Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 37

English Translation

Therefore, it is not proper for us to kill the sons of Dhrtarastra who are our own relatives. For, O Madhava, how can we be happy by killing our kinsmen?

Detailed Commentary

Commentary on 1.37: 'तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान् स्वबान्धवान्' -- Given all the reasons and arguments I have presented thus far for not killing our kinsmen, how can we engage in such a calamitous act? Killing our own relatives is completely improper for us. How can good people like us perform such an unrighteous act? 'स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव' -- O Madhava! Even the mere apprehension of these kinsmen dying causes great sorrow. If, under the sway of anger and greed, we were to kill them, how much greater would be our sorrow! How can we be happy by killing them? Here, due to the delusion (moha) arising from attachment (mamata) that 'these are our close relatives,' Arjuna is unable to perceive his Kshatriya duty (kshatriyochit kartavya). Where there is delusion (moha), discrimination (viveka) is suppressed. When discrimination (viveka) is suppressed, the intensity of delusion (moha) increases, and one's duty (kartavya) cannot be clearly perceived. **Context:** Now, a doubt arises here: just as Duryodhana and others are kinsmen (svajana) to you, so too are you kinsmen (svajana) to Duryodhana and others. You are contemplating withdrawing from battle from the perspective of kinsmen (svajana), but Duryodhana and others are not even considering withdrawing from battle; what is the reason for this? Arjuna will provide the answer to this in the next two verses.