Chapter 1: Arjuna Viṣhāda Yoga – Transforming Grief into Yoga: Verse 36
निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्न: का प्रीति: स्याज्जनार्दन ।
पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिन: ॥
nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrān-na: kā prīti: syāj-janārdana
pāpam-evāśrayed-asmān-hatvaitān-ātatāyina: – 1.36
What satisfaction will there be for us by killing Dhritarashtra’s sons, O Janardana (Krishna)? By slaying them, though they are criminals, sin alone will accrue to us.
Chapter 1: Arjuna Viṣhāda Yoga – Transforming Grief into Yoga - Verse 36
Swami Nirviseshananda Tirtha
Arjuna continues his torment: “Dhritarashtra is my paternal uncle. And his sons are our brothers, like we five. By fighting and killing them, Krishna, what delight can we earn? Killing enemies will not afflict the heart; but killing relatives certainly will!
“At the end of our incognito life, while staying in Virata kingdom, true, I accompanied Uttara (Virata prince) to fight Duryodhana’s army including our grandfather and teacher. But, that was more a sportful challenge.
“But here now it is not so. Victory and defeat are sure to follow. My heart is certainly not to fight and destroy our relatives. This fight will only incur sin.
“Atatāyins are those who are ranged to kill one. In destroying any such felon, at the very sight, there is no sin, say our Dharma-śāstras, the codes on dharma. Despite this, my heart does not allow me to fight and destroy these felons.”
