Chapter II · Śloka 31
स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि |
धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते ||
धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते ||
sva-dharmam api cāvekṣya na vikampitum arhasi |
dharmyād dhi yuddhāc chreyo 'nyat kṣatriyasya na vidyate ||
dharmyād dhi yuddhāc chreyo 'nyat kṣatriyasya na vidyate ||
Furthermore, considering your specific duty as a warrior, you should know that there is no better engagement for you than fighting on religious principles. There is no need for hesitation.
Having established the metaphysical ground, Krishna now turns to the practical: Arjuna is a warrior, and this is a righteous war. Svadharma — one's own duty — is a sacred obligation, not a burden. Shrinking from it is a greater failure than any battlefield defeat.