Gita : Ch-1. Slo-45.

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita :


Chapter-1. ( Arjna-vishadha-yogam )


Slokam-45.  ( Arjuna   continued , pity   himself  )    




Aho    bhata     mahat    papam    kartum     vyavasita     vayam,



Yad rajya-sukha-lobhena     hantum       sva-janam      udyatah.




Aho    bhata    vayam   =    alas!      how strange it is!     we;

mahat    papam    kartum     vyavasita    =    Decided      to    perform    great    sins; ( WAR 

AND AFTER  EFFECTS ON FAMILIES)

Yad    rajya-sukha-lobhena    =   Why      because,    driven   by    greed    for royal    happiness   

 by our  kingdom;

Sva-janam      hantum      udyatah    =   Prepared     to     kill      our    own     kinsmen   ( blood     

relatives ),   by means  of war.




Alas, how strange it is that we are preparing to commit greatly sinful acts, driven by the desire to enjoy royal happiness.

Arjuna who was aggrieved by the Kauravas determination to slay their relatives said: Alas we are ready to slay our very own relatives by this heinous sin we are resolved to commit. What a pity! 

It is a sinful act even to think about or resolve the killing of friends and relatives. So being repentant for such a resolve this verse is given. Here the word bata meaning how strange is utilised as a preposition in the sense of uncertainty.

Driven by selfish motives, one may be inclined to such sinful acts as the killing of one's own brother, father, or mother. There are many such instances in the history of the world. But Arjuna, being a saintly devotee of the Lord, is always conscious of moral principles and therefore takes care to avoid such activities.

As Arjuna has surmised in the previous slokam it is not in his best interest to fight according to his understanding. Now it is seen that he repents the fact of even considering that it would be fruitful to fight a war that would bring such evil consequences. Thinking that his intelligence must be marred by delusion he sorrowfully speaks the words: aho bata alas how ironic it is. What is ironic? It is ironic to him that he has committed himself to great sin by his intention to slay friends and kinsman in the pursuit of royal pleasures and enjoyments. 

To be continued  ...