Bg. 18.43 · Bhagavad-gita As It Is

Devanagari

शौर्यं तेजो धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं युद्धे चाप्यपलायनम् । दानमीश्वरभावश्च क्षात्रं कर्म स्वभावजम् ॥ ४३ ॥

Verse text

śauryaṁ tejo dhṛtir dākṣyaṁ yuddhe cāpy apalāyanam dānam īśvara-bhāvaś ca kṣātraṁ karma svabhāva-jam

Synonyms

śauryam — heroism ; tejaḥ — power ; dhṛtiḥ — determination ; dākṣyam — resourcefulness ; yuddhe — in battle ; ca — and ; api — also ; apalāyanam — not fleeing ; dānam — generosity ; īśvara — of leadership ; bhāvaḥ — the nature ; ca — and ; kṣātram — of a kṣatriya ; karma — duty ; svabhāva-jam — born of his own nature.

Translation

Heroism, power, determination, resourcefulness, courage in battle, generosity and leadership are the natural qualities of work for the kṣatriyas.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

43. The natural activities of the kṣatriya are courage, confidence, fortitude, expertise in fighting, not fleeing from battle, charity and controlling others.

Translation (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)

43. The natural activities of the kṣatriya are courage, confidence, fortitude, expertise in completing his job, not fleeing from battle, charity and controlling others.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

This verse describes the activities of the kṣatriya, in whom rajo-guṇa becomes prominent and sattva becomes secondary. Courage (śauryam), confidence (tejaḥ), fortitude (dhṛtiḥ), and controlling others (īśvara-bhāvaḥ), and not fleeing from battle are the activities of the kṣatriya.

Purport (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)

This verse describes the activities of the kṣatriya. He is not afraid in battle (śauryam). He cannot be surprassed by others (tejaḥ). Even in times of great stress, his senses do not become fatigued (dhṛtiḥ). He is expert in accomplishing his tasks (dākṣyam). Even if his death is certain, he does not flee, turning his back to the enemy. Without restriction, he gives up his wealth (dānam). He shows powers of domination amongst those who should be controlled and transgress the law, for protection of the citizens (īśvara bhāvaḥ). These are the natural activities of the kṣatriya.