dharmasya

धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः

dharma-kṣhetre — the land of dharma

On the field of dharma, at Kurukshetra, gathered and eager to fight — my sons, and the sons of Pandu — what did they do, Sanjaya?

कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसंमूढचेताः

dharma — duty

My own nature is undone by this failure of nerve; my sense of what is right is confused. I ask you: tell me plainly what is best. I am your pupil. Instruct me.

नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते

dharmasya — occupation

On this path no effort is wasted and no step is lost. Even a little of it saves you from great fear.

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत

dharmasya — of righteousness

Whenever what is right declines and what is wrong rises up, then I bring myself forth.

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्

dharma — the eternal religion

To protect the good, to undo those who do harm, and to set what is right on its feet again, I come age after age.

बलं बलवतां चाहं कामरागविवर्जितम्

dharma-aviruddhaḥ — not conflicting with dharma

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.

अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषा धर्मस्यास्य परन्तप

dharmasya — of dharma

Those without faith in this way, Arjuna, do not reach me. They return again to the round of death.

क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा शश्वच्छान्तिं निगच्छति

dharma-ātmā — virtuous

Such a person quickly becomes upright and reaches lasting peace. Be certain of this, son of Kunti: one devoted to me is never lost.

ये तु धर्म्यामृतमिदं यथोक्तं पर्युपासते

dharma — of wisdom

And those who take up this nectar of what is right, as I have declared it, with faith and taking me as the highest — those devoted ones are very dear to me.

ब्रह्मणो हि प्रतिष्ठाऽहममृतस्याव्ययस्य च

dharmasya — of the dharma

For I am the ground of Brahman — of the deathless, the imperishable, the everlasting, and of what is right, and of happiness that does not end.

यया धर्ममधर्मं च कार्यं चाकार्यमेव च

dharmam — righteousness

The understanding by which one wrongly grasps what is right and what is not, and what should be done and what should not, is of restlessness.

अधर्मं धर्ममिति या मन्यते तमसाऽऽवृता

dharmam — religion

The understanding, wrapped in darkness, that takes what is wrong for what is right, and sees everything the wrong way round, is of inertia.

यया तु धर्मकामार्थान् धृत्या धारयतेऽर्जुन

dharma-kāma-arthān — duty, pleasures, and wealth

But the steadiness by which one holds to duty, pleasure and gain out of attachment, craving their fruit, is of restlessness.