Chapter 1 · Arjuna Vishada Yoga - The Yoga of Arjuna's DespondencyArjuna
Verse 36
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 1, श्लोक 36
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन।
पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः॥३६॥
Transliteration
Nihatya Dhartarashtran Nah Ka Pritih Syaj-Janardana.
Papam-Eva-Ashrayed-Asman Hatva-Etan-Atatayinah.||36||
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
निहत्यnihatyaby killing
धार्तराष्ट्रान्dhartarashtranthe sons of Dhritarashtra
नःnahour
काkawhat
प्रीतिःpritihpleasure
स्यात्syatwould be
जनार्दनjanardanaO Krishna
पापम्papamsin
एवevacertainly
आश्रयेत्ashrayetwould take hold
अस्मान्asmanof us
हत्वाhatvahaving killed
आततायिनःatatayinahaggressors
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
हे जनार्दन! धृतराष्ट्र के पुत्रों को मारकर हमें क्या प्रसन्नता होगी? इन आततायियों को मारने से तो हमें पाप ही लगेगा।
English Translation
O Janardana, what pleasure would we derive from killing the sons of Dhritarashtra? Sin alone would accrue to us by slaying these aggressors.
Commentary (टीका)
Interestingly, Arjuna acknowledges the Kauravas are 'atatayinah' (aggressors) — yet still refuses to fight them. According to dharma-shastra, killing an aggressor (one who commits arson, poisoning, armed attack, theft, land-grabbing, or abduction) incurs no sin. Arjuna's emotional state overrides his scriptural knowledge.