निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन। पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः।।1.36।।
nihatya dhārtarāṣhṭrān naḥ kā prītiḥ syāj janārdana pāpam evāśhrayed asmān hatvaitān ātatāyinaḥ
Translation
BG 1.36: O Maintainer of all living entities, what pleasure will we derive from killing the sons of Dhritarashtra? Even though they may be aggressors, sin will certainly come upon us if we slay them. Hence, it does not behoove us to kill our own cousins, the sons of Dhritarashtra, and friends. O Madhav (Krishna), how can we hope to be happy by killing our own kinsmen?
Word Meanings
nihatya — by killing dhārtarāṣhṭrān — the sons of Dhritarashtra naḥ — our kā — what prītiḥ — pleasure syāt — will there be janārdana — he who looks after the public (Shree Krishna) pāpam — vices eva — certainly āśhrayet — must come upon asmān — us hatvā — by killing etān — all these ātatāyinaḥ — aggressors tasmāt — hence na — never arhāḥ — deserving vayam — we hantum — to kill dhārtarāṣhṭrān — the sons of Dhritarashtra sa-bāndhavān — along with friends sva-janam — kinsmen hi — certainly katham — how hatvā — by killing sukhinaḥ — happy syāma — will we become mādhava — Shree Krishna, the husband of Yogmaya
Understanding the Verse
In Chapter 1, Verse 36 of the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna reflects deeply on the moral consequences of killing his relatives in the ongoing war. He addresses Krishna as Janardana, which means "the one who looks after the welfare of all living beings." Arjuna begins by questioning the very idea of killing his own family members—his cousins, uncles, and friends—in the war. He asks Krishna: "What pleasure or joy can we truly derive from this? Even though they may be aggressors, killing them would only bring us sin." Arjuna emphasizes that such an act would not only be morally wrong but would also bring vices upon them. He acknowledges that despite the fact that the Kauravas have wronged them, killing them would be a sinful act, and thus, he argues that it is not appropriate for him to engage in such violence. In this verse, Arjuna is experiencing a moral crisis, torn between his duty as a warrior and his deep emotional attachment to his family. He believes that slaying his own kinsmen, regardless of the justifications, would bring no true happiness. Arjuna’s reflection draws attention to the deeper spiritual truth that, in the pursuit of victory, one should not lose sight of dharma (righteous duty) and non-violence. The teachings in the Vedas and other sacred texts underscore non-violence (Ahimsa) as a supreme virtue. The Vedas state, "mā hinsyāt sarvā bhūtāni" — "Do not harm any living being." Arjuna's reluctance to kill, even though the Kauravas are his enemies, stems from his belief that violence in any form, unless absolutely necessary, is a sin. Arjuna seeks Krishna's guidance on how to overcome this inner conflict and proceed in the right manner. This verse highlights Arjuna’s emotional state of confusion and compassion. His love for his family, his moral concerns, and the fear of sin are overwhelming him, preventing him from acting decisively in the battle. This internal struggle sets the stage for Krishna's teachings on duty, righteousness, and the path of selfless action (Karma Yoga).
