Arjuna Viṣāda Yoga

1.37

first review verified; second review pendingArjuna

Sanskrit · Devanagari

तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान्। स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ॥

Sanskrit · IAST

tasmānnārhā vayaṃ hantuṃ dhārtarāṣṭrānsvabāndhavān svajanaṃ hi kathaṃ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava

English translation

Kashinath Trimbak Telang, 1882
Therefore it is not proper for us to kill our own kinsmen the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. For how O Mādhava! shall we be happy after killing our own relatives?

This verse was aligned by machine and has completed first review (google/gemini-3.8-flash confidence: 98%); second review pending. Machine alignment confidence: 74%.

Interpretations

Compare translations and commentaries

All 30 available readings are aligned to this verse. Translations appear first, followed by commentaries; each keeps its author and source trail.

Translation · English

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Sin will overcome us if we slay such aggressors. Therefore it is not proper for us to kill the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and our friends. What should we gain, O Kṛṣṇa, husband of the goddess of fortune, and how could we be happy by killing our own kinsmen?

Machine-validated alignment; human review pending. SHA-256 1cecdee4214e…

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Translation · English

Abhinavagupta

1.35 1.44 Nihatya etc. upto anususruma. Sin alone is the agent in the act of slaying these desperadoes. Therefore here the idea is this : These ememies of ours have been slain, i.e., have been take possession of, by sin. Sin would come to us also after slaying them. Sin in this context is the disregard, on account of greed etc., to the injurious conseences like the ruination of the family and the like. That is why Arjuna makes a specific mention of the [ruin of the] family etc., and of its duties in the passage 'How by slaying my own kinsmen etc'. The act of slaying, undertaken with an individualizing idea about its result, and with a particularizing idea about the person to be slain, is a great sin. To say this very thing precisely and to indicate the intensity of his own agony, Arjuna says only to himself [see next sloka]:

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Translation · English

Dr. S. S. Sankaranarayan

1.37. How could we be happy indeed, O Madhava, after slaying our own kinsmen ?

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Translation · English

Rāmānuja

1.26 - 1.47 Arjuna said - Sanjaya said Sanjaya continued: The high-minded Arjuna, extremely kind, deeply friendly, and supremely righteous, having brothers like himself, though repeatedly deceived by the treacherous attempts of your people like burning in the lac-house etc., and therefore fit to be killed by him with the help of the Supreme Person, nevertheless said, 'I will not fight.' He felt weak, overcome as he was by his love and extreme compassion for his relatives. He was also filled with fear, not knowing what was righteous and what unrighteous. His mind was tortured by grief, because of the thought of future separation from his relations. So he threw away his bow and arrow and sat on the chariot as if to fast to death.

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Translation · English

Śaṅkarācārya

1.37 Sri Sankaracharya did not comment on this sloka. The commentary starts from 2.10.

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Translation · English

Shri Purohit Swami

1.37 We are worthy of a nobler feat than to slaughter our relatives - the sons of Dhritarashtra; for, my Lord, how can we be happy of we kill our kinsmen?

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Translation · English

Sir Edwin Arnold

Their sins will light on us, if we shall slay Those sons of Dhritirashtra, and our kin; What peace could come of that, O Madhava?

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Translation · English

Swami Adidevananda

1.37 Therefore, it is not befitting that we slay our kin, the sons of Dhrtarastra. For if we kill our kinsmen, O Krsna, how indeed can we be happy?

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Translation · English

Swami Gambirananda

1.37 Therefore, it is not proper for us to kill the sons of Dhrtarastra who are our own relatives. For, O Madhava, how can we be happy by killing our kinsmen?

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Translation · English

Swami Sivananda

1.37. Therefore, we should not kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our relatives; for how can we be happy by killing our own people, O Madhava (Krishna)?

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Translation · Hindi

Śaṅkarācārya

।।1.37।।Sri Sankaracharya did not comment on this sloka.

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Translation · Hindi

Swami Ramsukhdas

।।1.37।। इसलिये अपने बान्धव इन धृतराष्ट्र-सम्बन्धियों को मारने के लिये हम योग्य नहीं हैं; क्योंकि हे माधव! अपने कुटुम्बियों को मारकर हम कैसे सुखी होंगे?

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Translation · Hindi

Swami Tejomayananda

।।1.37।।हे माधव ! इसलिये अपने बान्धव धृतराष्ट्र के पुत्रों को मारना हमारे लिए योग्य नहीं है, क्योंकि स्वजनों को मारकर हम कैसे सुखी होंगे।

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Commentary · English

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

According to Vedic injunctions there are six kinds of aggressors: (1) a poison giver, (2) one who sets fire to the house, (3) one who attacks with deadly weapons, (4) one who plunders riches, (5) one who occupies another’s land, and (6) one who kidnaps a wife. Such aggressors are at once to be killed, and no sin is incurred by killing such aggressors. Such killing of aggressors is quite befitting any ordinary man, but Arjuna was not an ordinary person. He was saintly by character, and therefore he wanted to deal with them in saintliness. This kind of saintliness, however, is not for a kṣatriya. Although a responsible man in the administration of a state is required to be saintly, he should not be cowardly. For example, Lord Rāma was so saintly that people even now are anxious to live in the kingdom of Lord Rāma ( rāma-rājya ), but Lord Rāma never showed any cowardice. Rāvaṇa was an aggressor against Rāma because Rāvaṇa kidnapped Rāma’s wife, Sītā, but Lord Rāma gave him sufficient lessons, unparalleled in the history of the world. In Arjuna’s case, however, one should consider the special type of aggressors, namely his own grandfather, own teacher, friends, sons, grandsons, etc. Because of them, Arjuna thought that he should not take the severe steps necessary against ordinary aggressors. Besides that, saintly persons are advised to forgive. Such injunctions for saintly persons are more important than any political emergency. Arjuna considered that rather than kill his own kinsmen for political reasons, it would be better to forgive them on grounds of religion and saintly behavior. He did not, therefore, consider such killing profitable simply for the matter of temporary bodily happiness. After all, kingdoms and pleasures derived therefrom are not permanent, so why should he risk his life and eternal salvation by killing his own kinsmen? Arjuna’s addressing of Kṛṣṇa as “Mādhava,” or the husband of the goddess of fortune, is also significant in this connection. He wanted to point out to Kṛṣṇa that, as the husband of the goddess of fortune, He should not induce Arjuna to take up a matter which would ultimately bring about misfortune. Kṛṣṇa, however, never brings misfortune to anyone, to say nothing of His devotees.

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Commentary · English

Swami Sivananda

1.37 तस्मात् therefore? न (are) not? अर्हाः justified? वयम् we? हन्तुम् to kill? धार्तराष्ट्रान् the sons of Dhritarashtra? स्वबान्धवान् our relatives? स्वजनम् kinsmen? हि indeed? कथम् how? हत्वा having killed? सुखिनः happy? स्याम may (we) be? माधव O Madhava.No Commentary.

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Commentary · Hindi

Swami Chinmayananda

।।1.37।। ऐसा प्रतीत होता है कि अर्जुन के तर्क शास्त्रसम्मत हैं। जाने या अनजाने शास्त्रों का विपरीत अर्थ करने वाले लोगों के कारण दर्शनशास्त्र की अत्यधिक हानि होती है। अर्जुन अपने दिये हुये तर्कों को ही सही समझकर उनसे सन्तुष्ट हुआ इस खतरनाक निर्णय पर पहुँचता है कि उसको इन आक्रमणकारियों को नहीं मारना चाहिये भगवान् फिर भी शान्त रहते हैं।श्रीकृष्ण के मौन से वह और भी अधिक विचलित होकर उनसे दयनीय भाव से प्रार्थना करते हुए अपने मूर्खतापूर्ण निर्णय की पुष्टि चाहता है। दीर्घकाल तक साथ में रहने से दोनों में स्नेहभाव बढ़ गया था और इसी कारण अर्जुन भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण को माधव नाम से सम्बोधित करके पूछता है कि स्वबान्धवों की ही हत्या करके कोई व्यक्ति कैसे सुखी रह सकता है। भगवान् फिर भी मौन रहते हैं।

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Commentary · Hindi

Swami Ramsukhdas

1.37।। व्याख्या-- 'तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान् स्वबान्धवान्'-- अभीतक (1। 28 से लेकर यहाँतक) मैंने कुटुम्बियोंको न मारनेमें जितनी युक्तियाँ, दलीलें दी हैं, जितने विचार प्रकट किये हैं, उनके रहते हुए हम ऐसे अनर्थकारी कार्यमें कैसे प्रवृत्त हो सकते हैं? अपने बान्धव इन धृतराष्ट्र-सम्बन्धियोंको मारनेका कार्य हमारे लिये सर्वथा ही अयोग्य है, अनुचित है। हम-जैसे अच्छे पुरुष ऐसा अनुचित कार्य कर ही कैसे सकते हैं? 'स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव'-- हे माधव! इन कुटुम्बियोंके मरनेकी आशंकासे ही बड़ा दुःख हो रहा है, संताप हो रहा है, तो फिर क्रोध तथा लोभके वशीभूत होकर हम उनको मार दें तो कितना दुःख होगा! उनको मारकर हम कैसे सुखी होंगे? यहाँ 'ये हमारे घनिष्ठ सम्बन्धी हैं'--इस ममताजनित मोहके कारण अपने क्षत्रियोचित कर्तव्यकी तरफ अर्जुनकी दृष्टि ही नहीं जा रही है। कारण कि जहाँ मोह होता है, वहाँ मनुष्यका विवेक दब जाता है। विवेक दबनेसे मोहकी प्रबलता हो जाती है। मोहके प्रबल होनेसे अपने कर्तव्यका स्पष्ट भान नहीं होता। सम्बन्ध-- अब यहाँ यह शंका होती है कि जैसे तुम्हारे लिये दुर्योधन आदि स्वजन हैं ऐसे ही दुर्योधन आदिके लिये भी तो तुम स्वजन हो। स्वजनकी दृष्टिसे तुम तो युद्धसे निवृत्त होनेकी बात सोच रहे हो पर दुर्योधन आदि युद्धसे निवृत्त होनेकी बात ही नहीं सोच रहे हैं--इसका क्या कारण है इसका उत्तर अर्जुन आगेके दो श्लोकोंमें देते हैं।

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Commentary · Sanskrit

Abhinavagupta

।।1.35 1.44।।निहत्येत्यादि। आततायिनां हनने पापमेव कर्तृ। अतोऽयमर्थः पापेन तावदेतेऽस्मच्छत्रवो हताः परतन्त्रीकृताः। तांश्च निहत्यास्मानपि पापमाश्रयेत् (S omits पापम्)। पापमत्र लोभादिवशात् (S लोभवशात्) कुलक्षयादिदोषादर्शनम् (S दोषदर्शनम्)। अत एव कुलादिधर्माणामुपक्षेपं (K कुलक्षयादि N क्षेपकम्) करोति स्वजनं हि कथमित्यादिना।

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Commentary · Sanskrit

Ānandagiri

।।1.37।।कथं तर्हि परेषां कुलक्षये स्वजनहिंसायां च प्रवृत्तिस्तत्राह यद्यपीति। लोभोपहतबुद्धित्वात्तेषां कुलक्षयादिप्रयुक्तदोषप्रतीत्यभावात्प्रवृत्तिविस्रम्भः संभवतीत्यर्थः।

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Commentary · Sanskrit

Dhanapati

।।1.37।।एवं युद्धस्य निष्फलतामनर्थहेतुतां चोपपाद्योपसंहरति तस्मादिति। ब्रह्मविद्यापतित्वात्तत्साधने प्रवर्तयितुमर्हसि नत्वस्मिन्क्लेशदे कर्मणीति सूचयन्नाह माधवेति। स्वजनसुखेन सुखार्थस्य राज्यलक्ष्मीपतित्वस्य स्वजननाशेन सुखाजनकत्वात्स्वजनं हत्वा कथं सुखिनः स्याम यतस्तवापि लक्ष्मीपतित्वं स्वजनार्थमेवेति वा माधवेति संबोधनेन सूचयति। लक्ष्मीपतित्वान्नालक्ष्मीके कर्मणि प्रवर्तयितुमर्हसीति भाव इति केचित्।

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Commentary · Sanskrit

Jayatīrtha

।।1.37।।Sri Jayatirtha did not comment on this sloka. The commentary starts from 2.11.

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Commentary · Sanskrit

Madhusūdana Sarasvatī

।।1.37।।कथं तर्हि परेषां कुलक्षये स्वजनहिंसायां च प्रवृत्तिस्तत्राह लोभोपहतबुद्धित्वात्तेषां कुलक्षयादिनिमित्तदोषप्रतिसंधानाभावात्प्रवृत्तिः संभवतीत्यर्थः। अतएव भीष्मादीनां शिष्टानां बन्धुवधे प्रवृत्तत्वाच्छिष्टाचारत्वेन वेदमूलत्वादितरेषामपि तत्प्रवृत्तिरुचितेत्यपास्तम।हेतुदर्शनाच्च इति न्यायात्। तत्रहि लोभादिहेतुदर्शने वेदमूलत्वं न कल्प्यत इति स्थापितं यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति तथापि कथमस्माभिर्न ज्ञेयमित्युत्तरश्लोकेन संबन्धः।

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Commentary · Sanskrit

Madhvācārya

।।1.37।।Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka. The commentary starts from 2.11.

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Commentary · Sanskrit

Nīlakaṇṭha

।। 1.37आततायिनःअग्निदो गरदश्चैव शस्त्रपाणिर्धनापहः। क्षेत्रदारहरश्चैव षडेते ह्याततायिनः। आततायिनमायान्तं हन्यादेवाविचारयन्। नाततायिवधे दोषो हन्तुर्भवति कश्चन। इति। यद्यप्येवं तथापि एतान्हत्वा अस्मान्पापमेव आश्रयेत्। आततायिवधो हि अर्थशास्त्रविहितः।न हिंस्यात्सर्वा भूतानि इति तु धर्मशास्त्रम्। तच्च पूर्वस्मात्प्रबलम्। यथोक्तं याज्ञवल्क्येनस्मृत्योर्विरोधे न्यायस्तु बलवान्व्यवहारतः। अर्थशास्त्रात्तु बलवद्धर्मशास्त्रमिति स्थितिः। इति। अस्मान्हत्वा एतान् आततायिनः पापमेवाश्रयेदित्यपरा योजना। तथा च एत एवास्मद्वधेन नश्यन्तु न तु वयमेतेषां वधेन नङ्क्ष्याम इति भावः।

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Commentary · Sanskrit

Puruṣottamajī

।।1.37।।तस्माद्वयं त्वदीयत्वादेतन्मारणानर्हा इत्याह तस्मादिति। तस्माद्वयं स्वबान्धवान्धार्त्तराष्ट्रान् हन्तुं नार्हा न योग्या इत्यर्थः। हे माधव स्वजनं हत्वा कथं सुखिनः स्याम सुखिनो भविष्यामः इत्यर्थः। वयमित्युक्त्या भगवतः स्वमध्यपातित्वमुक्तम् तेनास्माकं त्वत्सङ्ग एव सुखरूपः त्वमेवास्माकं स्वजन इति ज्ञापितम्। तस्मात्स्वजनापराधात् स्वजननाशः स्यादस्माकं च त्वमेव स्वजन इति त्वत्सम्बन्धाभावे वयं कथं सुखिनो भविष्यामः इति व्यञ्जितम्। माधवेति सम्बोधनेनास्माकं न लक्ष्म्याद्यपेक्षितेति ज्ञापितम्।

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Commentary · Sanskrit

Rāmānuja

।।1.37।।अर्जुन उवाच संजय उवाच स तु पार्थो महामनाः परमकारुणिको दीर्घबन्धुः परमधार्मिकः सभ्रातृको भवद्भिः अतिघोरैः मारणैः जतुगृहादिभिः असकृद् वञ्चितः अपि परमपुरुषसहायः अपि हनिष्यमाणान् भवदीयान् विलोक्य बन्धुस्नेहेन परमया च कृपया धर्माधर्मभयेन च अतिमात्रस्विन्नसर्वगात्रः सर्वथा अहं न योत्स्यामि इति उक्त्वा बन्धुविश्लेषजनितशोकसंविग्नमानसः सशरं चापं विसृज्य रथोपस्थे उपाविशत्।

Machine-validated alignment; human review pending. SHA-256 7b47a31f5520…

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Commentary · Sanskrit

Śaṅkarācārya

1.37 Sri Sankaracharya did not comment on this sloka. The commentary starts from 2.10.

Machine-validated alignment; human review pending. SHA-256 7bf7f4b3f090…

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Commentary · Sanskrit

Śrīdhara Svāmin

।।1.37।। ननु तवैतेषामपि बन्धुवधदोषे समाने सति यथैवैते बन्धुवधदोषमङ्गीकृत्य युद्धे प्रवर्तन्ते तथैव भवानपि प्रवर्ततां किमनेन विषादेनेत्यत आह यद्यपीति द्वाभ्याम्। राज्यलोभेनोपहतं भ्रष्टविवेकं चेतो येषां त एते दुर्योधनादयो यद्यपि दोषं न पश्यन्ति तथाप्यस्माभिर्दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिरस्मात्पापान्निवर्तितुं कथं न ज्ञेयम्। निवृत्तावेव बुद्धिः कर्तव्येत्यर्थः।

Machine-validated alignment; human review pending. SHA-256 d41115905cec…

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Commentary · Sanskrit

Vallabhācārya

।।1.34 1.37।।Sri Vallabhacharya did not comment on this sloka.

Machine-validated alignment; human review pending. SHA-256 18b9fd1a859b…

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Each reading retains its source-specific rights and alignment review record. Sources and rights →

Source trail

Trace this verse

Canonical ID
gita.1.37
Corpus version
gita-1.0.0-rc.1
Text review
machine-cross-checked; first review verified, second pass pending
Devanagari and IAST digital witness
vedic-scriptures · BG1.37
English translation witness
telang-1882 · Chapter 1; aligned against BG1.37
SHA-256
8970fc531ca2dcf4cc08b08f8f4b64f018b9b81047cd66e96bbf71ec1229eedc