अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् | यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यता: || 45|| यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणय: | धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् || 46|| |
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“Oh, what a great sin we are about to commit! Out of greed for kingdom and pleasure, we are about to kill our own kinsmen.”
“If these weapon-bearing sons of Dhritarashtra kill me, unarmed and unresisting, that would be better for me.”
Commentary
In these verses, Arjuna expresses his deep anguish and realization of the grave consequences of the impending battle. He laments the decision to engage in this war, which involves the act of killing own relatives and loved ones. He acknowledges that their motivation for engaging in the battle is driven by their desire for power, wealth, and the pleasures that come with ruling a kingdom.
Arjuna reflects upon the ethical dilemma of fighting against his own family and questions the righteousness of their actions. He contemplates the possibility of facing his enemies, the sons of Dhritarashtra, without any defense or weapons. He suggests that it would be preferable for him to be defeated and killed by them rather than engaging in the battle and being responsible for the death of his relatives.
These verses depict Arjuna’s moral dilemma and his growing reluctance to participate in the war. He begins to question the righteousness of their cause and the consequences of their actions, seeking an alternative that would ensure his own well-being and avoid the guilt of fighting against his own family.