कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेताः | यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् ||७||
kārpaṇya-doṣhopahata-svabhāvaḥ pṛchchhāmi tvāṁ dharma-sammūḍha-chetāḥ yach chhreyaḥ syān niśhchitaṁ brūhi tan me śhiṣhyas te'haṁ śhādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam
Translation
My being is struck down by the weakness of pity; my mind is confused about duty. I ask you — tell me decisively what is good for me. I am your disciple; teach me, I seek refuge in you.
Interpretation
This is the turning point. Arjuna formally surrenders to Krishna as a disciple: 'śhiṣhyas te' — I am your disciple; 'tvāṁ prapannam' — I take refuge in you. The Gita proper begins here. Arjuna's admission of confusion ('dharma-sammūḍha-chetāḥ' — mind confused about dharma) is the prerequisite for receiving wisdom. The student who thinks he knows cannot learn.