गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते। न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः।।1.30।।
na ca śaknomy avasthātuṁ bhramatīva ca me manaḥ nimittāni ca paśyāmi viparītāni keśava
Translation
I also do not foresee any good by killing my own kinsmen in the battle. O Krishna! I wish neither victory, nor kingdom, nor the pleasures thereof.
Word Meanings
na — nor ca — also śaknomi — am I able avasthātum — to stay bhramati — forgetting iva — as ca — and me — my manaḥ — mind nimittāni — causes ca — also paśyāmi — I see viparītāni — just the opposite keśava — O killer of the demon Keśī (Kṛṣṇa)
Understanding the Verse
In Chapter 1, Verse 30 of the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna expresses his deep moral confusion and inner turmoil. He tells Krishna that he can no longer see any positive outcome from killing his own relatives in battle. The prospect of fighting his family members—his cousins, teachers, and elders—has shaken him to the core, and he no longer desires the material rewards of victory or the kingdom that would come with it. Arjuna's state is one of utter helplessness. He feels that his body and mind are no longer in his control—his mighty bow Gāṇḍīva slips from his hands, and he is unable to focus or stay steady. His mind is filled with confusion and doubts, and he sees only bad omens surrounding the war. The once-feared warrior is now overwhelmed by a sense of impending doom, and he is unable to find any justification for fighting. Arjuna’s address to Krishna as Keśava, the killer of the demon Keśī, is symbolic here, as it highlights Krishna’s divine power and ability to destroy evil. Yet, in this moment of intense emotional and moral conflict, Arjuna is looking for guidance, as he sees no good in a war that will bring about the destruction of his loved ones. His state of confusion reveals the tension between his warrior duty (Kshatriya dharma) and his deep emotional attachment to his kin. This internal struggle is a turning point, leading Arjuna to question not just the war but the very essence of victory, kingdom, and the pleasures of life that would follow from such a victory. His soul is searching for something more than material gain, and it is at this point that he is ready to receive the wisdom of Lord Krishna.
