Bhagavad Gita - Daily One Verse Brief Explanation - II 1:38 II

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II 1:38 II

 

yady apy ete na pashyanti, lobhopahata-cetasah

kula-kshaya-krutam dosham, itra-drohe cha paatakam (Gita 1:38)

 

Though these people, being overpowered by greed have lost their

ability to reflect and discriminate, and do not perceive the evil of

destruction of this (Duryodhan etc.) and own families, and sins

accruing from enmity towards their friends.

 

From Gita Prabodhani in Hindi pg. 14-15 by Swami Ramsukhdasji

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Chapter 1, Verse 38 is as follows;

 

Yadi = Even

Api = though

Ete = these

Na = not

Pashyanti = see

Lobha = greed

Upahata = overpowered by

ChetasaH = intelligence

Kulakshaya = the destruction of families

Krutam = in the process of

Dosham = evil

Mitradrohe = in the hostility to friends

Cha = and

Paatakam = sin / crime

 

English translation:-

 

Although these, having intelligence overpowered by greed, see no

evil in the destruction of families and find no crime in treachery

to friends.

 

Just like father King Dhritarashtra, his hundred sons - the

Kauravaas have grown totally blind by their insatiable greed for

amassing wealth, usurping kingdoms and garnering absolute power.

 

Having totally engulfed by the six enemies of every man namely

`Kaama (lust), Krodha (anger), Lobha (greed), Moha (attraction /

infatuation), Mada (pride / arrogance) and Matsara (hatred)'; they

cannot visualize the destruction of the entire social fabric by the

fratricidal war.

 

In 1887, Lord Acton in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton had

written, " Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts

absolutely. Power hungry men are almost always bad men, even when

they exercise influence and not authority. "

 

Acton was preceded by William Pitt the Elder, who voiced a similar

thought in a House of Lords speech in 1770, " Unlimited power is apt

to corrupt the minds of those who possess it; and this I know, my

lord, that's where the laws end and tyranny begins. "

 

Arjuna claims that he has not lost his conscience and the ability to

reason out the best course of action for the Paandavaas. What a

pity, the ignorant ones are often the most adamant of their thoughts

and opinions.

 

Arjuna implicitly argues that, " Even though Duryodhana with his

ninety nine brothers and his friends like Karna along with Grandsire

Bheeshmaachaarya and Guru Dronaachaarya are all behaving as blind

aggressors, at the altar of universal peace, why should we not

retire gracefully and avoid ignominy of being labeled as destroyers

of the entire social fabric of the great nation called as Bhaarat-

Varsha? "

 

Arjuna's argument is indeed diametrically opposite of the very

kernel of Vedanta philosophy.

 

`Not Passive but Active resistance to evil' is the central theme of

the doctrine enunciated by Lord Krishna in the Shreemad Bhagawad

Geeta.

 

Having a disease is certainly bad but being unaware of the very

disease is indeed fatal.

 

Arjuna is not aware that he is saddled with a mental disease of such

a severe magnitude that in the deluded state, he starts preaching

sermons even to Lord Krishna.

 

It is Lord Krishna's divine role to make Arjuna aware of his mental

disease, help him rise above the muddy waters of fatal attachments

in life and convert him as an instrument in the destruction of

unrighteousness and resurrection of the righteousness.

 

Thanks & Best Regards,

Shrikant Joshi

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Shree Hari

Ram Ram

Thank you Shri Shrikantji Joshi for taking the initiative to support

this divine work and to Mrs. K Asani for requesting shloka

explanation on a daily basis.

From Gita Talk Moderators

Ram Ram