हतो वा प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्गं जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम्। तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः॥
hato vā prāpsyasi svargaṃ jitvā vā bhokṣyase mahīm / tasmāt uttiṣṭha kaunteya yuddhāya kṛta-niścayaḥ
Die and win heaven. Conquer and enjoy the earth. Either way you gain — so rise and fight.
Word by word (4)
- hato vā prāpsyasi svargam
- — if slain, you will attain heaven
- jitvā vā bhokṣyase mahīm
- — if victorious, you will enjoy the earth · The complete logical dilemma: both outcomes of righteous battle are gains. There is no losing outcome — only refusing to fight constitutes a loss.
- tasmāt uttiṣṭha kaunteya
- — therefore rise up, O son of Kunti · 'Uttiṣṭha' — rise up. Arjuna sank (V1.47); Krishna commands him to rise. This is the culmination of the conventional argument before Karma Yoga begins.
- yuddhāya kṛta-niścayaḥ
- — determined to fight / having made your resolve
'If you are killed, you gain heaven. If you conquer, you enjoy the earth. Therefore rise up, O Kaunteya — determined to fight.'
A modern analogy
The argument is structured as a complete dilemma with no losing outcome: if the worst happens (death), you win (heaven). If the best happens (victory), you win (the earth). The only losing outcome is not acting. Therefore the instruction is clear: 'uttiṣṭha' — rise up. 'Kṛta-niścayaḥ' — with determination made.
Take with you
- The dilemma is complete: death = heaven, victory = earth. There is no negative outcome in righteous action.
- 'Uttiṣṭha' — rise up. A command. The entire social/duty argument culminates in this word.
- 'Kṛta-niścayaḥ' — having made your determination. The rising must come from decision, not impulse.
V37 closes the conventional argument section (V31-37) with a complete logical structure: righteous battle has two possible outcomes (death / victory), both of which are gains. Therefore there is no logical basis for hesitation. The word 'uttiṣṭha' (rise up) echoes the physical posture throughout: Arjuna sank into his chariot seat (V1.47); Krishna has been giving reasons to rise. This is the culmination of that rising — but not yet the deepest reason. V38 will introduce the Karma Yoga teaching, which transcends all the conventional arguments.
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
Die, and you win heaven; conquer, and you enjoy the earth. Therefore, stand up, O son of Kunti, determined to fight. [4]
Slain, thou shalt obtain heaven; conqueror, thou shalt enjoy the earth. Therefore arise, O Arjuna, determined to fight. [6]
Therefore, up! quit thee like a man! For, if thou diest, thou shalt enter Heaven; and if thou livest and dost conquer, thou shalt reign on earth. Arise, Son of Kunti. [7]
Dying, you will obtain heaven; conquering, you will enjoy the earth. Therefore stand up, O son of Kunti, determined to fight. [9]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Treat pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat as equal — then engage. No sin follows from this.
With mind in Me, by My grace you will cross all obstacles; but from egotism if you will not hear, you will perish.
Krishna declares: 'I am the ground of Brahman — the Immortal, the Immutable, eternal Dharma, and perfect Bliss.'
You have always existed. You will always exist. There was no time before you, and there will be no time without you.
Action arises from Brahman, Brahman from the Imperishable. The all-pervading ultimate is present in every act of yajna.
Four varnas arise by guna and karma — not by birth. Though creator, I remain the non-doer, imperishable.