Sanskrit
एतं मे संशयं कृष्ण छेत्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः । त्वदन्यः संशयस्यास्य छेत्ता नह्युपपद्यते ॥
etaṃ me saṃśayaṃ kṛṣṇa chettum arhasy aśeṣataḥ tvadanyaḥ saṃśayasyāsya chettā nahy upapadyate
Translation
Deign, O Krishna, to completely dispel this doubt of mine; for there is none to be found save Thyself able to destroy this doubt.
Annie Besant · The Bhagavad-Gita, translated by Annie Besant (4th ed., 1922) — Wikisource · Public Domain
Explanation
Arjuna closes his question, and the framing is notable: this isn’t posed as an abstract philosophical puzzle but as a doubt only Krishna specifically can resolve. It functions structurally the way Arjuna’s opening despair in chapter 1 did — a direct appeal that obligates a direct answer, which verses 40–47 then supply. Naming Krishna as the only possible chettā — cutter of this doubt — repeats the move of BG 2.7: the question is handed over completely, which is what makes the reassurance that follows carry weight.
Study deeper
Word by word
- etaṃ me saṃśayaṃ kṛṣṇaएतं मे संशयं कृष्ण
- this doubt of mine, O Krishna (etam + me + saṃśayam + kṛṣṇa)
- chettum arhasy aśeṣataḥछेत्तुं अर्हस्य् अशेषतः
- you should cut away completely (chettum + arhasi + aśeṣataḥ)
- tvadanyaḥ saṃśayasyāsyaत्वदन्यः संशयस्यास्य
- other than you, of this doubt (tvat-anyaḥ + saṃśayasya + asya)
- chettā nahy upapadyateछेत्ता नह्य् उपपद्यते
- a remover is not to be found (chettā + na + hi + upapadyate)
Commentary
Site Commentary
Arjuna could have posed this as an abstract question about spiritual law in general; instead he insists only Krishna can resolve it specifically for him. That small move changes the register of the entire exchange — from a theoretical puzzle anyone might debate into a personal request that only this particular relationship can answer, which is exactly the kind of appeal that obligates a direct reply rather than a general one.
Original commentary written for this site · © Amit Singh — original commentary
Concepts
Apply this verse
Lessons
Personal
- When you're stuck on a real doubt, notice whether you're treating it as an abstract puzzle to research indefinitely or as a specific question to bring to a specific person who can actually answer it for you — the second move usually gets you unstuck faster.
Professional
- When you have a genuine blocking question, address it directly to the specific person best positioned to resolve it rather than posing it generally to the group — a targeted appeal tends to get a real, direct answer instead of diffuse discussion.
Family & Social
- If something is genuinely troubling you, say so directly to the specific person who can actually help — not as a general complaint into the room — because a targeted, personal appeal is what actually obligates a real answer instead of vague reassurance.
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