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Bhagavad-gītā 11.34

द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं च कर्णं तथान्यानपि योधवीरान् । मया हतांस्त्वं जहि मा व्यथिष्ठा युध्यस्व जेतासि रणे सपत्‍नान् ॥ ३४ ॥
droṇaṁ ca bhīṣmaṁ ca jayadrathaṁ ca
[dronam cha bheeshmam cha jayadratham cha]
karṇaṁ tathānyān api yodha-vīrān
[karnam tathaanyaan api yodha-veeraan]
mayā hatāṁs tvaṁ jahi mā vyathiṣṭhā
[mayaa hataams tvam jahi maa vyathishthaa]
yudhyasva jetāsi raṇe sapatnān
[yudhyasva jetaasi rane sapatnaan]
Word-for-word
droṇam ca — also Droṇa bhīṣmam ca — also Bhīṣma jayadratham ca — also Jayadratha karṇam — Karṇa tathā — also anyān — others api — certainly yodha - vīrān — great warriors mayā — by Me hatān — already killed tvam — you jahi — destroy mā — do not vyathiṣṭhāḥ — be disturbed yudhyasva — just fight jetā asi — you will conquer raṇe — in the fight sapatnān — enemies .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
droṇaṁ ca bhīṣmaṁ ca jayadrathaṁ ca
droṇam ca
also Droṇa
bhīṣmam ca
also Bhīṣma
jayadratham ca
also Jayadratha
karṇaṁ tathānyān api yodha-vīrān
karṇam
Karṇa
tathā
also
anyān
others
api
certainly
yodha - vīrān
great warriors
mayā hatāṁs tvaṁ jahi mā vyathiṣṭhā
mayā
by Me
hatān
already killed
tvam
you
jahi
destroy
mā
do not
vyathiṣṭhāḥ
be disturbed
yudhyasva jetāsi raṇe sapatnān
yudhyasva
just fight
jetā asi
you will conquer
raṇe
in the fight
sapatnān
enemies .
Important Words
  • droṇam ca — and Droṇa
    Accusative + conjunction. Arjuna's beloved teacher is named first, deliberately — Kṛṣṇa does not soften the list.
  • bhīṣmam ca — and Bhīṣma
    Accusative + conjunction. The grandsire, the patriarch. Each ca is a small hammer-stroke on a relationship Arjuna cherishes.
  • jayadratham ca — and Jayadratha
    Accusative + conjunction. The killer of Abhimanyu, the king of Sindhu. His name is here because his death is the most fixed of all — vowed by Arjuna himself on pain of self-immolation.
  • hatān — already killed
    Past participle plural of han, 'to strike.' Past tense. The verb's tense is the verse's whole theology.
  • yudhyasva — fight
    Imperative middle of yudh. Echoes 2.18 (tasmād yudhyasva bhārata). The Gītā returns at climax to its earliest imperative — fight, because the structure already calls for it.
  • jetā asi — you will be the conqueror
    Periphrastic future of ji. Grammatically the deed is treated as already-to-be — almost a guarantee. Kṛṣṇa speaks as if the future were a past not yet reached.
Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Jayadratha, Karṇa and the other great warriors have already been destroyed by Me. Therefore, kill them and do not be disturbed. Simply fight, and you will vanquish your enemies in battle.
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)
Kṛṣṇa names the very teachers and elders whom Arjuna shrank from killing in ch. 1-2: Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Karṇa, Jayadratha. They are 'already slain by Me' — Arjuna's hesitation now lacks even its premise. The injunction 'mā vyathiṣṭhāḥ' answers his 'pravyathita' from 11.24.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
The verse closes the doctrinal arc opened in 2.11-30. The same persons whose deaths Arjuna mourned prospectively are shown to be already dead in the higher reality. 'Mayā hatān tvaṁ jahi' is the paradox of nimitta-mātra-bhāva — the action is done twice, once metaphysically, once historically. Cf. 18.59-60 for the same point recapitulated.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं च कर्णं तथा अन्यान् अपि योध-वीरान् — मया हतान् त्वं जहि; मा व्यथिष्ठाः; युध्यस्व; रणे सपत्नान् जेता असि ।
droṇaṃ ca bhīṣmaṃ ca jayadrathaṃ ca karṇaṃ tathā anyān api yodha-vīrān — mayā hatān tvaṃ jahi; mā vyathiṣṭhāḥ; yudhyasva; raṇe sapatnān jetā asi |
Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Jayadratha, Karṇa, and the other warrior-heroes too — already slain by Me, do you slay. Do not be agitated; fight; in battle you shall vanquish your rivals.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं च कर्णं तथा अन्यान् अपि योध-वीरान् । मया हतान् त्वं जहि मा व्यथिष्ठाः युध्यस्व जेता असि रणे सपत्नान् ॥
droṇaṃ ca bhīṣmaṃ ca jayadrathaṃ ca karṇaṃ tathā anyān api yodha-vīrān | mayā hatān tvaṃ jahi mā vyathiṣṭhāḥ yudhyasva jetā asi raṇe sapatnān ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
द्रोणम् droṇam द्रोण (m.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) Droṇa
भीष्मम् bhīṣmam भीष्म (m.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) Bhīṣma
जयद्रथम् jayadratham जयद्रथ (m.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) Jayadratha
कर्णम् karṇam कर्ण (m.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) Karṇa
तथा tathā ind. (indeclinable), conn. likewise
अन्यान् anyān अन्य (adj.) acc.pl. (accusative plural)m. others
अपि api ind. (indeclinable) also
योध-वीरान् yodha-vīrān योध (m.) + वीर (m.) acc.pl. (accusative plural), karmadhāraya cpd. (compound) warrior-heroes
मया mayā अस्मद् (pron. (pronoun)) ins.sg. (instrumental singular) by Me
हतान् hatān √हन् p.p.p. (past passive participle) acc.pl. (accusative plural)m. slain
त्वम् tvam युष्मद् (pron. (pronoun)) nom.sg. (nominative singular) you
जहि jahi √हन् impv. 2sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) slay
मा mā ind. (indeclinable), proh. do not
व्यथिष्ठाः vyathiṣṭhāḥ √व्यथ् aor. inj. 2sg.ātm. (ātmanepada / middle voice) be agitated
युध्यस्व yudhyasva √युध् impv. 2sg.ātm. (ātmanepada / middle voice) fight
जेता jetā √जि periph. fut. (future) 2sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) you will conquer
असि asi √अस् pres. (present) 2sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) you are
रणे raṇe रण (m.) loc.sg. (locative singular) in battle
सपत्नान् sapatnān सपत्न (m.) acc.pl. (accusative plural) rivals, enemies
Purport

Every plan is made by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but He is so kind and merciful to His devotees that He wants to give the credit to His devotees who carry out His plan according to His desire. Life should therefore move in such a way that everyone acts in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and understands the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the medium of a spiritual master. The plans of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are understood by His mercy, and the plans of the devotees are as good as His plans. One should follow such plans and be victorious in the struggle for existence.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
34. Slay Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Jayadratha, Karṇa and other brave warriors, who have already been killed by Me. Do not grieve. Fight and you will be victorious over the enemies in the war.
Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
34. Slay Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Jayadratha, Karṇa and other brave warriors, who have already been killed by Me. Do not fear. Fight and you will be victorious over the enemies in the war.
Commentary

In reference to Arjuna’s doubt about victory raised in the second chapter when he said yad vā jayema yadi vā no jayeyuḥ (I do not know if we will conquer them orthey will conquer us), Kṛṣṇa speaks. Kill Droṇa and others whose lifespan has already been finished by Me. Do not fear, thinking “How can I alone kill these persons armed with celestial weapons?” What effort is involved in killing those who have already been killed? Giving up fear, fight! You will conquer the enemies (sapatnān) in the battle.

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

Krsna here is adding another name: Jayadratha. He is not as heavy warrior as Bhisma, Drona and Karna, but he had a benediction from Lord Siva that he would be able to stop the Pandavas. So Arjuna was also affraid of him.

[D. ARJUNA'S PRAYERS (11. 35‑46) 1. Arjuna tremblingly prays, "All become attached to You upon hearing Your name, but the demons flee. They too should offer homage because You are the cause of all causes." (35‑40) ]

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

Arjuna is “told to fight and be victorious and enjoy the kingdom”. Why? Because:

Krishna desires the battle, Indicated by the words ‘Know My plan’ – “I have already killed them”
Perform your duty – “Do not be disturbed”
‘Jeta asi’ – indicates “You will be victorious”
Get the credit of being “My instrument”

Focus of Learning

(a) How to know the plan of the Lord

Only possible by the Lord’s mercy
The plan of His devotees are as good as His plans
Thus act in Krishna consciousness to know His plan through medium of the spiritual master

(b) Kindness and the mercy of the Lord

Every plan is made by the Supreme Personality of Godhead
But the Lord is very kind and merciful and wants to give credit to His devotees, if one carries out the plan according to His desire

(a) ‘’Savya-saci’’ – Means one who fights ambidextrously (i.e with the left or right hand)

Or one who can shoot arrows very expertly

(b) ‘’Nimitta-matram’’ – Become an instrument

(c) Sign of intelligence – To recognise that the whole world is moving under the plan of the Lord

Fools mentality – No plan behind the creation ; All are accidental formations
Scientists say – “Perhaps” or “Maybe” –but all are foolish ideas

(d) Lord’s plan – Very specific in material world

Purpose of comic manifestation – chance to go back to Godhead
Till we have the mentality to lord over, we are conditioned
Creation and destruction are under Lord’s law
Sign of most intelligence – Cultivate Krishna consciousness and know the plan of the Lord

(e) Thus Arjuna is motivated to:

Fight in accordance with the desire of the Lord
This is the “Path of real happiness and real perfection”
Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
11.34 By saying, 'who have been killed by Me,' the Lord names Drona and those very warriors with regard to whom Arjuna had (his) doubts. Now then, uncertainty with regard to Drona and Bhisma is well-founded. Drona was the teacher of the science of archery, and was eipped with heavenly weapons; and particularly, he was his (Arjuna's) own teacher and most respected. Bhisma was destined to die at will, and possessed heavenly weapons. He fought a duel with Parasurama and remained unvanished. So also Jayadratha-whose father was performing an austerity with the idea that anyone who made his son's head fall on the ground would have even his own head fall. Since Karna also was eipped with an unerring spear given by Indra, and was a son of the Sun, born of a maiden (Kunti), therefore he is referred to by his own name itself. As a mere instrument, tvam, you; jahi, destory them; who have been hatan, killed; maya, by Me. Ma, do not; vyathisthah, be afraid of them. Yuddhyasva, fight. Jetasi, you shall coner; the sapatnan, enemies-Duryodhana and others; rane, in battle.
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
11.34 Say Drona, Bhisma, Karna, etc., who have ben chosen for destruction by me alone, as they have transgressed the law of righteousness. Be not distressed, considering, 'How can I slay these teachers, relations and others who are attached to enjoyments?' Do not be thus distressed by thinking about the right and wrong of it, or out of love and compassion for them. These persons are guilty of unrighteousness by siding with the evil-minded Duryodhana. They have been chosen by Me alone for destruction. Therefore fight without doubt. You shall conqer your enemies in battle. In slaying them, there is not the slighest trace of cruelty. The purport is that victory is the sure result.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
11.33-34 Tasmat etc. Drona etc. The world is of the nature of perfect and imperfect knowledge and it is swallowed (11.completely controlled) by the power of the perfect, imperfect and mixed Consciousness. Hence, here an answer is given accordingly by the Bhagavat. This secret is a almost indicated in this chapter. Yet for the benefit of those persons who are capable of understanding only what has been clearly marked, let us (11.Ag.) assume the misfortune of taking the trouble of writing a few lines. What is declared by the Bhagavat - viz., 'As the foes have been slain [by Me], be a token cause and win glory', this is by way of answering to what Arjuna has said earlier viz., 'We do not know who, amongst both of us, is more powerful than the other etc. (11.II, 6)'.
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
11.34 Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna and other brave warriors these are already slain by Me: do thou kill; be not distressed with fear; fight and thou shalt coner thy enemies in battle.
Commentary

11.34 द्रोणम् Drona? च and? भीष्मम् Bhishma? च and? जयद्रथम् Jayadratha? च and? कर्णम् Karna? तथा also? अन्यान् others? अपि also? योधवीरान् brave warriors? मया by Me? हतान् slain? त्वम् thou? जहि do kill? मा not? व्यथिष्ठाः be distressed with fear? युध्यस्व fight? जेतासि shall coner? रणे in the battle? सपत्नान् the enemies.Commentary Already slain by Me Therefore? O Arjuna? you need not be afraid of incurring sin by killing them.Drona had celestial weapons. He was Arjunas teacher in the science of archery. He was Arjunas beloved and greatest Guru. Bhishma also possessed celetial weapons. He could die only if and when he wanted to die. He once faught singlehanded with Lord Parasurama and was not defeated. So powerful was he.The father of Jayadratha performed penance with a resolve the head of the man who may cause the head of my son to fall on the ground? shall also fall. During the war? however? Arjunas arrow cuts the head and drops it on the lap of the father who? inadvertently? makes it fall on the ground he too dies at once. Karna? the son of the Sungod? had obtained an unerring missile from Indra.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
11.34 You destroy Drona and Bhisma, and Jayadratha and Karna as also the other heroic warriors who have been killed by Me. Do not be afraid. Fight! You shall coner the enemies in battle.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
11.34 Drona and Bheeshma, Jayadratha and Karna, and other brave warriors - I have condemned them all. Destroy them; fight and fear not. Thy foes shall be crushed."
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)Abhaya (Fearlessness)
Related verses
BG 11.26-27 BG 11.32 BG 3.19 SB 1.9.15 SB 1.7.22 SB 9.24.67 CC Madhya 20.323 CC Madhya 20.296 CC Antya 5.72 Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.2.18Īśa Upaniṣad 2
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Jayadratha, Karṇa — and other warriors — are already destroyed by Me; do not be disturbed; fight, you will conquer your enemies.
Practical Applications
  • Trust that the war is already won by Kṛṣṇa.
  • Engage your role without anxiety about outcome.
  • Use this verse for any battle being asked of you.
Reflection Questions
  • What battle am I anxious about?
  • Has Kṛṣṇa already won it?
Analogy

When a vase has already fallen from the table and the eye has only not yet seen the floor, the smashing is not future — it is in process. Kṛṣṇa names four men by name to make clear: the smashing is already in process; Arjuna is invited only to be the floor.

Stories
Jayadratha and the Setting Sun

Arjuna had vowed to kill Jayadratha by sunset on the fourteenth day of the war (Mahābhārata, Droṇa-parva 121, 145) in revenge for Abhimanyu's death. As the sun seemed to set and the vow was about to fail, Kṛṣṇa is said to have used His mystic potency to obscure the sun temporarily; Jayadratha emerged from hiding, and Arjuna killed him in the brief twilight.

In 11.34 Kṛṣṇa names Jayadratha among the already-slain — pointing forward to that very afternoon. The vow, the obscured sun, the arrow — all are arranged.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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