|| 4.42 ||
तस्मादज्ञानसंभूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनात्मनः। छित्त्वैनं संशयं योगमातिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भारत।।
tasmād ajñāna-sambhūtaṁ hṛt-sthaṁ jñānāsinātmanaḥ chittvainaṁ saṁśayaṁ yogam ātiṣṭhottiṣṭha bhārata
Word by Word
tasmāt (therefore) ajñāna-sambhūtam (born of ignorance) hṛt-stham (situated in the heart) jñāna (of knowledge) asinā (by the weapon) ātmanaḥ (of the self) chittvā (cutting) enam (this) saṁśayam (doubt) yogam (in yoga) ātiṣṭha (be situated) uttiṣṭha (stand up) bhārata (O descendant of Bharata)
Translation
Therefore the doubts which have arisen in your heart out of ignorance should be slashed by the weapon of knowledge. Armed with yoga, O Bhārata, stand and fight.
Meaning
Kṛṣṇa concludes the fourth chapter with a powerful and decisive command. He tells Arjuna that the doubts in his heart are born of ignorance and must be slashed with the ‘weapon of knowledge’. He tells him to arm himself with yoga and stand up to fight.
“Uttiṣṭha!”—Arise! This is the call to overcome lethargy and mental confusion. Kṛṣṇa is not interested in Arjuna just thinking about the truth; He wants him to use that truth as a sword to clear his path and then take action. Knowledge is not a comfortable pillow for the mind; it is a weapon for the spirit.
By being situated in ‘Yogam’, Arjuna will find the strength he needs. The chapter ends on a high note of mobilization. The philosophy has been spoken, the doubts have been analyzed, and now the only thing left is to act. Kṛṣṇa is calling on Arjuna’s warrior nature to fulfill its divine purpose by being a servant of the Truth.