Chapter 1 Verse 45-46 | Krishnaverse

Word Meanings

aho	alas
bata	how
mahat	great
pāpam	sins
kartum	to perform
vyavasitāḥ	have decided
vayam	we
yat	because
rājya-sukha-lobhena	driven by the desire for kingly pleasure
hantum	to kill
sva-janam	kinsmen
udyatāḥ	intending
yadi	if
mām	me
apratīkāram	unresisting
aśhastram	unarmed
śhastra-pāṇayaḥ	those with weapons in hand
dhārtarāṣhṭrāḥ	the sons of Dhritarashtra
raṇe	on the battlefield
hanyuḥ	shall kill
tat	that
me	to me
kṣhema-taram	better
bhavet	would be

Translation

Alas! We are involved in a great sin, for we are prepared to kill our kinsmen, out of greed for the pleasures of a kingdom. If the sons of Dhritarashtra, with weapons in hand, should slay me in battle, unresisting and unarmed, that would be better for me.

Philosophical Significance

Core Meaning

Arjuna recognizes that being ready to kill his own relatives for the sake of a throne is a grave moral wrong. He feels deep sorrow because the desire for power and pleasure has led him to consider harming those he loves.

He even says that if he were killed unresisting, that would be better than committing that sin. This shows that inner conscience and moral truth matter more to him than victory or status.

Spiritually, the verse teaches that when attachment and greed push us toward harmful actions, true wisdom is to step back, choose integrity, and surrender selfish aims to a higher moral sense.

Life Application

Before making big decisions, pause and ask whether your choice will hurt relationships or make you betray your values.
Refuse short-term gains that require harming others; choose actions that keep your conscience clear.
When pressured, seek wise counsel or step away rather than rush into decisions driven by pride or greed.

Reflection Question

What choice am I facing now where I might be sacrificing my integrity for comfort or gain?