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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 1.44
अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् ।
यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ॥ ४४ ॥
aho bata mahat pāpaṁ
kartuṁ vyavasitā vayam
yad rājya-sukha-lobhena
hantuṁ sva-janam udyatāḥ
Alas, how strange it is that we are preparing to commit greatly sinful acts. Driven by the desire to enjoy royal happiness, we are intent on killing our own kinsmen.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
Arjuna laments that they are ready to kill their own relatives to enjoy royal happiness.
Selfish motives can lead people to sinful acts, even killing close family members.
As a saintly devotee of the Lord, Arjuna always keeps moral principles in mind, and like Arjuna, we should take care to avoid sinful acts.
These notes cover verses 1.44–46
Conclusion — Arjuna decides not to fight and casts aside his bow and arrows
28 — 1.46) Arjuna’s saintliness is revealed by the following points:
Softheartedness (1.28)
Does not want to kill even for exchange of three worlds (1.35)
Ready to forgive any aggressors (1.36)
Considers evil consequences even at the risk of refusing obligation to fight (1.37 – 1.38)
Conscious of obligations to protect family traditions and morals (1.39 – 1.44)
He does not think that: “I am transcendental and I have no obligations”
Arjuna being saintly is conscious of moral principles – How he can kill one’s relatives based on selfish motives (1.44)
Ready to be killed unarmed, but not retaliate (1.45)
Custom according to Ksatriya fighting principles – unarmed and unwilling foe should not be attacked
These symptoms are due to softheartedness resulting from being a great devotee
Kept his bow down (even broke his vow of not keeping the bow once lifted) (1.46) Conclusion: Such a kind and softhearted person is fit to receive self-knowledge (1.46 purport)
End of chapter 1
Bhagavad Gita Notes 1 Chapter 1 Appendix CHAPTER 1 Appendix Selected Texts extracted from “Surrender unto Me”
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Key ideas: saṁśaya, viṣāda.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 1.44 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to questions & crisis?
Write down the real question behind your current dilemma.
Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.