hato vā prāpsyasi svargaḿ
jitvā vā bhokṣyase mahīm
tasmād uttiṣṭha kaunteya
yuddhāya kṛta-niścayaḥ
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 2.37
O son of Kunti, either you will be killed on the battlefield and attain the heavenly planets, or you will conquer and enjoy the earthly kingdom. Therefore get up and fight with determination.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
Even though there was no certainty of victory for Arjuna’s side, he still had to fight; for, even being killed there, he could be elevated into the heavenly planets.
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
“In this battle, my victory is not even certain. Therefore, why should you encourage this war?” He answers in this verse.
Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:
2.37 If you are slain in a righteous war by enemies, you shall thereby attain supreme bliss. Or, slaying the enemies, you shall enjoy this kingdom without obstacles. As the duty called war, when done without attachment to the fruits, becomes the means for winning supreme bliss, you will attain that supreme bliss. Therefore, arise, assured that engagement in war (here the duty) is the means for attaining release, which is known as man’s supreme goal. This alone is suitable for you, the son of Kunti. This is the purport. Sri Krsna then explains to the aspirant for liberation how to conduct oneself in war.
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
The previous statement given by Arjuna in Chapter 2, verse six, about his concern of not knowing which is better: to conquer the enemy or be conquered by the enemy, is now being clarified by the Supreme Lords instruction in this verse, that by either conquering he will win dominion of the earth or by being conquered he will directly attain the heavenly spheres.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
If slain in battle while fighting bravely a ksatriya will certainly attain the heavenly spheres. It is also stated in the Vedic scriptures that if a ksatriya is victorious in battle what will be gained is dominion of the Earth and at the end of the life the heavenly spheres are guaranteed as well. Thus those who fight bravely in battle and are undefeated acquire more merit than those who are defeated.
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
So in order to protect both the Earth and the heavenly realms it is better for a mighty warrior to face his enemies and fight. This Lord Krishna emphasises with the word hata meaning slain showing that slain or not slain there is benefit in both. So by this Arjunas previous doubt of not knowing what is better to slay or be slain and will they have victory or not are eradicated as both conclusions give benefit. So Arjuna should rise up and fight.
Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:
2.33-37 Atha ca etc., upto krta-niscavah. Accepting what the opponent has stated, this pentad of verses is narrated as an argument : ‘If your goodself prefers to abide by the generally accepted practice, even then this [fighting] must be undertaken necessarily’.
Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:
2.33-37 Atha ca etc., upto krta-niscavah. Accepting what the opponent has stated, this pentad of verses is narrated as an argument : ‘If your goodself prefers to abide by the generally accepted practice, even then this [fighting] must be undertaken necessarily’.
Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:
hato va prapsyasi svargam
jitva va bhoksyase mahim
tasmad uttistha kaunteya
yuddhaya krta-niscayah
Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:
hataḥ — being killed; vā — either; prāpsyasi — you gain; svargam — the heavenly kingdom; jitvā — by conquering; vā — or; bhokṣyase — you enjoy; mahīm — the world; tasmāt — therefore; uttiṣṭha — get up; kaunteya — O son of Kuntī; yuddhāya — to fight; kṛta — determined; niścayaḥ — in certainty.
