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Bhagavad-gītā 11.33

तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व जित्वा शत्रून्भुंक्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम् । मयैवैते निहता: पूर्वमेव निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन् ॥ ३३ ॥
tasmāt tvam uttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva
[tasmaat tvam uttishtha yasho labhasva]
jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṁ samṛddham
[jitvaa shatroon bhunkshva raajyam samriddham]
mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvam eva
[mayaivaite nihataah poorvam eva]
nimitta-mātraṁ bhava savya-sācin
[nimitta-maatram bhava savya-saachin]
Word-for-word
tasmāt — therefore tvam — you uttiṣṭha — get up yaśaḥ — fame labhasva — gain jitvā — conquering śatrūn — enemies bhuṅkṣva — enjoy rājyam — kingdom samṛddham — flourishing mayā — by Me eva — certainly ete — all these nihatāḥ — killed pūrvam eva — by previous arrangement nimitta - mātram — just the cause bhava — become savya - sācin — O Savyasācī .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasmāt tvam uttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva
tasmāt
therefore
tvam
you
uttiṣṭha
get up
yaśaḥ
fame
labhasva
gain
jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṁ samṛddham
jitvā
conquering
śatrūn
enemies
bhuṅkṣva
enjoy
rājyam
kingdom
samṛddham
flourishing
mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvam eva
mayā
by Me
eva
certainly
ete
all these
nimitta-mātraṁ bhava savya-sācin
nihatāḥ
killed
pūrvam eva
by previous arrangement
nimitta - mātram
just the cause
bhava
become
savya - sācin
O Savyasācī .
Important Words
  • uttiṣṭha — stand up
    Imperative of ud-sthā. The same verb Kṛṣṇa used in 2.3 (kṣudraṁ hṛdaya-daurbalyaṁ tyaktvottiṣṭha) — the Gītā returns to this command at its decisive moments. Standing is not metaphor; it is the body's signal of resolve.
  • yaśaḥ — fame
    Accusative of yaśas — glory of right action. Kṛṣṇa offers Arjuna fame not as flattery but as a side-effect of dharma performed in time.
  • nihatāḥ — slain
    Past participle of ni-han, 'to strike down.' Past tense, not future. The killing has occurred at the cosmic level; only the visible enactment remains.
  • pūrvam eva — already, beforehand
    Adverbial phrase — 'precisely before.' Eva intensifies pūrvam. The intensifier closes any escape from the temporal verdict.
  • nimitta - mātram — merely an instrument
    Compound: nimitta (efficient cause) + mātra (mere). One of the Gītā's signature phrases for kartṛtva — Arjuna is the efficient cause, but only as instrument; the real doer is elsewhere.
  • savya - sācin — ambidextrous archer
    Vocative — Arjuna's epithet for being able to shoot equally well with both hands. Kṛṣṇa names him by his unique martial qualification at the moment of asking him to act — addressing the warrior in his strength-name.
Therefore get up. Prepare to fight and win glory. Conquer your enemies and enjoy a flourishing kingdom. They are already put to death by My arrangement, and you, O Savyasācī, can be but an instrument in the fight.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
The doctrinal corollary of 11.32: act, but as instrument (nimitta-mātra), not as cause. Glory, victory, kingdom — these still belong to Arjuna in the war; but the metaphysics has been transformed. Killing has been redefined as cooperating with kāla.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
'Nimitta-mātra' becomes one of the Gītā's most consequential phrases for karmayoga. The instrument-ontology dissolves the killer-victim binary that paralyzed Arjuna in ch. 1. The vocative 'Savya-sācin' (one who shoots with either hand) compliments his uniqueness as a warrior — the work is too important to refuse, but his self-conception must change.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
हे सव्य-साचिन्! तस्मात् त्वम् उत्तिष्ठ; यशः लभस्व; शत्रून् जित्वा समृद्धं राज्यं भुङ्क्ष्व; एते मया एव पूर्वम् एव निहताः — (त्वं) निमित्त-मात्रं भव ।
he savya-sācin! tasmāt tvam uttiṣṭha; yaśaḥ labhasva; śatrūn jitvā samṛddhaṃ rājyaṃ bhuṅkṣva; ete mayā eva pūrvam eva nihatāḥ — (tvaṃ) nimitta-mātraṃ bhava |
Therefore stand up, win glory; conquering the enemies, enjoy a flourishing kingdom. These have already been struck down by Me — be a mere instrument, O left-handed archer.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
तस्मात् त्वम् उत्तिष्ठ यशः लभस्व जित्वा शत्रून् भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम् । मया एव एते निहताः पूर्वम् एव निमित्त-मात्रं भव सव्य-साचिन् ॥
tasmāt tvam uttiṣṭha yaśaḥ labhasva jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṃ samṛddham | mayā eva ete nihatāḥ pūrvam eva nimitta-mātraṃ bhava savya-sācin ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
तस्मात् tasmāt तद् (dem. (demonstrative) pron. (pronoun)) abl.sg. (ablative singular)m., causal adv. therefore
त्वम् tvam युष्मद् (pron. (pronoun)) nom.sg. (nominative singular) you
उत्तिष्ठ uttiṣṭha उद् + √स्था impv. 2sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) stand up
यशः yaśaḥ यशस् (n.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) fame, glory
लभस्व labhasva √लभ् impv. 2sg.ātm. (ātmanepada / middle voice) obtain
जित्वा jitvā √जि abs. (absolutive) having conquered
शत्रून् śatrūn शत्रु (m.) acc.pl. (accusative plural) the enemies
भुङ्क्ष्व bhuṅkṣva √भुज् impv. 2sg.ātm. (ātmanepada / middle voice) enjoy
राज्यम् rājyam राज्य (n.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) kingdom
समृद्धम् samṛddham सम् + √ऋध् p.p.p. (past passive participle) acc.sg. (accusative singular)n. flourishing
मया mayā अस्मद् (pron. (pronoun)) ins.sg. (instrumental singular) by Me
एव eva ind. (indeclinable), emphatic alone, indeed
एते ete एतद् (dem. (demonstrative) pron. (pronoun)) nom.pl. (nominative plural)m. these
निहताः nihatāḥ नि + √हन् p.p.p. (past passive participle) nom.pl. (nominative plural)m. struck down
पूर्वम् pūrvam पूर्व (adj.) acc.sg. (accusative singular)n., adv. already, beforehand
निमित्त-मात्रम् nimitta-mātram निमित्त (n.) + मात्र (n.) acc.sg. (accusative singular)n., karmadhāraya cpd. (compound) a mere instrument
भव bhava √भू impv. 2sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) be, become
सव्य-साचिन् savya-sācin सव्य (adj.) + साचिन् (adj.) voc.sg. (vocative singular)m., bahuvrīhi cpd. (compound) O left-handed archer
Purport

Savya-sācin refers to one who can shoot arrows very expertly in the field; thus Arjuna is addressed as an expert warrior capable of delivering arrows to kill his enemies. “Just become an instrument”: nimitta-mātram. This word is also very significant. The whole world is moving according to the plan of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Foolish persons who do not have sufficient knowledge think that nature is moving without a plan and all manifestations are but accidental formations. There are many so-called scientists who suggest that perhaps it was like this, or maybe like that, but there is no question of “perhaps” and “maybe.” There is a specific plan being carried out in this material world. What is this plan? This cosmic manifestation is a chance for the conditioned souls to go back to Godhead, back to home. As long as they have the domineering mentality which makes them try to lord it over material nature, they are conditioned. But anyone who can understand the plan of the Supreme Lord and cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness is most intelligent. The creation and destruction of the cosmic manifestation are under the superior guidance of God. Thus the Battle of Kurukṣetra was fought according to the plan of God. Arjuna was refusing to fight, but he was told that he should fight in accordance with the desire of the Supreme Lord. Then he would be happy. If one is in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness and his life is devoted to the Lord’s transcendental service, he is perfect.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
33. Therefore rise and gain fame. Conquering the enemies, enjoy a prosperous kingdom. These have all been killed by Me already. Just be an instrument, O Arjuna!
Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
33. Therefore rise and gain fame. Conquering the enemies, enjoy a prosperous kingdom. These have all been killed by Me already. Just be an instrument, O Arjuna!
Commentary

Because of this, rise, and fight according to your dharma. Gain fame. Attain rare glory. Warriors such as Bhīṣma who cannot be conquered by the devas, have been defeated by Arjuna with ease! Such will be your fame. They have already been killed by Me, at the time of their offending Draupadī. They are proceeding like puppets to give you fame. Therefore, just become the instrument. O Arjuna, skilful with the left hand! You are skilful at shooting arrows with your left hand. Therefore at time of battle, you can shoot showers of arrows with both hands!

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

'Savyasaci', 'one who can fight with either hand.' Krsna is telling Arjuna to use all his skills now, stand up and fight! That is what Krsna has been telling Arjuna all the time: "Do your duties, stand up and fight!"

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

Savyasācī also means “one who can fight ambidexterously, with either hand, left or right.” Kṛṣṇa

therefore encourages Arjuna to now use all his skills to fight, without pride, because pūrvam eva,

“by previous arrangement,” not because of Arjuna’s skills, the warriors are as good as dead.

Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
11.33 Tasmat, therefore; tvam, you; uttistha, rise up; (and) labhasva, gain; the yasah, fame, that Arjuna has conered the Atirathas [Atiratha-see note under 1.4.6.-Tr.], Bhisma, Drona and others, who are unconerable even by the gods. Such fame can be acired only by virtuous actions. Jitva, by defeating; satrun, the enemies, Duryodhana and others; bhunksva, enjoy; a rajyam, kingdom; that is samrddham, propersous, free from enemies and obstacles. Ete, these; nihatah, have been definitely killed, made lifeless; eva maya, verily by Me; eva purvam, even earlier. Bhava, be you; nimitta-matram, merely an instrument, O Savyasachin. Arjuna was called so because he could shoot arrows even with his left hand.
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
11.33 Therefore, arise for fighting against them. Conering your enemies, win glory and enjoy a prosperous and righteous kingdom. All those who have sinned have been already annihilated by Me. Be you merely an instrument (Nimitta) of Mine in destroying them - just like a weapon in my hand, O Savyasacin! The root 'Sac' means 'fastening'. A 'savyasacin' is one who is capable of fixing or fastening the arrow even with his left hand. The meaning is that he is so dexterous that he can fight with a bow in each hand.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
11.33 See comment under 11.34.
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
11.33 Therefore, stand up and obtain fame. Coner the enemies and enjoy the unrivalled kingdom. Verily by Me have they been already slain; be thou a mere instrument, O Arjuna.
Commentary

11.33 तस्मात् therefore? त्वम् thou? उत्तिष्ठ stand up? यशः fame? लभस्व obtain? जित्वा having conered? शत्रून् enemies? भुङ्क्ष्व enjoy? राज्यम् the kingdom? समृद्धम् the unrivalled? मया by Me? एव even? एते these? निहताः have been slain? पूर्वम् before? एव even? निमित्तमात्रम् a mere instrument? भव be? सव्यसाचिन् O ambidexterous one.Commentary Be thou merely an apparent or nominal cause. I have already killed them in advance. I have destroyed them long ago.Fame People will think that Bhishma? Drona and the other great warriors whom even the gods cannot kill have been defeated by you and so you will obtain great fame. Such fame is due to virtuous Karma only.Satrun Enemies such as Duryodhana.Savyasachi Arjuna who could shoot arrows even with the left hand.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
11.33 Therefore you rise up, (and) gain fame; and defeating the enemies, enjoy a prosperous kingdom. These have been killed verily by Me even earlier; be you merely an instrument, O Savyasacin (Arjuna).
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
11.33 Then gird up thy loins and conquer. Subdue thy foes and enjoy the kingdom in prosperity. I have already doomed them. Be thou my instrument, Arjuna!
Related values & verses
Related values
Prema (Divine Love)Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Dana (Charity / Generosity)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)
Related verses
BG 2.31 BG 3.30 BG 18.66 SB 9.24.67 SB 10.1.43 SB 1.9.37 CC Madhya 20.108 CC Madhya 8.128 CC Antya 5.72 Īśa Upaniṣad 2 Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.3.14
Concepts
BhavaDharma
Study Q&A referencing this verse
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Therefore arise; achieve fame; conquer your enemies; enjoy a flourishing kingdom — they are already destined; you are merely an instrument.
Practical Applications
  • Take up your part as instrument, not author.
  • Recognize that outcomes are already destined; play your role.
  • Use 'instrument' consciousness as a daily anchor.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I refusing my role as instrument?
  • What does instrument-consciousness change?
Analogy

A surgeon does not invent the cancer; he uses his instruments to remove what is already condemned. Arjuna is asked to be the surgeon, not the disease — to lift the bow as instrument, knowing the verdict was passed before he entered the room.

Stories
The Death-Already-Decreed of the Kauravas

Throughout the Mahābhārata (especially in Udyoga-parva), Vidura and Sanjaya warned Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kauravas were already destined for destruction because of Duryodhana's adharma. Gāndhārī's grief in Strī-parva later confirms that the curse and its outworking had been clear long before the war's first day.

Kṛṣṇa's words in 11.33 — mayā evaite nihatāḥ pūrvam eva — formalise what the wise had been saying: the Kauravas were already slain by the Lord. Arjuna is told to be a nimitta-mātra, merely the visible cause of an invisible verdict.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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