तस्मादज्ञानसम्भूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनात्मनः । छित्त्वैनं संशयं योगमातिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भारत ॥
tasmād ajñāna-sambhūtaṃ hṛt-sthaṃ jñānāsinātmanaḥ | chittvainaṃ saṃśayaṃ yogam ātiṣṭhottiṣṭha bhārata ||
Cut with jñāna's sword this doubt born of ignorance in your heart. Stand in yoga — arise, O Arjuna!
Word by word (3)
- tasmāt ajñāna-sambhūtam hṛt-stham jñāna-asinā ātmanaḥ
- — therefore — cut this doubt born of ignorance, sitting in the heart — with the sword of jñāna of the Self · Tasmāt = therefore (drawing the conclusion from V34-41). Ajñāna-sambhūta = born of ignorance (ajñāna = non-knowledge; sambhūta = born from). Hṛt-stha = situated/sitting in the heart (hṛd = heart; stha = situated/dwelling). The doubt is located: in the heart, not just the mind. Jñāna-asinā = with the sword of jñāna (asi = sword). Ātmanaḥ = of the Self (genitive — the Self's own jñāna, not an imported concept). The Self uses jñāna as its own sword to cut its own heart's doubt.
- chittvā enam saṃśayam yogam ātiṣṭha uttiṣṭha bhārata
- — having cut this doubt — stand in yoga, arise, O descendant of Bharata · Chittvā = having cut (gerund of chid = to cut). Enam = this (the specific doubt of Arjuna's about whether to act). Saṃśayam = doubt. Yogam ātiṣṭha = stand in yoga/establish yourself in yoga (ātiṣṭha = stand upon, take your stand in — ā+sthā). Uttiṣṭha = arise! stand up! (imperative of ut+sthā = to rise up). Bhārata = O descendant of Bharata (Arjuna's royal lineage). The final two words — uttiṣṭha bhārata — echo the battle-field context. Arise, O Arjuna. Not theoretically — now.
- uttiṣṭha — the closing word of Chapter 4
- — arise! — the action-call that closes the entire Jñāna Yoga chapter · Uttiṣṭha (from ut+sthā) = to arise, to stand up, to rise from inaction. This is the same call that echoes across the Gita whenever Arjuna slips back into inaction: Ch.11.33 (uttiṣṭha), Ch.3.30 (yudhyasva), Ch.2.3 (uttiṣṭha). The Gita's teaching always resolves in action — not passive contemplation but engaged, knowing action. Jñāna does not produce withdrawal; it produces the most grounded, unbound action.
Therefore — cut with the sword of jñāna this doubt born of ignorance that sits in your heart. Establish yourself in yoga. Arise, O Arjuna!
A modern analogy
The surgeon who has studied thoroughly, the athlete who has trained completely — there comes a moment where all the knowledge must resolve into the single act: begin. V42: the entire Jñāna Yoga chapter — V1 to V41 — ends with two words: uttiṣṭha (arise). Not understand more, not study more. Arise.
Take with you
- Hṛt-stham (heart-situated): the doubt is not intellectual — it sits in the heart. Jñāna's sword reaches the heart.
- Jñānāsinā ātmanaḥ: the Self's own sword — jñāna belongs to you already. V38 said you will find it within.
- Yogam ātiṣṭha (stand in yoga): the stable ground of yoga before the action. Not action from agitation but from yoga.
- Uttiṣṭha: arise! The chapter closes not with contemplation but with the command to rise and act.
V42 is the closing verse of Chapter 4 — Jñāna Karma Sanyasa Yoga — and it resolves the entire chapter's arc with two words: uttiṣṭha bhārata (arise, O Bharata). The verse names three elements: the problem (ajñāna-sambhūta saṃśaya — doubt born of ignorance sitting in the heart), the solution (jñānāsinā — the sword of jñāna), and the consequence (yogam ātiṣṭhottiṣṭha — stand in yoga and arise). Shankaracharya: hṛt-stha (heart-situated) is important — the doubt is not a surface-level confusion but a deep heart-doubt about one's nature, one's duty, one's relationship to action and result. This is precisely Arjuna's moha from Ch.1 — still unresolved, still sitting in the heart. The resolution is not more argument but the sword of jñāna — the direct knowing that V38 said the yoga-saṃsiddha finds within in time. Uttiṣṭha: arise. Ch.4 ends where it must end — in action. The Gita's teaching is always embodied in the command to act from the place of understanding.
Public-domain translations (5) compare all →
Therefore, O Bharata, cut asunder with the sword of knowledge this doubt about the Self born of ignorance, which is lodged in thy heart; and resorting to yoga, arise. [1]
Therefore, with the sword of knowledge cut asunder this doubt born of ignorance, residing in thy heart. Resort to yoga and arise, O Bharata. [4]
Therefore cut through this doubt in thy heart, which springs from ignorance, with the sword of wisdom, adopt devotion, and arise. [6]
Therefore, with sword of wisdom cut apart This doubt which thy heart holds, and hinder thee; Arise! and take thine arms, and act. [7]
Therefore cut away, with the sword of knowledge, this doubt about the Self arising from ignorance, dwelling in your heart; and, resorting to yoga, arise, O descendant of Bharata. [9]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
The ignorant, faithless, doubting self is destroyed — no happiness in this world, the next, or anywhere.
Arise and win glory! These warriors are already slain by Me — be merely the instrument, O Savyasācin!
Cast off this petty weakness of heart — rise. This is not who you are.
Even the wise are confused about action vs. inaction. I will explain — knowing this frees you from all wrong.
Knowing this you will not fall into delusion again — you will see all beings in the Self, and thus in Me.
Darkness, inertness, heedlessness, and delusion arise — know that tamas is predominant.