Bhagavad-gītā 11.33
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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pūrvam eva
—
already, beforehand
Adverbial phrase — 'precisely before.' Eva intensifies pūrvam. The intensifier closes any escape from the temporal verdict.
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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.
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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.
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.
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!
'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!"
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.
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.
- BG 11 32-33 - Radhanath Swami - Mumbai 1994-10-04
- BG 11 32-34 - Vrindavana Chandra Prabhu - ISKCON Chowpatty 2009-10-12
- BG 11 33 - Jayadvaita Swami - Durban 2012-03-18
- Devakinandan Pr BG 11-33
- Hari Lila Pr BG 11-33 Tamil
- Jitamitra Pr Hindi Comments - BG 11-33 - 2015-01-07 EOK
- Nirantara Pr BG 11-33 - Be Krishna%27s Instrument - ISKCON Santiago
- Rasika Govinda Pr BG 11-33 Tamil - 2017-11-21
- RSWP BG 11-33 - None Of Us Have The Authority To Make Up A Religion - 2001-12-23
- Shubha Krishna Pr BG 11-33 Hindi
- BCaitanyaS BG 11-33
- GGM BG 11-33 - Just become an Instrument - 1989-11-12 Bhubaneswar
- JAS BG 11-33 - 2012-03-18 Durban
- PrahladAnS BG 11-33 - Just become an Instrument - 2020-10-11 Ljubljana
- 2017-05-05 BG 11-33 - Bhuvaneshvar Pr ISKCON Vrindavan
- Take up your part as instrument, not author.
- Recognize that outcomes are already destined; play your role.
- Use 'instrument' consciousness as a daily anchor.
- Where am I refusing my role as instrument?
- What does instrument-consciousness change?
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.
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