Verse 37-38
"We had then better not slay our own kinsmen the sons
of Dhritarashtra for, how can we be happy,
O Madhava, after slaying our own people? Arjunas grief at the evils
of war"
"Though these, whose intelligence is stricken by greed, perceive no evil in
the extinction of families and no sin in treachery to friends"
Transilteration keys:
ta-smA-nnA-rhA va-yam ha-ntum dhA-rta-rA-SHTrAn sva-bA-ndha-vAn | sva-ja-nam hi ka-tham ha-tvA su-khi-naH syA-ma mA-dha-va ||37||
ya-dhya-pyaE-taE na pa-shya-nti lO-bhO-pa-ha-ta-caE-ta-saH | ku-la-xa-ya-kRe-tam dO-SHam mi-tra-drO-haE ca pA-ta-kam ||38||
Analysis:
By using the word `Tasmat' (therefore) at the beginning of the verse, Arjuna
meant to say that looking to the sad mental and physical plight to which he had
been reduced and the reasons put forward by him against entering upon the War,
and because, again, of the other thoughts which were surging within his mind, he
was definitely of opinion that it would be altogether unbecoming on the part of
the Pandavas to kill Duryodhana and other relations in the Kaurava army. He held
that there was not the slightest possibility of the Pandavas obtaining any form
of happiness, in this world or the next, by killing these near ones. Therefore,
he said he did not want to fight.
Here Arjuna means to say that such action on the part of Duryodhana and his
friends was no doubt most reprehensible, but it was not unnatural for them for
their inordinate greed had wholly destroyed their power of discrimination
between good and evil. Therefore, they could not see the great evil and disaster
that would inevitably follow the destruction of all members of the race, nor
could they realize what a dreadful sin it was
to look upon relations and friends as enemies and fight with them for mutual
slaughter. Arjuna and his brothers, however, were not blinded by greed, they
could clearly see what evil and disaster would ensue from the destruction of the
family and race. Therefore, knowingly, and with their eyes wide open, why should
they be guilty of such an outrageous sin! They should, therefore, considering
the evil nature of the act, withdraw themselves from the fight.
Verse 37-38 Contributed by Baggaon Surendra
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