निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्न: का प्रीति: स्याज्जनार्दन | पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिन: || 36 || तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान् | स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिन: स्याम माधव || 37 || |
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“O Janardhana, what joy will we find by killing the sons of Dhritarashtra? Only sin will accrue to us by slaying these felons.”
“Therefore, we are not justified in killing our relatives, the sons of Dhritarashtra. How can we be happy by causing the destruction of our own relatives, O Madhava?”
Commentary
Arjuna acknowledges that even if he were to kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, it would not bring him any true joy or inner peace. He refers to Krishna as Janardhana, meaning “the one who bestows pleasure upon devotees,” indicating that Krishna is the source of ultimate happiness and fulfillment. Arjuna realizes that resorting to violence and killing would only lead to the accumulation of sinful actions, further burdening his consciousness.
Arjuna emphasizes the bond of kinship and family ties. He states that it is inappropriate and undeserving for them to slay their own relatives, the sons of Dhritarashtra. He questions how they can find happiness and contentment by causing harm and destruction to their own loved ones.