Chapter 1, Verse 36
निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान् नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन। पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान् हत्वैतानाततायिनः।।
nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrān naḥ kā prītiḥ syāj janārdana pāpam evāśrayed asmān hatvaitān ātatāyinaḥ
Meaning
What joy shall we find in killing the sons of Dhritarashtra, O Janardana? Sin alone will befall us in slaying these aggressors.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Arjuna introduces the language of sin (pāpa) for the first time. He asks: what satisfaction can come from killing, even killing aggressors who have wronged us? His question is genuine — the hollow victory, the survivor's guilt, the moral residue of killing even justifiable enemies — these are real. The question is not merely rhetorical.
However, he calls them 'ātatāyinaḥ' — aggressors, those who have committed the most grave offences (the seven traditional categories include arson, poisoning, murder, stealing, usurping land, abducting women, and seizing kingdom). Arjuna himself acknowledges their crimes, yet refuses to punish them. This internal contradiction will be central to Krishna's response: you call them aggressors but refuse to treat them as such. What underlying sentiment is driving this contradiction?
The name 'Janardana' — refuge of all beings, or one who grants boons — is chosen here with care. Arjuna is, beneath his arguments, calling out to the one who is the refuge of all. He is asking not just an intellectual question but an existential one: where does one go to find peace after this?
💡 Key Takeaway
Acknowledge what is driving a seemingly logical argument — often the logic is sound but the motivation underneath it needs honest examination.
Related Verses
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच | धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः | मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥१॥
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | dharma-kṣetre kuru-kṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ | māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva kim akurvata sañjaya ||1||
Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, after assembling in the place of pilgrimage at Kurukshetra, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do, being desirous to fight?
सञ्जय उवाच दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा। आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत्।।
sañjaya uvāca dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṁ vyūḍhaṁ duryodhanas tadā ācāryam upasaṅgamya rājā vacanam abravīt
Sanjaya said: Having seen the army of the Pandavas arrayed in battle formation, King Duryodhana then approached his teacher Drona and spoke these words.
पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम्। व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता।।
paśyaitāṁ pāṇḍu-putrāṇām ācārya mahatīṁ camūm vyūḍhāṁ drupada-putreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā
O teacher, behold this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, so skilfully arrayed by the son of Drupada — your own talented student.