na kāṅkṣhe vijayaṁ kṛiṣhṇa na cha rājyaṁ sukhāni cha
kiṁ no rājyena govinda kiṁ bhogair jīvitena vā
na — nor;
kāṅkṣhe — do I desire;
vijayam — victory;
kṛiṣhṇa — Krishna;
na — nor;
cha — as well;
rājyam — kingdom;
sukhāni — happiness;
cha — also;
kim — what;
naḥ — to us;
rājyena — by kingdom;
govinda — Krishna, he who gives pleasure to the senses, he who is fond of cows;
kim — what?;
bhogaiḥ — pleasures;
jīvitena — life;
vā — or;
In this verse, Arjuna is speaking to Krishna and expressing his deep disappointment and confusion about fighting in the battle. He says that he does not want victory, he doesn’t want a kingdom, and he doesn’t want any pleasures that might come from winning.
To understand this better, let’s break it down. Arjuna recognizes that winning a battle might mean getting a kingdom and enjoying power and luxuries, but he feels that these things are not worth anything if it means hurting his family and friends. For him, those relationships are much more important than any title or wealth.
He calls Krishna ‘Govinda,’ which is a name that means the source of joy and happiness, especially related to cows, which are sacred in his culture. By using this name, Arjuna hints that true happiness comes from deeper connections and not from material things. It shows that he understands that winning might be temporary and that material successes don’t truly satisfy us if they cause pain to the ones we love.
Arjuna is in a tough spot emotionally. He loves his relatives and friends who are on the opposing side of the battle. The thought of defeating them to claim a throne feels wrong to him. He believes that if he were to win by killing them, he would gain nothing of value. This reflects a common feeling many people have; sometimes, the pursuit of success can come at a great personal cost, and it can leave us feeling empty or unhappy.
Arjuna’s feelings also highlight the idea that when we focus too much on our own desires—like wanting a big house, a high position, or fame—we can lose sight of what truly matters: our relationships and the well-being of others. His internal struggle symbolizes the conflict we all face when choices we have to make will affect those we care about. It showcases how important it is to think about the impact of our decisions on our loved ones.
In essence, Arjuna is realizing that real contentment does not come from chasing after things like power or material wealth, which can lead to suffering and conflict. Although he is not yet aware of it fully, this verse points to a deeper truth: true fulfillment comes from being aligned with a higher purpose and from serving others, not simply from satisfying our desires. Arjuna's hesitation reflects a heartfelt awareness that he finds more value in love and compassion than in acquiring titles and possessions.