7.11 Desire that is not against dharma Krishna speaks
बलं बलवतां चाहं कामरागविवर्जितम्
धर्माविरुद्धो भूतेषु कामोऽस्मि भरतर्षभ
balaṁ balavatāṁ chāhaṁ kāma-rāga-vivarjitam
dharmāviruddho bhūteṣhu kāmo ’smi bharatarṣhabha
I am the strength of the strong, free of desire and craving. I am the desire in beings that does not go against what is right.
Explanation
And then a careful qualification.
The strength of the strong, free of desire and craving — and the desire in beings that does not go against what is right.
The clause matters. The chapter has been claiming every quality without exception; here it stops and carves one out. Not all wanting is his, and the line is drawn at dharma.
Word by word
- balam
- strength
- bala-vatām
- of the strong
- cha
- and
- aham
- I
- kāma
- desire
- rāga
- passion
- vivarjitam
- devoid of
- dharma-aviruddhaḥ
- not conflicting with dharma
- bhūteṣhu
- in all beings
- kāmaḥ
- sexual activity
- asmi
- (I) am
- bharata-ṛiṣhabha
- Arjun, the best of the Bharats
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