In plain words
Therefore arise, win glory; conquer your enemies and enjoy a flourishing kingdom. They have already been slain by Me alone. Be merely the instrument, Savyasachin.
Word for word
Therefore you, rise up, win fame; having conquered the enemies, enjoy a flourishing kingdom; by Me alone these have been slain already; be merely the instrument, O Savyasācin.
तस्मात् त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्वजित्वा शत्रून् भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम्मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वमेवनिमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन्
Other commentaries
The commentators
▸Bhagavadgītābhāṣyam
यस्मात् एवम् —
तस्मात् त्वम् उत्तिष्ठ ‘भीष्मप्रभृतयः अतिरथाः अजेयाः देवैरपि, अर्जुनेन जिताः’ इति यशः लभस्व ; केवलं पुण्यैः हि तत् प्राप्यते । जित्वा शत्रून् दुर्योधनप्रभृतीन् भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम् असपत्नम् अकण्टकम् । मया एव एते निहताः निश्चयेन हताः प्राणैः वियोजिताः पूर्वमेव । निमित्तमात्रं भव त्वं हे सव्यसाचिन् , सव्येन वामेनापि हस्तेन शराणां क्षेप्ता सव्यसाची इति उच्यते अर्जुनः ॥ ३३ ॥
In plain words
Because this is how it stands —
So rise, Arjuna! Win the fame that will be spoken of forever: 'Bhīṣma and the others, warriors even the gods could not defeat, were defeated by Arjuna.' Such glory only comes through merit. Defeat these enemies, Duryodhana and the rest, and enjoy a kingdom that is rich, unrivaled, free of every thorn. I have already killed them — make no mistake, it is decided, they are already gone. You are only the occasion, nothing more. So take up your part, O Savyasācin — you who can loose an arrow just as well with your left hand as your right, and that is exactly why they call you by that name.
Close to the Sanskrit
Since thus —
Therefore, you, arise! 'Bhīṣma and the rest, great warriors, unconquerable even by the gods, were conquered by Arjuna' — thus, obtain fame; only by merit indeed is that attained. Having conquered the enemies, headed by Duryodhana, enjoy the kingdom, prosperous, without rival, free of thorns. By me alone these have already been slain, with certainty killed, deprived of their life-breaths, already before. Become a mere instrumental cause, you, O Savyasācin — by the left, even the left hand, the shooter of arrows, is Savyasācī — thus is Arjuna called.
▸Gītā Vāhini
“అర్జునా! చూచితివా? సమస్త కర్మలకును, సమస్త భూతములకును సృష్టి, స్థితి, లయకారుడను నేనే అని తెలిసినదా? దీనిని పట్టి ఈ యుద్ధభూమి యందు చేరిన జనులను కాపాడువాడవు కానీ, సంహరించువాడవు కానీ, నీవు కాదని తెలిసికొమ్ము. నీవు నిమిత్తమాత్రుడవే. చంపు అధికారము నీకుగాని, చచ్చు అధికారము వారికి గానీ ఎప్పటికీ లేదు. సర్వమూ నా యందే, నా సంకల్పమందే యున్నది. భూభారమణచుటయు, భూభారమును పోషించుటయు, భూభారమును వహించుటయు నా ప్రవృత్తి అని తెలిసికొమ్ము” అని కృష్ణుడు వీపు నిమురుచూ, వాత్సల్యత చూపుచూ వణుకుచున్న అర్జునుని ఓదార్చినాడు.
In plain words
“Arjuna! Have you seen? Have you understood that I alone am the cause of the creation, sustenance and dissolution of all karmas and of all beings? From this, know that it is not you who protect or slay the people gathered on this battlefield. You are only an instrument. You never have the authority to kill, nor have they ever the authority to die. All is in Me alone, in My saṅkalpa alone. Know that to lighten the burden of the earth, to nourish the burden of the earth and to bear the burden of the earth is My work.” Saying so, Kṛṣṇa stroked his back and, full of tender affection, consoled the trembling Arjuna.