Chapter2- Sloka 7
kārpaṇya doṣopahata svabhāvaḥ pṛcchāmi tvāṃ dharma samūḍha cetasaḥ |
yacchreyaḥ syān niścitaṃ brūhi tan me śiṣyas te śādhi māṃ tvāṃ prapannam || 7 ||
(2.7)
kārpaṇyadoṣopahatasvabhāvaḥ- Struck by the flaw of compassion that has destroyed my courage; dharmasammūḍhacetāḥ- mind becoming deluded about my duty; pṛcchāmi- I am asking; tvā- you; brūhi- to tell; me- me; tat- that; yat niścitaṃ śreyaḥ syāt- which is conclusively best (for me); aham- I; te- am your; śiṣyaḥ- disciple from now; śādhi māṃ- put me on the right path; tvāṃ prapannam- who has surrendered unto you;
Purport
Arjuna said, "Having lost all my courage due to this flaw of compassion which has struck me and having become deluded about my duty, I am asking you to tell me what is conclusively best for me. I have become your disciple from now on. Please instruct me about the right path as I have surrendered to you."
kārpaṇya doṣopahata svabhāvaḥ The word svabhāvaḥ in general refers to 'nature'. In this context it stands for courage. The word 'kārpaṇya', in this context translates to compassion. Arjuna expressed his concern in śloka 1.39 that, 'After killing these people, how will we be able to live comfortably?'. The dawn of such a sentiment was kārpaṇya doṣa i.e 'the flaw of compassion'. Another instance where Arjuna displayed this flaw was in B.G 1.38 kula-kṣaya-kṛtaṃ doṣaṃ (the destruction of families in the battle will cause destruction of family traditions and the spread of irreligion). Due to this flaw of misplaced compassion in his heart, Arjuna's courage got destroyed and cowardice became his nature.
dharmasammūḍhacetāḥ As a result of this flaw of compassion, Arjuna even started to believe that slaying venerable superiors and enjoying kingly comforts thereafter, was not the right thing to do. Instead, begging for a living was in accordance with dharma. Such confusion about what was dharma (recommended righteous path) and what was adharma, engulfed Arjuna’s mind.
tvāṃ pṛcchāmi yat niścitaṃ śreyaḥ syāt tat me brūhi Totally confused about his duty in this way, Arjuna asked Kṛṣṇa to tell him conclusively, what was good for him.
śiṣyas te śādhi māṃ tvāṃ prapannam In case Kṛṣṇa might feel, 'What is the obligation that I must instruct you?', Arjuna convinced Kṛṣṇa with these words, 'O Kṛṣṇa, if you ask me why you must instruct me, it is because I am your disciple now and I have also surrendered myself to you. Hence you may please instruct me. The vedas declare that one who has surrendered should not be abandoned even if he is someone who deserves a death sentence. Then, would you not instruct me, your surrendered disciple?'