Gita : Ch-2. Slo-4.

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita :


Chapter- 2.( Samkya-yogam )


Slokam-4. (  Arjuna said: O killer of Madhu [Krishna], how can I counterattack with arrows in battle men like Bhishma and Drona, who are worthy of my worship?  )



arjuna uvaca :


Katham   bhishmam     aham    samkhye   dronam    ca    madhusudana,


Ishubhih      pratiyotsyami        pujarhav     ari-sudana.



arjunah   uvaca     =    arjuna said; 

madhusudana    =    hey    Krishna!    (  Killer  of Madhu, the demon );

aham    samkhye    =   I,  in   the   war;

pujarhav    bhishmam      dronam    ca    =    respectable,      worshipable,     Bishma      and    also    Drona;

ishubhih   =   with     arrows;

katham    pratiyotsyami    =    how    shall      oppose / encounter    (  counter-attack );

ari-sudana    =     hey     destroyer    of    enemies!                                           





Respectable superiors like Bhishma the grandfather and Dronacarya the teacher are always worshipable. Even if they attack, they should not be counterattacked. It is general etiquette that superiors are not to be offered even a verbal fight. Even if they are sometimes harsh in behavior, they should not be harshly treated. Then, how is it possible for Arjuna to counterattack them? Would Krishna ever attack His own grandfather, Ugrasena, or His teacher, Sandipani Maharishi? These were some of the arguments by Arjuna to Krishna.


I am not withdrawing from battle out of cowardice but because it is improper to attack my superiors. This is what Arjuna meant by asking the Supreme Lord Krishna: How shall I fight against Bhishma and Drona? When it is wrong to even speak of fighting against them, how can I then even consider actually fighting them. This is the factual meaning of these words expressed by Arjuna. 


Although Lord Krishna's instructions are perfectly correct still it might be submitted that one coming from noble lineage should only fight a battle which is not antagonistic to ones family traditions regarding righteousness and not fight a battle which would be instrumental in destroying these family traditions. Arjuna is asking how can he engage in battle with his superior Bhishma and his preceptor Drona. When even to argue against them is improper then what to think against attacking them with deadly arrows in earnest. Why? Because preceptors and superiors are always to be respected. Duryodhana by placing Bhishma and Drona directly in the forefront caused the ever righteous Pandavas discomfort at the thought of having to fight against them as it was opposed to the time honored noble traditions of their family lineage. So what Arjuna in fact is stating is why should they engage themselves in this battle being aware of the great sinfulness declared in the Vedic scriptures of disregarding superiors and showing aggression against the preceptor which results in the perpetrator becoming a ghostly demon known as a brahma-rakshasa.

To be continued   ....