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Bhagavad Gita 2.10

Between the two armies, Krishna answers the despairing Arjuna with a faint smile.

तमुवाच हृषीकेशः प्रहसन्निव भारत।
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये विषीदन्तमिदं वचः॥

tam uvāca hṛṣīkeśaḥ prahasann iva bhārata
senayor ubhayor madhye viṣīdantam idaṃ vacaḥ

Translation

Sanjaya tells Dhritarashtra that, in the space between the two armies, Krishna answered the sinking Arjuna with something like a smile and spoke these words.

Hindi

संजय धृतराष्ट्र से कहते हैं कि दोनों सेनाओं के बीच कृष्ण ने विषाद में डूबे अर्जुन से मानो मुस्कुराते हुए ये वचन कहे।

Commentary

The word iva, "as if", suggests a gentle half-smile, not mockery. It is the calm of a teacher who has seen the real problem. Remember the setting: two armies are waiting while Krishna begins a conversation that, in 2.11, starts with the nature of grief itself.

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