Bhagavad Gita · 2.5
॥
Devanāgarī
गुरूनहत्वा हि महानुभावा-
ञ्छ्रेयो भोक्तुं भैक्ष्यमपीह लोके ।
हत्वार्थकामांस्तु गुरूनिहैव
भुञ्जीय भोगान् रुधिरप्रदिग्धान् ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
gurūn ahatvā hi mahānubhāvāñ
śreyo bhoktuṁ bhaikṣyam apīha loke |
hatvārthakāmāṁs tu gurūn ihaiva
bhuñjīya bhogān rudhirapradigdhān ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
गुरून्gurūnteachers, elders, venerable ones.
अहत्वाahatvāwithout killing.
हिhitruly, indeed.
महानुभावान्mahā-anubhāvāngreat souls, noble persons.
श्रेयःśreyaḥbetter, it would be a greater good.
भोक्तुम्bhoktumto enjoy, to feed on.
भैक्ष्यम्bhaikṣyamalms, begging.
अपिapieven.
इह लोकेiha lokein this world, in this life.
हत्वाhatvābut by killing.
अर्थकामान्artha-kāmānthose seeking worldly gains (wealth and pleasures).
तुtubut, however.
गुरून्gurūnteachers.
इह एवiha evaright here, in this very life.
भुञ्जीयbhuñjīyaI would have to enjoy.
भोगान्bhogānenjoyments, pleasures.
रुधिरप्रदिग्धान्rudhira-pradigdhānstained with blood, mingled with blood.
Translation
“It is better to live in this world by begging alms than to kill these great souls, my teachers. For even if they seek worldly gain, they still remain my teachers! If I kill them, then all the enjoyments I gain will be stained with their blood.”
Version
0bc81b5d8c12 · published Jul 2, 2026, 12:00:00 PM UTC
Available inRUENESHIZHPage between verses with