2.31 Further, having regard to thy duty, shouldst not waver, for there is nothing higher for a Kshatriya than a righteous war.

2.31 Sva-Dharmam etc. Because one's duty cannot be avoided, wavering with regard to fighting the war is not proper [on the part of Arjuna].

**2.31** Considering your own duty (the duty of a Kshatriya), you ought not to waver; for there is nothing more auspicious for a Kshatriya than a righteous war. **Commentary:** [In the first two verses, the benefits of engaging in war are described.] "Considering your own duty, you ought not to waver" – This 'self' is a fragment of the Supreme Lord. When it identifies itself with the body, then the duty pertaining to whatever it considers as 'itself' is called 'svadharma' (one's own duty). For instance, if someone considers himself a Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, or Shudra, then performing the duties appropriate to his respective varna is his svadharma. If someone considers himself a teacher or a servant, then performing the duties of a teacher or servant is his svadharma. If someone considers himself someone's father or someone's son, then performing the duties to be done towards a son or a father is his svadharma. Here, the duty-bound action of a Kshatriya is referred to by the name 'dharma' (see note p. 71.2). The specific duty-bound action of a Kshatriya is not to turn away from war. Arjuna is a Kshatriya; therefore, fighting the war is his svadharma. Thus, the Lord says that even if one looks at it from the perspective of svadharma, according to the duty of a Kshatriya, fighting is your duty. You should never turn away from your duty. "For a Kshatriya, there is no greater good than a righteous war" – There is no other auspicious action for a Kshatriya superior to a righteous war, meaning, for a Kshatriya, the specific work is the performance of a Kshatriya's duty (Gita 18.43). [Similarly, for a Brahmin, Vaishya, and Shudra as well, there is no other auspicious action besides performing their respective duties.] In the seventh verse, Arjuna had prayed, "Tell me decisively what is good for me." In reply to that, the Lord says that good (auspiciousness) will come only from adhering to one's own dharma. Abandoning one's own dharma from any point of view is not auspicious. Therefore, you should not turn away from your duty, which is in the form of this war.