yady apy ete na paśhyanti lobhopahata-chetasaḥ
kula-kṣhaya-kṛitaṁ doṣhaṁ mitra-drohe cha pātakam
yadi api — even though;
ete — they;
na — not;
paśhyanti — see;
lobha — greed;
upahata — overpowered;
chetasaḥ — thoughts;
kula-kṣhaya-kṛitam — in annihilating their relatives;
doṣham — fault;
mitra-drohe — to wreak treachery upon friends;
cha — and;
pātakam — sin;
In this verse, Arjuna is talking about the people on the other side of the battlefield, particularly Duryodhana and his team. He points out that these people are so consumed by their own greed—meaning their strong desire for power and wealth—that they cannot see the serious harm they are causing. They're not aware of how bad it is to destroy their own families or to fight against their friends.
Arjuna understands that for the Kauravas, their wish to gain control and win the war has blinded them to the truth. They have lost sight of what is right and wrong. This greed makes them think that winning the battle is more important than the lives of their relatives or the bonds of friendship they have broken. They’re willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of their ambition, without thinking about the consequences.
On the other hand, Arjuna feels differently. He is fully aware of the effects of such actions. He realizes that if they go ahead and fight this battle, families will be torn apart, and friendships will be ruined. For Arjuna, this fight is not just about winning or losing; it’s about the moral implications of his actions. He values his relationships and cannot just ignore the pain that this war will cause.
Here, Arjuna is drawing a line between himself and the Kauravas. While they have allowed their desires to lead them astray, Arjuna tries to stay true to his sense of right, known as dharma. He recognizes that what the Kauravas are doing is wrong (or adharma), even if they don't see it that way. This realization becomes the reason for his reluctance to engage in battle. He is torn between his duty as a warrior and his moral beliefs about life, family, and friendship.
In essence, this verse shows the conflict between blind ambition and ethical principles. It presents a key moment where Arjuna stands firm in his values, hoping others might see the damage being done and reconsider their choices as well.