Shloka 38

Sankhya Yoga — Sankhya Yoga

Devanagari script

सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ । ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि ॥ २.३८ ॥

Transliteration

sukha-duḥkhe same kṛtvā lābhālābhau jayājayau | tato yuddhāya yujyasva naivaṁ pāpam avāpsyasi || 2.38 ||

Translation

Gleichgestellt Glück und Leid, Gewinn und Verlust, Sieg und Niederlage, rüste dich dann zum Kampf; so wirst du keine Sünde auf dich laden.

Gita Press Meaning

Treating pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat alike, engage in battle; thus you shall not incur sin.

Critical Edition Meaning

Having made pleasure and pain the same, and gain and loss, and victory and defeat, then yoke yourself to the contest; thus you will not obtain demerit.

Comparative Note

This is an early formulation of equanimity (samatva) applied to action. pāpa here is best read as moral demerit incurred by acting from attachment/aversion rather than from duty; later verses elaborate this as karma-yoga.

Word by Word

• सुखदुःखे: pleasure and pain
• सुखदुःखे: Karma
• Root: सुख-दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)

• समे: equal (as equal)
• समे: Karma
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)

• कृत्वा: having made (having regarded)
• Root: √कृ

• लाभालाभौ: gain and non-gain (loss)
• लाभालाभौ: Karma
• Root: लाभ-अलाभ (प्रातिपदिक)

• जयाजयौ: victory and defeat
• जयाजयौ: Karma
• Root: जय-अजय (प्रातिपदिक)

• ततः: thereafter; then; therefore
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)

• युद्धाय: for battle
• युद्धाय: Sampradana
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)

• युज्यस्व: engage yourself; be yoked (to it)
• Root: √युज्

• न: not
• Root: न (अव्यय)

• एवम्: thus; in this manner
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)

• पापम्: sin; demerit
• पापम्: Karma
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)

• अवाप्स्यसि: you will attain; you will incur
• Root: √आप् (अव-√आप्)

Speakers

• Krishna

Primary Concepts

• Samatva (equanimity)
• Karma
• Pāpa/Puṇya (demerit/merit)

Key Themes

• Equanimity in action
• Duty without attachment
• Moral psychology

FAQs

Psychological significance?

It recommends regulating reactivity to opposites (comfort/discomfort, success/failure), a strategy that stabilizes attention and reduces impulsive decision-making.

Metaphysical meaning?

It implies that ethical quality depends not only on the act but also on the agent’s inner orientation—attachment and aversion bind one to karmic consequences.

Contextual relevance?

Krishna begins shifting from social-ethical persuasion to a yogic discipline: act, but with an even mind toward outcomes.

Modern Application?

Useful as a framework for professional and personal resilience: pursue responsibilities with steady effort while holding results more lightly.