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Chapter 1: Arjuna's Sorrow - Verse 44,45 & 46

© S.Kavita

Arjuna finds no justification to fight and accumulate sins. He goes to the extent of saying that it was better to be killed rather than to kill.

Verse 44:

"utsanna-kula-dharmanam manusyanam janardana narake niyatam vaso bhavatity anususruma"

(44)O Krishna! We have heard that for those whose clan laws are destroyed, dwelling in hell is ordained.
Explanation: Arjuna fears for the fate of his own enemies. Victory was sure for the Pandavas as Lord Krishna was on their side.
Arjuna knew that if they waged a war, the Kaurava clan would be destroyed. Hell would be certain for the Kauravas as they will move away from the path of Dharma.

Verse 45:

"aho bata mahat papam kartum vyavasita vayam yad rajya-sukha-lobhena hantum sva-janam udyatah"

(45) What a pity that we have made up our minds to commit a great sin by slaying our own kith and kin out of greed for pleasures of kingdom.
Explanation: Arjuna is convinced that only sin would augment by waging the war.
He is troubled by the fact that even under the guidence of Lord Krishna, they were ready to fight out of greed for the kingdom

Verse 46:

"yadi mam apratikaram asastram sastra-panayah dhartarastra rane hanyus tan me ksemataram bhavet "

(46)If in this battle the sons of Dhrtarastra, armed with weapons kill me though I am unarmed and unresisting, that would be more beneficial to me.
Explanation: Arjuna was soft hearted. According to the rules of the battle field an unarmed warrior must not be attacked.
Arjuna says to Lord Krishna that it was better to be killed by the Kauravas even when unarmed, than to slay them in the battle field.

Arjuna is reluctant to wage the war against his cousins, the Kauravas. With this we come to the end of Chapter 1, which dealt with wrong-knowledge of Arjuna.

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