Shloka 32
कर्मयोग–ज्ञानयज्ञ–अवतारोपदेश
Karma-Yoga, Jñāna-Yajña, and Avatāra Instruction
यदृच्छया चोपपन्न॑ स्वर्गद्वारमपावृतम् । सुखिन: क्षत्रिया: पार्थ लभन्ते युद्धमीदूशम्
yadṛcchayā copapannaṁ svargadvāram apāvṛtam | sukhinaḥ kṣatriyāḥ pārtha labhante yuddham īdṛśam ||
Sañjaya said: “O Pārtha, only the fortunate among kṣatriyas obtain such a battle—one that comes of itself, with the gate of heaven standing open. For a warrior bound to duty, this kind of righteous combat is presented as an ethically charged opportunity where courage and adherence to one’s role are believed to lead to exalted reward.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a righteous battle, arising without deliberate seeking, as a rare and fortunate occasion for a kṣatriya: fulfilling one’s dharma in such a moment is portrayed as spiritually consequential, even meritorious, symbolized by the ‘open gate of heaven.’
Sañjaya reports a statement addressed to Arjuna (Pārtha), emphasizing that this particular war—presenting itself as if by destiny—is the kind of conflict that warriors consider an auspicious opportunity, with promised heavenly reward for steadfast performance of duty.