श्रीभगवानुवाच | कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम् | अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन ||२||
śhrī bhagavān uvācha kutas tvā kaśhmalam idaṁ viṣhame samupasthitam anārya-juṣṭam asvargyam akīrti-karam arjuna
Translation
The Supreme Lord said: How has this despondency come upon you at this crisis hour, O Arjuna? It does not befit you. Do not yield to impotence, O Partha. It does not become you.
Interpretation
Krishna's first word is a rebuke, but a compassionate one. He calls Arjuna's state 'kashmalah' — impurity or despondency — and 'anārya-juṣṭam' — behavior unbecoming of a noble person (arya). Krishna is not dismissing Arjuna's emotions; he is pointing out that the action arising from those emotions (abandoning battle) is inappropriate for someone of Arjuna's nature and station.