Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 Verse 38 — Arjuna Vishada Yoga
Sanskrit
यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः | कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ||१-३८||
Transliteration
yadyapyete na paśyanti lobhopahatacetasaḥ . kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ mitradrohe ca pātakam ||1-38||
Hindi Meaning
।।1.38।।यद्यपि लोभ से भ्रष्टचित्त हुये ये लोग कुलनाशकृत दोष और मित्र द्रोह में पाप नहीं देखते हैं।
English Meaning
O Madhava, why should we, who can see the crime in destroying a family, engage in these acts of sin? With the destruction of the dynasty, the eternal family tradition is vanquished, and thus the rest of the family becomes involved in irreligion.
Commentary
A kṣatriya is not supposed to refuse to battle or gamble when he is so invited by some rival party. Under such an obligation, Arjuna could not refuse to fight, because he had been challenged by the party of Duryodhana. In this connection, Arjuna considered that the other party might be blind to the effects of such a challenge. Arjuna, however, could see the evil consequences and could not accept the challenge. Obligation is actually binding when the effect is good, but when the effect is otherwise, then no one can be bound. Considering all these pros and cons, Arjuna decided not to fight.
Hinglish Commentary
Arjuna ek kṣatriya hai, aur uska farz hai ki jab bhi koi dushman usse ladne ya jua khelne ke liye bulata hai, toh usse mana nahi karna chahiye. Isliye, jab Duryodhana ki taraf se usse chunauti mili, toh Arjuna ke liye usse ladne se inkaar karna mushkil ho gaya. Lekin Arjuna ne socha ki shayad dusri taraf wale log is chunauti ke asar ko nahi samajh rahe hain. Usne dekha ki is chunauti ka natija kitna bura ho sakta hai, aur isliye usne ye chunauti nahi maani. Asal mein, jab kisi obligation ka asar achha ho, tab wo bandhan mein hota hai, lekin agar asar bura ho, toh koi bhi is bandhan ko nahi maan sakta. In sab baaton ko sochne ke baad, Arjuna ne ladne ka faisla nahi kiya.