कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम् ।
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ॥
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
यद्यपि लोभ के कारण जिनका विवेकविचार लुप्त हो गया है, ऐसे ये दुर्योधन आदि कुल का नाश करने से होनेवाले दोष को और मित्रों के साथ द्वेष करने से होनेवाले पाप को नहीं देखते, तो भी हे जनार्दन कुल का नाश करने से होनेवाले दोष को ठीकठीक जाननेवाले हमलोग इस पाप से निवृत्त होनेका विचार क्यों न करें ॥
English
Why should we not turn away from this sin, when we clearly see the fault in destroying the family, O Janardana?
What this verse means
Arjuna says that because he can see the harm caused by destroying the family, he and his side should turn away from this wrong action.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna is no longer thinking like a warrior eager for victory. He sees that killing relatives will destroy the family itself, and he asks Krishna why they should not step back from such wrongdoing.
Why this verse still matters
You are about to send the message that will break a family apart. The facts are clear, and so is the damage. This verse is the moment you ask whether continuing is worth becoming the person who did it.
The takeaway
Seeing the damage clearly makes hesitation feel responsible, not weak.
Word-by-word translation
कथं (how) / न (not) / ज्ञेयम् (to be known) / अस्माभिः (by us) / पापात् (from sin) / अस्मात् (from this) / निवर्तितुम् (to turn back) / कुलक्षयकृतम् (caused by family-destruction) / दोषम् (fault) / प्रपश्यद्भिः (by those clearly seeing) / जनार्दन (O Janardana)
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: adharma (12 verses)