Verse 7.11
बलं बलवतां चाहं कामरागविवर्जितम् ।
धर्माविरुद्धो भूतेषु कामोऽस्मि भरतर्षभ ॥
Transliteration
balaṃ balavatāṃ cāhaṃ kāmarāgavivarjitam |
dharmāviruddho bhūteṣu kāmo'smi bharatarṣabha ||
By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · @indic-transliteration/sanscript 1.3.3
Translation
Of the strong, I am the strength devoid of desire and attachment, and in (all) beings, I am the desire unopposed to Dharma, O Arjuna.
From the owner's sheet · +1 more
Of the strong I am the strength that is free from desire and passion; in beings I am the desire that does not go against dharma, best of the Bharatas.
By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · claude-opus-5-5 · 2026-11-08 · +1 more
Word by word
By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · claude-opus-5-5 · 2026-11-08
Explanation
Krishna adds two careful qualifications. In the strong, he is the strength that is free from desire and passion, not the force used for selfish ends. In living beings, he is the desire (kāma) that does not conflict with dharma. The verse is notable for affirming desire itself when it stays within right order. The Gita does not condemn ordinary human wishes, such as the wish for family or well-being, as long as they do not violate what is right. It condemns only desire that has broken free of dharma.
By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · claude-opus-5-5 · 2026-11-08