It is better to live on alms in this world than to kill these great teachers. If I kill them, the pleasures I enjoy here will be stained with blood and bound to greed.
— Arjuna
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Bhagavad Gita · 2.5
Hindi · हिन्दी
महानुभाव गुरुजनोंको न मारकर इस लोकमें मैं भिक्षाका अन्न खाना भी श्रेष्ठ समझता हूँ । क्योंकि गुरुजनोंको मारकर यहाँ रक्तसे सने हुए तथा धनकी कामनाकी मुख्यतावाले भोगोंको ही तो भोगूँगा ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
गुरून्teachersअहत्वाwithout killingहिindeedमहानुभावान्great-souled, nobleश्रेयःbetterभोक्तुम्to eat/enjoyभैक्ष्यम्almsअपिevenइहhereलोकेin the worldहत्वाhaving killedअर्थकामान्those driven by wealth and desireतुbutगुरून्teachersइहhereएवindeedभुञ्जीयI would enjoyभोगान्pleasuresरुधिरप्रदिग्धान्stained with blood
Read literallyteachers · without killing · indeed · great-souled, noble · better · to eat/enjoy · alms · even · here · in the world · having killed · those driven by wealth and desire · but · teachers · here · indeed · I would enjoy · pleasures · stained with blood
Understanding the verse
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It shifts the question from can I win to can I live with the cost.
Arjuna says it would be better to live on alms than kill his respected teachers. He sees any victory gained that way as tainted by blood and greed.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna stands frozen between two armies. Krishna has urged him to act, but Arjuna now names the moral cost: these are not enemies only, but revered teachers. His refusal deepens the crisis and shows how tangled duty has become.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You are about to send the message that will end a friendship, or take the promotion that depends on someone else being pushed out. The win feels dirty before you even touch it.
The takeaway
“Some gains cost too much. Clear conscience matters more than winning.”
Arjuna says it would be better to live on alms than kill his respected teachers. He sees any victory gained that way as tainted by blood and greed.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 2.5?
Arjuna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Sankhya Yoga" (The Yoga of Knowledge).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 2.5?
Verse 5 sits in Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita — Sankhya Yoga, "The Yoga of Knowledge". The chapter has 72 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 2.5 matter today?
You are about to send the message that will end a friendship, or take the promotion that depends on someone else being pushed out. The win feels dirty before you even touch it.
It shifts the question from can I win to can I live with the cost.
What this verse means
Arjuna says it would be better to live on alms than kill his respected teachers. He sees any victory gained that way as tainted by blood and greed.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna stands frozen between two armies. Krishna has urged him to act, but Arjuna now names the moral cost: these are not enemies only, but revered teachers. His refusal deepens the crisis and shows how tangled duty has become.
Why this verse still matters
You are about to send the message that will end a friendship, or take the promotion that depends on someone else being pushed out. The win feels dirty before you even touch it.
“Some gains cost too much. Clear conscience matters more than winning.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses)