nimittāni cha paśhyāmi viparītāni keśhava
na cha śhreyo ’nupaśhyāmi hatvā sva-janam āhave
nimittāni — omens;
cha — and;
paśhyāmi — I see;
viparītāni — misfortune;
keśhava — Shree Krishna, killer of the Keshi demon;
na — not;
cha — also;
śhreyaḥ — good;
anupaśhyāmi — I foresee;
hatvā — from killing;
sva-janam — kinsmen;
āhave — in battle
In this verse, Arjuna is expressing his deep concerns and feelings about the situation he is in. He sees that his own family members and relatives are on the opposing side, and he cannot imagine how anything good could come from fighting and possibly killing them. To him, it seems wrong to hurt those he loves, even in the name of a battle or for the sake of winning a kingdom.
Arjuna's mind is troubled. He knows that fighting against his own family is not just a physical battle; it also feels like a moral and emotional struggle. He believes that victory gained from such a destructive context would not bring him happiness or peace. It's like a person who knows that although cooking a nice meal might be rewarding, they simply can’t enjoy it if their loved ones are hungry or hurting.
He mentions that the omens around him are not good; they signify misfortune. This shows his belief that the outcome of this battle will only lead to sorrow, loss, and further conflict. Arjuna places value on his relationships, and the thought of killing his own family members fills him with despair.
Arjuna's reluctance to fight reflects a deeper principle: to be truly happy, he believes one cannot harm their loved ones. Happiness, for him, comes from love and connection, not from winning a battle or gaining a title. He feels confused and lost; it's as if he has been put in a position where he must choose between doing what is duty and what feels right to him emotionally.
He is stuck in a difficult place because he knows, as a warrior (or kshatriya), that fighting is expected and necessary. He has a responsibility to fight for his rights and reclaim his kingdom, but he's also deeply aware that this involves hurting people he cares about. He fears that any success achieved through violence will make his heart heavy rather than bring joy. It's similar to knowing that a job promotion will come at a great personal cost—sacrificing friendships or damaging family bonds.
In this moment of crisis, Arjuna's thoughts lead him to consider retreating from the battle and isolating himself in the forest. This reflects a longing for peace of mind, away from the chaos of war. Yet, he understands that as a warrior, he cannot simply walk away; he is destined to strive for power and security. He knows he needs a kingdom to survive as a kshatriya, but he feels trapped because he cannot bring himself to fight for it. In essence, he feels that the only escape from these overwhelming feelings is to withdraw from the world and its conflicts, which shows how deeply he is affected by the situation.