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Chapter 1 · Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra · 46 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Questions & crisisChapter 1 · Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra
1.361.38

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 1.37

The fear of family destruction and sin

Karma · Action

यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः ।

कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ॥ ३७ ॥

कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मन्निवर्तितुम् ।

कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भ‍िर्जनार्दन ॥ ३८ ॥

yady apy ete na paśyanti

lobhopahata-cetasaḥ

kula-kṣaya-kṛtaṁ doṣaṁ

mitra-drohe ca pātakam

kathaṁ na jñeyam asmābhiḥ

pāpād asmān nivartitum

kula-kṣaya-kṛtaṁ doṣaṁ

prapaśyadbhir janārdana

Translation

O Janārdana, 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?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Arjuna Questions the Duty to Fight

  1. 1

    Arjuna questions destroying their family despite seeing the sin and evil consequences, even if others are blinded by greed, and decides not to fight.

  2. 2

    A kṣatriya is expected to accept a rival’s challenge to battle or gamble, so Duryodhana’s party challenging Arjuna obliged him to fight.

  3. 3

    An obligation is binding when its effects are good, but not when its effects are bad.

Key points from the purport

These notes cover verses 1.36–38

Arjuna argues that fighting will incur sinful reactions because of the unique position of the aggressors as seniors and relatives

a

Six kinds of aggressors to be killed (based on grounds of politics and sociology – Artha-sastra) Killing them does not incur any sin.

1

A Poison-giver; 2. One who sets fire to the house; 3. One who attacks with deadly weapons

4

One who plunders riches; 5.One who occupies another’s land; 6. One who kidnaps a wife

b

Why Arjuna favors forgiveness (based on the grounds of religion and saintly behavior – Dharma- sastra)

Because of the unique position of these aggressors as seniors and relatives

Forgiveness on account of saintliness

Arjuna considers why to risk life and eternal salvation for temporary pleasures and kingdom FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORTS 1.36 – 1.38 continued…

c

Correct understanding about forgiveness / saintliness

Saintliness is not justified for a ksatriya

Compared to “Rama-rajya” – Lord Rama gave sufficient lessons to Ravana who was an aggressor because he kidnapped Rama’s wife, Mother Sita

d

‘Madhava’ — Arjuna addresses Krishna as ‘Madhava’ to indicate:

Krishna is the husband of the Goddess of ‘fortune’

Krishna should not cause an action which brings ‘misfortune’

e

Saintliness of Arjuna — Arjuna’s thorough consideration of evil consequences reveals saintliness (1.37 – 1.38)

Obligation (To not refuse when challenged to battle or gamble) is binding when the effect is good, not otherwise

Therefore Arjuna considered that he is not obliged to fight ARJUNA’S FOURTH ARGUMENT — DESTRUCTION OF FAMILY TRADITIONS (1.39 — 1.43)

Refutation:

Lord Krishna refutes this argument in Texts 2.45, 2.46 & 3.24

Further reading

Arjuna’s Five Arguments Not To Fight

Chapter 1, section II: Arjuna’s Five Arguments Not To Fight
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yadiif
  2. apieven
  3. etethey
  4. nado not
  5. paśyantisee
  6. lobhaby greed
  7. upahataoverpowered
  8. cetasaḥtheir hearts
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: saṁśaya, viṣāda.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 1.37 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to questions & crisis?

Practice

Write down the real question behind your current dilemma.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 1.31The fear of family destruction and sinBG 1.32The fear of family destruction and sinBG 2.7The moment Arjuna becomes a discipleBG 6.34The restless mind
Live this todayReal Self-Interest Lies in KṛṣṇaA practice from BG 1.30, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
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