Gita : Ch-1. Slo-32, 33, 34 & 35.

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita :


Chapter-1. ( Arjuna-vishadha-yogam )


Slokam-32, 33, 34 & 35. ( O Govinda, of what avail to us are kingdoms, happiness or even life itself when all those for whom we may desire them are now arrayed in this battlefield? O Madhusūdana, when teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and all relatives are ready to give up their lives and properties and are standing before me, then why should I wish to kill them, though I may survive? O maintainer of all creatures, I am not prepared to fight with them even in exchange for the three worlds, let alone this earth.)



32.

na  kamkshe  vijayam   krishna  na   ca  rajyam   sukkani   ca,


kim   no   rajyena   govinda   kim   bogairjivitena   va.




krishna   vijayam  na  kamkshe   =   hey   krishna!   I  am   not  interested   in   victory;

rajyam   ca  sukkani   ca  na   =   Iam   not   interested   in  kingdom   as  well  as  pleasures   from   sense-objects;

govinda   =   hey   govinda!

na  rajyena   kim   =   what   is   the  use  of  kingdom  for  us;

bhogaiah   =   with   sensuous  pleaures;

jivitena   va   kim   =   what   is  the  reason  to  this  life.




33.


yeshamarthe   kamkshitam   no   rajyam   bhogah  sukkani   ca;


ta   imevasthita   yudhe   prannamstyaktva   dhanani   ca.




34.  

acharyah   pitarah   putrah   tathaiva   ca    pithamahah,


mathulah   svasurah   pautrah   syalah   sambhandhinastatha.





yesham   arthe   =   to   whom;

rajyam   bhogah   sukkani   ca   =   kingdom,   and   sensuous   pleasures;

nah   kamkshitam   =   we   never   desired   for;

te   acharyah   =   those   acharyas   and;

pitarah   putrah   =   fathers  and   sons;

tatha   eva   ca   =  likewise;

pithamahah   mathulah  =   grandfathers  and  maternal  uncles;

svasurah   pautrah  syalah   =  father-in-laws,   grandsons,   brothers;

tatha   sambhandhinah   =   that   way   relatives;

ime   pranan  =  these   lives  (  jivas);

dhanani  ca   tyaktva   =   giving  up  riches;

yudhe   avasthitah   =   end   in  this  battle  field.





35.


etan   na   hantumicchami    ghanatopi   madhusudhana


api   trailokyarajyasya   hetoh   kimnu   mahikrate.





madhusudhanah!    =  hey   krishna!

ghanatah  api   =   if   even   I  am   killed   by   these  men  or   they   come   to  kill  me;

trailokyarajyasya   =   command   and   contol   of   all   the   three  worlds;

heto  api  =  even  gain   these;

etan  hantum   na   icchami   =   I  am   not  willing   to   kill   these  people;

kim  nu  mahikrate  =  then   why   for   this  lands.






 By Arjuna addressing Lord Krishna as Govinda expresses that since Lord Krishna is the knower of all the functions of the senses, Lord Krishna is also the knower of his mind. The reason for not desiring the kingdom etc. are given in the second half of verse 32 beginning: yesam arthe. One can desire a kingdom for the happiness of ones kinsman even at the cost of ones own life; but in this battle when the destruction of ones kin is certain it is a fruitless desire to engage in battle. If it is put forth that although Arjuna out of compassion might not wish to slay his enemies; but it is certain that his enemies will surely slay him to keep the kingdom free from thorns. To answer this Arjuna is saying even if they intend to slay him he will not slay them. He says: I do not desire the rulership of the three worlds let alone this tract of land called Earth. If it is argued that Arjuna could slay only the sons of Dhritarastra who caused the Pandavas so much troubles and leave all the others warriors alive then to answer this Arjuna is saying: what pleasure is there for us the Pandavas to kill the sons of Dhritarastra? In expectation of temporary, earthly pleasures, fratricide is not in any way an appropriate action and will only insure eternal damnation to hell. By Arjuna addressing Lord Krishna as Janardana which means He who always naturally protects His devotees; that since He has appeared for removing the sins from this world, then He can just slay all these sinners Himself and since Lord Krishna is the Supreme Lord there is no question of Him incurring any sinful reaction for causing their deaths. 


It could be put forth that even if there is no reward in the heavenly planets there would still be royal luxuries and kingly enjoyments in this world for the slayer. To refute this supposition in this verse Arjuna declares what use are these? The explanation of Arjuna addressing Lord Krishna by the vocative Govinda indicates that since the Lord is the possessor of eternal existence, consciousness and bliss, Arjuna is imploring that the Lord should satiate him with this bliss. In the word Govinda, go stands for the senses and vinda stands for He who attracts and directs the senses. So Arjuna feeling great despair contemplating the prospect of immense slaughter as a consequence of war is requesting Lord Krishna to properly direct his senses for his ultimate benefit. 

If it were to be submitted that even if Arjuna, being the son of Pandu and Kunti had no desire for royal luxuries and kingly enjoyments, for the sake of his relatives such desires are appropriate. This is neutralised by this verse which stating that all those relatives for whose sake these desires would be appropriate are on the battlefield ready for war. Therefore in this context Arjuna has no need to fight. 

It may be argued that even if Arjuna thinks of them as relatives, if he does not slay them, they will certainly slay him. So Arjuna should slay them all and rule over the entire kingdom. To refute this Arjuna states that he never desires to slay them, even if they wish to slay him. Arjuna addressing Lord Krishna with the vocative Madhusudana is giving reference to Lord Krishna terminating the existence of a demon name Madhu in a previous time. The name is used to give credence to Arjuna's position by illustrating as an example that demons are to be exterminated and not relatives. 

Arjuna exclaims here that even for dominion of all the worlds he would not wish to slay the sons of Dhritarastra, let alone for a kingdom on the earth. By addressing Lord Krishna with the vocative Janardana meaning He who destroys the ignorance of His devotees, Arjuna is supplicating Lord Krishna to destroy his ignorance as well. 


Arjuna says moreover, I see no good etc. That he does not see any benefit from slaying family members opposed in battle. It may be argued to him that by fighting them it will lead to victory; but he has already said that he doesn't desire victory. This is being expanded in slokam- 32 beginning with kim tu rajyena up to the end of slokam- 33. They for whose sake we deisre sovereignty are assembled here to fight giving up life and wealth, meaning undergoing such sacrifice. Therefore of what use will sovereignty be to us? This is the understanding for slokam-s- 31-34.   

To be continued .....