Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 33

English Translation

1.34 O Govinda! What need do we have of a kingdom, or what (need) of enjoyments and livelihood? Those for whom kingdom, enjoyments and pleasures ae desired by us, viz teachers, uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law as also relatives-those very ones stand arrayed for battle risking their lives and wealth.

Detailed Commentary

1.33. Commentary – 'For whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyments, and pleasures' – We do not seek kingdom, happiness, enjoyments, etc., for our own personal gratification, but for these relatives, loved ones, and friends. We wish to achieve the kingdom through battle and accumulate objects of enjoyment so that the Acharyas, fathers, Pitamahas, and sons may experience comfort and ease, be served, and remain content. 'These very ones stand arrayed in battle, having renounced lives and riches' – Yet, these very same individuals, all of them, stand before us ready for battle, having abandoned all hope for their lives (pranas) and wealth (dhana). They have resolved that they possess no attachment (moha) to life nor any craving (trishna) for wealth; they would rather die than give up the fight. If all of them perish, for whom would we desire the kingdom? For whom the pleasures? For whom the wealth? The implication of 'having renounced lives and riches' (Prananstyakṭvā dhanāni ca) is that they stand having given up hope for their lives and wealth. If they had a desire for lives and wealth, why would they stand ready to die in battle? Therefore, here, the renunciation of life and wealth signifies the renunciation of their hope for them. Connection – Arjuna describes who these people are, for whom we desire kingdom, enjoyments (bhoga), and happiness (sukha), in the next two Shlokas.