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Bhagavad Gita 2.38

Chapter 2, verse 38: the Sanskrit, the Roman letters, the meaning and what it is used for.

2.38

सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ
ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि

sukhaduḥkhe same kṛtvā lābhālābhau jayājayau
tato yuddhāya yujyasva naivaṃ pāpamavāpsyasi

Meaning

Treating pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat alike, get ready for the fight. Doing so, you will not incur sin.

Explanation

The same attitude is called samatva, equanimity. The verse is the first sign of the idea that Krishna will develop in the next verses: you can act fully while letting go of how the result will make you feel. In a modern setting it is often applied to exams, interviews and matches: do the thing well, and do not let the fear of losing take the edge off the effort.

Where it fits

This is verse 38 of 72 in chapter 2, "The wisdom of the self and of steady action" (Sankhya Yoga). previous verse (2.37) · next verse (2.39)

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Questions people ask

What does Bhagavad Gita 2.38 mean?

Treating pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat alike, get ready for the fight. Doing so, you will not incur sin.

Where is this verse?

It is verse 38 of chapter 2 (The wisdom of the self and of steady action), which has 72 verses.

Meanings and explanations are our own wording, not an authorised translation. Readers of the Gita follow different traditions and teachers; please ask yours about what you read here.