Read a Lecture by Srila Prabhupada on these Verses
YaÛPYaeTae Na PaXYaiNTa
l/ae>aaePahTaceTaSa" )
ku-l/+aYak*-Ta& daez& iMa
k-Qa& Na jeYaMaSMaai>a" PaaPaadSMaaiàviTaRTauMa( )
ku-l/+aYak*-Ta& daez& Pa[PaXYaiÙJaRNaadRNa )) 38 ))
yady apy ete na paçyanti
lobhopahata-cetasaù
kula-kñaya-kåtaà doñaà
mitra-drohe ca pätakam
kathaà na jïeyam asmäbhiù
päpäd asmän nivartitum
kula-kñaya-kåtaà doñaà
prapaçyadbhir janärdana
SYNONYMS
yadi—if; api—even; ete—they; na—do not; paçyanti—see; lobha—by greed; upahata—overpowered; cetasaù—their hearts; kula-kñaya—in killing the family; kåtam—done; doñam—fault; mitra-drohe—in quarreling with friends; ca—also; pätakam—sinful reactions; katham—why; na—should not; jïeyam—be known; asmäbhiù—by us; päpät—from sins; asmät—these; nivartitum—to cease; kula-kñaya—in the destruction of a dynasty; kåtam—done; doñam—crime; prapaçyadbhiù—by those who can see; janärdana—O Kåñëa.
TRANSLATION
O Janärdana, although these men, their hearts overtaken by greed, see no fault in killing one’s family or quarreling with friends, why should we, who can see the crime in destroying a family, engage in these acts of sin?
PURPORT
A kñatriya 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.
