Across spiritual traditions, courage refers to the inner strength to overcome fear and adversity. Many traditions converge on the idea that courage is a vital virtue for personal growth and transformation. However, they diverge in their perspectives on how courage is cultivated and expressed.
1,308 quotes
Better is one's own duty, though imperfectly performed, than the duty of another well performed. Better is death in one's own duty; the duty of another brings danger.
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् | स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः ||३-३५||
Either you will be killed and attain heaven, or you will conquer and enjoy the earth. Therefore rise, Kaunteya, resolved to fight.
हतो वा प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्गं जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम् | तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः ||२-३७||
Happy are the warriors, Partha, who obtain such a battle, which comes of its own accord and opens the door to heaven.
यदृच्छया चोपपन्नं स्वर्गद्वारमपावृतम् | सुखिनः क्षत्रियाः पार्थ लभन्ते युद्धमीदृशम् ||२-३२||
Do not yield to weakness, Partha; it does not become you. Cast off this petty faintheartedness and rise, scorcher of foes.
क्लैब्यं मा स्म गमः पार्थ नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते | क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परन्तप ||२-३||
The Blessed Lord said: Where has this dejection come from at such a crisis, Arjuna? It is unworthy, ignoble, and does not lead to heaven, but brings disgrace.
श्रीभगवानुवाच | कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम् | अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन ||२-२||
Heroism, vigor, fortitude, skill, not fleeing in battle, generosity, and a lordly bearing — these make up the work of a kshatriya, born of his own nature.
शौर्यं तेजो धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं युद्धे चाप्यपलायनम् | दानमीश्वरभावश्च क्षात्रं कर्म स्वभावजम् ||१८-४३||
Slay Drona, Bhishma, Jayadratha, Karna, and the other warrior heroes as well — already killed by me. Do not waver. Fight! You will conquer your rivals in battle.
द्रोणं च भीष्मं च जयद्रथं च कर्णं तथान्यानपि योधवीरान् | मया हतांस्त्वं जहि मा व्यथिष्ठा युध्यस्व जेतासि रणे सपत्नान् ||११-३४||
Your enemies will speak many unspeakable words, mocking your ability. What could be more painful than that?
अवाच्यवादांश्च बहून्वदिष्यन्ति तवाहिताः | निन्दन्तस्तव सामर्थ्यं ततो दुःखतरं नु किम् ||२-३६||
The great chariot-warriors will think you withdrew from the battle out of fear, and you, who were highly esteemed by them, will be held in contempt.
भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः | येषां च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम् ||२-३५||
People too will tell of your everlasting disgrace, and for one who has been honored, disgrace is worse than death.
अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम् | सम्भावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते ||२-३४||
Sanjaya said: Then, seeing the army of the Pandavas drawn up for battle, King Duryodhana approached his teacher and spoke these words:
सञ्जय उवाच | दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा | आचार्यमुपसंगम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ||१-२||
Then, to cheer him, the aged Kuru grandsire Bhishma roared like a lion and blew his conch mightily.
तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः | सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ||१-१२||
Forgiveness, courage, non-violence, equanimity, truth, sincerity, knowledge, charity, and renunciation are said to be the characteristics of the path that arises from goodness.
The gods, with Brahma at their head, worship your benevolent self, O sinless one. You are everything. You are the creator of the gods and it was you who caused them to be created. Through your grace, the gods pass their time in joy and perfect fearlessness.
Here are heroes, mighty archers, equal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna: Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada, the great chariot-warrior;
अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि | युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ||१-४||
The king of Kashi, that supreme archer, and Shikhandi, the great chariot-warrior, Dhrishtadyumna and Virata, and the unconquered Satyaki;
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः | धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ||१-१७||
She said, 'Yajnavalkya, as a hero's son of Kashi or of Videha might string his unstrung bow and rise up with two piercing arrows in his hand to challenge his foe, so I rise up against you with two questions. Answer me them.' 'Ask, Gargi.'
सा होवाचाहं वै त्वा याज्ञवल्क्य यथा काश्यो वा वैदेहो वोग्रपुत्र उज्ज्यं धनुरधिज्यं कृत्वा द्वौ बाणवन्तौ सपत्नातिव्याधिनौ हस्ते कृत्वोपोत्तिष्ठेदेवमेवाहं त्वा द्वाभ्यां प्रश्नाभ्यामुपोदस्थाम् । तौ मे ब्रूहीति । पृच्छ गार्गीति ॥ २॥
and many other heroes who have given up their lives for my sake, wielding various weapons, all skilled in war.
अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः | नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ||१-९||
There are yourself and Bhishma, Karna, and Kripa, ever victorious in battle; Ashvatthama, Vikarna, and also the son of Somadatta;
भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः | अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ||१-८||
the mighty Yudhamanyu and the valiant Uttamaujas; the son of Subhadra and the sons of Draupadi, all of them great chariot-warriors.
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् | सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ||१-६||