|| 2.7 ||

कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसंमूढचेताः। यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्िचतं ब्रूहि तन्मे शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम्।।

kārpaṇya-doṣopahata-svabhāvaḥ pṛcchāmi tvāṁ Dharma-sammūḍha-cetāḥ yac chreyaḥ syān niścitaṁ brūhi tan me śiṣyas te ’haṁ śādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam

Word by Word

kārpaṇya (of miserliness) — doṣa (by the weakness) — upahata (being affected) — svabhāvaḥ (characteristics) — pṛcchāmi (I am asking) — tvām (unto You) — Dharma (religion) — sammūḍha (bewildered) — cetāḥ (in heart) — yat (what) — śreyaḥ (all-good) — syāt (may be) — niścitam (confidently) — brūhi (tell) — tat (that) — me (unto me) — śiṣyaḥ (disciple) — te (Your) — aham (I am) — śādhi (instruct) — mām (me) — tvām (unto You) — prapannam (surrendered)

Translation

Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.

Meaning

This is a pivotal verse in the Gītā. Arjuna finally admits defeat—not to the enemy, but to his own confusion. He says he is afflicted by the ‘weakness of miserliness’ and is bewildered about his duty. He asks Kṛṣṇa to tell him for certain what is best for him. Arjuna formally declares, “I am Your disciple and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.” This shift in the relationship is essential. As long as they were just friends, Kṛṣṇa’s advice was casual. Now that Arjuna has surrendered, Kṛṣṇa takes on the role of the Guru. This surrender is the prerequisite for receiving transcendental knowledge. Arjuna has emptied his cup of material logic and is now ready to be filled with divine wisdom. He realizes that only a higher authority can solve his existential crisis and guide him toward the ultimate good.
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