BHAGAVAD-GITA 1:37-38

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 1:37-38

 

yady apy ete na pasyanti

lobhopahata-cetasah

kula-ksaya-krtam dosam

mitra-drohe ca patakam

 

katham na jneyam asmabhih

papad asman nivartitum

kula-ksaya-krtam dosam

prapasyadbhir janardana

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

yadi--if; api--even; ete--they; na--do not; pasyanti--see; lobha--by

greed; upahata--overpowered; cetasah--their hearts; kula-ksaya--in

killing the family; krtam--done; dosam--fault; mitra-drohe--in

quarreling with friends; ca--also; patakam--sinful reactions;

katham--why; na--should not; jneyam--be known; asmabhih--by us;

papat--from sins; asmat--these; nivartitum--to cease; kula-ksaya--in

the destruction of a dynasty; krtam--done; dosam--crime;

prapasyadbhih--by those who can see; janardana--O Krsna.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Janardana, although these men, their hearts overtaken by greed, see

no fault in killing one's family or quarreling with friends, why

should we, who can see the crime in destroying a family, engage in

these acts of sin?

 

PURPORT

 

A ksatriya is not supposed to refuse to battle or gamble when he is so

invited by some rival party. Under such an obligation, Arjuna could

not refuse to fight, because he had been challenged by the party of

Duryodhana. In this connection, Arjuna considered that the other party

might be blind to the effects of such a challenge. Arjuna, however,

could see the evil consequences and could not accept the challenge.

Obligation is actually binding when the effect is good, but when the

effect is otherwise, then no one can be bound. Considering all these

pros and cons, Arjuna decided not to fight.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.