Chapter 1 · Arjuna Vishada Yoga - The Yoga of Arjuna's DespondencyArjuna
Verse 35
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 1, श्लोक 35
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन।
अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते॥३५॥
Transliteration
Etan Na Hantum-Ichchhami Ghnato'pi Madhusudana.
Api Trailokya-Rajyasya Hetoh Kim Nu Mahikrite.||35||
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
एतान्etanthese
नnanot
हन्तुम्hantumto kill
इच्छामिichchhamiI wish
घ्नतःghnataheven if they kill me
अपिapieven
मधुसूदनmadhusudanaO slayer of Madhu (Krishna)
त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्यtrailokya-rajyasyaof the sovereignty of three worlds
हेतोःhetohfor the sake of
किम् नुkim nuwhat to speak of
महीकृतेmahi-kritefor the sake of the earth
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
हे मधुसूदन! ये सब मुझे मार भी डालें तो भी मैं इन्हें मारना नहीं चाहता। तीनों लोकों के राज्य के लिए भी नहीं, फिर इस पृथ्वी के लिए तो कहना ही क्या?
English Translation
O Madhusudana, I do not wish to kill them even if they kill me — not even for the sovereignty of all three worlds, let alone for this earth.
Commentary (टीका)
Arjuna declares his willingness to die rather than fight. He offers the ultimate sacrifice — not just of victory but of life itself. While this seems supremely noble, Krishna will show that abandoning one's dharmic duty out of attachment is not true sacrifice but rather spiritual confusion.