Srimad Bhagavad Gita Shloka 2.38

Shloka 2.38

“Treating alike pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat, engage in battle; thus, you will incur no sin.”
Key Teaching: Equanimity in dualities ensures sinless action in battle.
Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Equanimity.
Description:
Krishna teaches Arjuna to treat pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat alike, engaging in battle with equanimity to avoid sin. This verse, building on 2.15 and 2.31–37, addresses Arjuna’s moral concerns (1.28–46) by emphasizing detached action. The themes of guidance, as Krishna instructs, dharma, as he supports warrior duty, and equanimity, as he advocates balance, are central.

In the Mahabharata, Arjuna’s grief (1.26–27) reflects attachment to outcomes. Krishna’s teaching contrasts with Duryodhana’s ambition (1.3–11), urging Arjuna to fight without attachment to results, aligning with Kshatriya dharma and avoiding sin from inaction (2.33). This perspective resolves his ethical dilemma.

Philosophically, this verse addresses the human attachment to outcomes, a theme Krishna refines with teachings on selfless action (2.47). Arjuna’s hesitation complicates his dharma, necessitating Krishna’s guidance on equanimity. The theme of equanimity underscores the Gita’s focus on detached duty.

Sanjaya’s narration frames Krishna’s teaching objectively, highlighting its practical wisdom. This verse serves as a metaphor for life’s challenges, where balance ensures righteous action. Krishna’s instruction prepares readers for performing duty with detachment, free from the sin of attachment.