generosity, and leadership - these are the duties of a Kshatriya, born of his own nature.
Commentary
The natural duties of the warrior class are described. Shankaracharya explains that these qualities arise from a combination of sattva and rajas. Ramanuja notes that 'not fleeing from battle' (apalāyanam) is particularly relevant to Arjuna's situation, reminding him that his warrior nature demands courage in the face of adversity.
Themes
dharmadutykarma