तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान् ।
स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ॥
स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
इसलिये अपने बान्धव इन धृतराष्ट्रसम्बन्धियों को मारने के लिये हम योग्य नहीं हैं क्योंकि हे माधव अपने कुटुम्बियों को मारकर हम कैसे सुखी होंगे ॥
English
Therefore, we are not fit to kill our own kinsmen, the sons of Dhritarashtra. How could we be happy after killing our relatives, O Madhava?
What this verse means
Arjuna says the Kaurava side are his own relatives, so killing them would not bring happiness.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna looks at the men he is meant to fight and sees family, not enemies. Krishna is pressing him toward action, but Arjuna's heart is breaking under the thought of killing his own kin.
Why this verse still matters
You are about to send the message that will end a friendship. Before you hit send, you feel the weight of what cannot be undone.
The takeaway
You can feel the cost of violence before you act, and that honesty matters.
Word-by-word translation
तस्मात् (therefore) / न अर्हाः (not fit) / वयम् (we) / हन्तुम् (to kill) / धार्तराष्ट्रान् (the sons of Dhritarashtra) / स्व-बान्धवान् (our own relatives) / स्व-जनम् (our own people) / हि (indeed) / कथम् (how) / हत्वा (having killed) / सुखिनः (happy) / स्याम (we would be) / माधव (O Madhava)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga — The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair, which contains 47 verses.
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), arjuna vishada (14 verses)