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Chapter 1 · Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra · 46 verses

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Questions & crisisChapter 1 · Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 1.35

The fear of family destruction and sin

किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा ।

येषामर्थे काङ्‍‍क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च ॥ ३२ ॥

त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ।

आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः ॥ ३3 ॥

मातुलाः श्वश‍ुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा ।

एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्न‍तोऽपि मधुसूदन ॥ ३४ ॥

अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते ।

निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्ज‍नार्दन ॥ ३५ ॥

kiṁ no rājyena govinda

kiṁ bhogair jīvitena vā

yeṣām arthe kāṅkṣitaṁ no

rājyaṁ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca

ta ime ’vasthitā yuddhe

prāṇāṁs tyaktvā dhanāni ca

ācāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrās

tathaiva ca pitāmahāḥ

mātulāḥ śvaśurāḥ pautrāḥ

śyālāḥ sambandhinas tathā

etān na hantum icchāmi

ghnato ’pi madhusūdana

api trailokya-rājyasya

hetoḥ kiṁ nu mahī-kṛte

nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrān naḥ

kā prītiḥ syāj janārdana

Translation

O Govinda, of what avail to us are a kingdom, happiness or even life itself when all those for whom we may desire them are now arrayed on this battlefield? O Madhusūdana, when teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives are ready to give up their lives and properties and are standing before me, why should I wish to kill them, even though they might otherwise kill me? O maintainer of all living entities, I am not prepared to fight with them even in exchange for the three worlds, let alone this earth. What pleasure will we derive from killing the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Satisfying Govinda, Not Ourselves

  1. 1Arjuna refuses to fight his relatives even for the three worlds and sees no pleasure in killing the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
  2. 2His refusal partly comes from natural compassion. He also fears having no family or friends with whom to share his wealth after victory.
  3. 3Govinda is not meant to satisfy our senses. When we seek to satisfy His senses instead, our own senses are automatically satisfied.
  4. 4A devotee accepts wealth for the Lord’s service only when the Lord desires it, not for personal enjoyment.
  5. 5A devotee does not take revenge on wrongdoers, but the Lord does not tolerate harm done to His devotees.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 1, Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra: the fear of family destruction and sin.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Honest questions open the way to wisdom.

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Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: saṁśaya, viṣāda.

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Live it

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Ask yourself

What does BG 1.35 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to questions & crisis?

Practice

Write down the real question behind your current dilemma.

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The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 1 ›
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Related verses

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Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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