एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन। अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते।।1.35।।
etān na hantum ichchhāmi ghnato ’pi madhusūdana api trailokya-rājyasya hetoḥ kiṁ nu mahī-kṛite
Translation
By slaying Dhritarashtra's sons, what joy would be to us, O Janardana?
Word Meanings
etān — these na — not hantum — to slay ichchhāmi — I wish ghnataḥ — killed api — even though madhusūdana — Shree Krishna, killer of the demon Madhu api — even though trailokya-rājyasya — dominion over the three worlds hetoḥ — for the sake of kim nu — what to speak of mahī-kṛite — for the earth
Understanding the Verse
In Chapter 1, Verse 35 of the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna continues his moral and emotional dilemma as he looks upon the battlefield. His heart is heavy with the thought of fighting and killing his own relatives, including his uncles, teachers, and cousins. Arjuna questions the value of a victory that comes at the cost of such immense loss, especially when the individuals on the battlefield are his own family members—those he has spent his life with. Arjuna uses the word "api" (even though) twice in this verse, emphasizing the depth of his internal struggle. First, he acknowledges that although his relatives are eager to kill him, he has no desire to kill them in return. The second use of "api" highlights that even if the reward of victory is dominion over the three worlds, Arjuna still sees no worth in it if it results in the death of his own kin. He questions the value of ruling the three worlds or even the earth if it is to be built on the destruction of his family and loved ones. Arjuna addresses Krishna as Madhusudan, referring to Krishna's divine ability to destroy the demon Madhu, underscoring Krishna’s immense power and role as the protector of dharma. In doing so, Arjuna seeks Krishna’s guidance and wisdom, as he cannot reconcile the moral cost of the battle with its potential rewards. This verse reveals Arjuna's profound emotional conflict, as he struggles to reconcile his duty as a warrior with his deep attachment to his family. Arjuna is beginning to realize that the external pursuit of material victory and power is ultimately hollow if it requires the destruction of what is most valuable—his relationships and his integrity. This verse sets the stage for Krishna's teachings on duty (dharma), detachment, and the deeper purpose of life, which will soon follow.
