Chapter II · Śloka 7
कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः
पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेताः |
यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे
शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् ||
पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेताः |
यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे
शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् ||
kārpaṇya-doṣopahata-svabhāvaḥ
pṛcchāmi tvāṃ dharma-sammūḍha-cetāḥ |
yac chreyaḥ syān niścitaṃ brūhi tan me
śiṣyas te 'haṃ śādhi māṃ tvāṃ prapannam ||
pṛcchāmi tvāṃ dharma-sammūḍha-cetāḥ |
yac chreyaḥ syān niścitaṃ brūhi tan me
śiṣyas te 'haṃ śādhi māṃ tvāṃ prapannam ||
My nature is overcome by the taint of faint-heartedness; my mind is confused about dharma. I ask you: tell me decisively what is better. I am your disciple — instruct me who has taken refuge in you.
This is the pivot of Chapter I and the formal opening of the Gītā's teaching: Arjuna surrenders his ego-driven deliberation and requests to become a disciple. Prapannam (one who has taken refuge) signals that the relationship has shifted from friend to teacher and student.