श्री भगवानुवाचअशोच्यानन्वशोचस्त्वं प्रज्ञावादांश्च भाषसे ।
गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः ॥
गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
श्रीभगवान् बोले तुमने शोक न करनेयोग्यका शोक किया है और पण्डिताईकी बातें कह रहे हो परन्तु जिनके प्राण चले गये हैं, उनके लिये और जिनके प्राण नहीं गये हैं, उनके लिये पण्डितलोग शोक नहीं करते ॥
English
The Blessed Lord said: You grieve for what should not be grieved for, yet speak words of wisdom. The wise do not grieve for the dead or the living.
What this verse means
Arjuna is mourning people who should not be mourned, while speaking as if he understands wisdom. Krishna says the wise do not grieve for either the dead or the living.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield between two armies, Arjuna has frozen. His bow has fallen, and Krishna begins by correcting the confusion itself: Arjuna is speaking like a wise man while reacting like someone lost in grief. This verse starts the teaching that follows.
Why this verse still matters
You stand beside a hospital bed, rehearsing the perfect words while your chest tightens. The mind reaches for philosophy, but the heart is still caught in fear and loss.
The takeaway
It brings relief by showing that clear seeing can hold loss without collapsing into sorrow.
Word-by-word translation
श्री भगवानुवाच (the Blessed Lord said) / अशोच्यान् (for the ungrievable) / अन्वशोचः (you have grieved) / त्वम् (you) / प्रज्ञावादान् (words of wisdom) / च (and) / भाषसे (you speak) / गतासून् (the departed breath) / अगतासून् (the not-departed breath) / च (and) / न (not) / अनुशोचन्ति (grieve) / पण्डिताः (the wise)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga — The Yoga of Knowledge, which contains 72 verses.
Explore related themes: viveka (15 verses), grief (10 verses)