गुरूनहत्वा हि महानुभावान्श्रेयो भोक्तुं भैक्ष्यमपीह लोके ।
हत्वार्थकामांस्तु गुरूनिहैवभुञ्जीय भोगान् रुधिरप्रदिग्धान् ॥
हत्वार्थकामांस्तु गुरूनिहैवभुञ्जीय भोगान् रुधिरप्रदिग्धान् ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
महानुभाव गुरुजनोंको न मारकर इस लोकमें मैं भिक्षाका अन्न खाना भी श्रेष्ठ समझता हूँ । क्योंकि गुरुजनोंको मारकर यहाँ रक्तसे सने हुए तथा धनकी कामनाकी मुख्यतावाले भोगोंको ही तो भोगूँगा ॥
English
It is better to live on alms in this world than to kill these great teachers. If I kill them, the pleasures I enjoy here will be stained with blood and bound to greed.
What this verse means
Arjuna says it would be better to live on alms than kill his respected teachers. He sees any victory gained that way as tainted by blood and greed.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna stands frozen between two armies. Krishna has urged him to act, but Arjuna now names the moral cost: these are not enemies only, but revered teachers. His refusal deepens the crisis and shows how tangled duty has become.
Why this verse still matters
You are about to send the message that will end a friendship, or take the promotion that depends on someone else being pushed out. The win feels dirty before you even touch it.
The takeaway
Some gains cost too much. Clear conscience matters more than winning.
Word-by-word translation
गुरून् (teachers) / अहत्वा (without killing) / हि (indeed) / महानुभावान् (great-souled, noble) / श्रेयः (better) / भोक्तुम् (to eat/enjoy) / भैक्ष्यम् (alms) / अपि (even) / इह (here) / लोके (in the world) / हत्वा (having killed) / अर्थकामान् (those driven by wealth and desire) / तु (but) / गुरून् (teachers) / इह (here) / एव (indeed) / भुञ्जीय (I would enjoy) / भोगान् (pleasures) / रुधिरप्रदिग्धान् (stained with blood)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga — The Yoga of Knowledge, which contains 72 verses.
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses)