Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga · Verse 42

Bhagavad Gita 4.42

Knowledge cuts doubt, and then action becomes possible again.

Wisdom translation, edited by Ankur Shukla. Commentary AI-drafted, human-reviewed. Reviewed June 2026. Methodology →

तस्मादज्ञानसंभूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनाऽऽत्मनः ।
छित्त्वैनं संशयं योगमातिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भारत ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
इसलिये हे भरतवंशी अर्जुन हृदयमें स्थित इस अज्ञानसे उत्पन्न अपने संशयका ज्ञानरूप तलवारसे छेदन करके योग समता में स्थित हो जा, और युद्धके लिये खड़ा हो जा ॥
English
Therefore, O Bharata, cut away this doubt in your heart, born of ignorance, with the sword of knowledge. Stand in yoga and rise up for battle.

What this verse means

Knowledge should cut through inner doubt, and then you should stand steady and act. Krishna is telling Arjuna to stop wavering and rise for battle.

Context & commentary

On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna is still frozen while the war waits. Krishna ends his teaching with one final command: use clear understanding to cut away the doubt born of ignorance, then stand up and fight.

Why this verse still matters

You have the message typed out, but your finger hovers over send because you fear the fallout. The mind wants another delay; clarity asks for one clean decision.

The takeaway

Doubt loses power when you face it directly instead of obeying it.

Word-by-word translation

तस्मात् (therefore) / अज्ञानसंभूतम् (born of ignorance) / हृत्स्थम् (situated in the heart) / ज्ञानासिना (with the sword of knowledge) / आत्मनः (of the self) / छित्त्वा (having cut) / एनम् (this) / संशयम् (doubt) / योगम् (in yoga) / आतिष्ठ (stand in) / उत्तिष्ठ (rise up) / भारत (O Bharata)

Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses)

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