आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः। मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा।।1.34।।
āchāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrās tathaiva cha pitāmahāḥ mātulāḥ śhvaśhurāḥ pautrāḥ śhyālāḥ sambandhinas tathā
Translation
O slayer-of-Mandhu (Krsna)! I do not desire to slay these men—even though they slay me—even for the sake of the kingdom of the three worlds—what to speak for the sake of the mere earth.
Word Meanings
āchāryāḥ — teachers pitaraḥ — fathers putrāḥ — sons tathā — as well eva — indeed cha — also pitāmahāḥ — grandfathers mātulāḥ — maternal uncles śhvaśhurāḥ — fathers-in-law pautrāḥ — grandsons śhyālāḥ — brothers-in-law sambandhinaḥ — kinsmen tathā — as well
Understanding the Verse
In Chapter 1, Verse 34 of the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna continues to express his inner turmoil as he contemplates the people he is about to fight in the war. The verse lists the various individuals who are part of his extended family—his teachers (like Dronacharya), fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other kinsmen. These are not just soldiers for Arjuna; they are his own family, each person a dear relative with whom he has a strong emotional bond. Arjuna's statement, "even though they slay me", reflects his deep moral conflict. He acknowledges that many of those gathered on the battlefield are eager to kill him, yet he does not wish to fight or kill them in return. Arjuna is grappling with the idea that, even if they are intent on slaying him, he does not desire to destroy them, regardless of the kingdom or wealth that might be gained. He emphasizes that the stakes of the war—victory over the three worlds or even the mere earth—do not justify the destruction of his loved ones. The use of the term "Madhusudan" (slayer of the demon Madhu) to address Krishna highlights Arjuna's deep reverence for Krishna's divine powers. Arjuna is essentially asking Krishna: How could the victory of a kingdom be worth the destruction of his family? For Arjuna, the idea of winning a kingdom over the destruction of relationships is morally unacceptable. His internal struggle is rooted in his deep attachment to his kin and the emotional weight of fighting against them. Arjuna’s question is profound because it reflects a universal dilemma: the tension between duty (to fight) and compassion (for his loved ones). Arjuna sees that killing those he holds dear would bring him no true joy or satisfaction. His compassion and sense of moral righteousness prevent him from viewing the battle as a simple duty to win a kingdom. This moment is one of intense emotional conflict and sets the stage for the teachings of Lord Krishna on dharma (righteous duty), detachment, and the nature of life and death.
