शौर्यं तेजो धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं युद्धे चाप्यपलायनम् ।दानमीश्वरभावश्च क्षात्रं कर्म स्वभावजम् ॥
śauryaṃ tejo dhṛtir dākṣyaṃ yuddhe cāpy apalāyanam |dānam īśvarabhāvaś ca kṣātraṃ karma svabhāvajam ||
- शौर्यम् · śauryam
- heroism
- तेजः · tejaḥ
- vigor, radiance
- धृतिः · dhṛtiḥ
- resolve
- दाक्ष्यम् · dākṣyam
- skill, resourcefulness
- युद्धे · yuddhe
- in battle
- अपलायनम् · apalāyanam
- not fleeing
- दानम् · dānam
- generosity
- ईश्वरभावः · īśvarabhāvaḥ
- lordliness, leadership
- क्षात्रम् · kṣātram
- of a kshatriya
- कर्म · karma
- work
- स्वभावजम् · svabhāvajam
- born of nature
“Heroism, vigor, resolve, skill, not fleeing in battle, generosity, and leadership — these are the natural work of a kshatriya.”
— Original plain-language translation
Arjuna's own portrait: the protector's virtues are courage, steadiness under fire, competence, and largeness of heart. 'Not fleeing in battle' speaks directly to his crisis. Leadership here means sheltering others, not dominating them.
— Reader's notes (original)