Gita - Chapter 2, Verse 1-3




 sañjaya-uvācha:
taṁ tathā kṛpayāviṣṭam
aśhru-pūrṇākulekṣhaṇam
viṣhīdantam-idaṁ vākyam
uvācha madhusūdanaḥ
Meaning :
Sanjaya said : On seeing Arjuna, who as mentioned before overwhelmed with pity and with eyes filled with tears and sorrow, Sri Krishna addressed the following words. 


śrī-bhagavān-uvācha:
kutas-tvā kaśhmalam-idaṁ
viṣhame samupasthitam
anārya-juṣhṭam-asvargyam
akīrti-karam arjuna
Meaning :
Sri Bhagavan said : Arjuna, how has this distraction overtaken you at this odd hour? It is kept away by learned people. Neither does it bring heaven nor fame, to you.


klaibyaṁ mā sma gamaḥ pārtha
naitat-vayy-upapadyate
kṣhudraṁ hṛdaya-daurbalyaṁ
tyaktvottiṣṭha paran-tapa 
Meaning :
Yield not to unmanliness, Arjuna. It does not suit you. O scorcher of enemies, shaking off this faint-heartedness & rise.


Comment :
Being a Kshatriya and also being the cousin of Krishna (son of Pritha, the sister of Vasudeva), it is not expected of Arjuna to show such a faint-heartedness in the battlefield. The primary duty of any Kshatriya (explained later in other Chapters) is to fight valiantly in battles when necessary and accept the outcome as is. Even if a Kshatriya dies in such a battle, it is considered as a highly honourable act, leading to fame and attainment of heaven. This is referred here by Krishna when he reminds Arjuna, the ill faith that he will bring upon the family by not performing his primary duties.

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