yadi mām apratīkāram aśhastraṁ śhastra-pāṇayaḥ
dhārtarāṣhṭrā raṇe hanyus tan me kṣhemataraṁ bhavet
yadi — if;
mām — me;
apratīkāram — unresisting;
aśhastram — unarmed;
śhastra-pāṇayaḥ — those with weapons in hand;
dhārtarāṣhṭrāḥ — the sons of Dhritarashtra;
raṇe — on the battlefield;
hanyuḥ — shall kill;
tat — that;
me — to me;
kṣhema-taram — better;
bhavet — would be
In this verse, we see Arjuna in a very emotional state. He is looking at the battlefield where he will fight against his own relatives and friends. This sight makes him deeply sad. Though he initially stood up, determined to fight, the reality of the situation hits him hard, and he cannot go through with it. He realizes that fighting means hurting people he loves and cares about.
Feeling overwhelmed by this grief and compassion, he puts down his bow and arrows, showing that he is not ready to go ahead with the battle. This moment reflects his internal struggle—a kind and compassionate person like Arjuna is torn between his duty as a warrior and his feelings of love and loyalty toward his family. It shows how difficult it is to have to face such situations where you have to choose between right and wrong, or duty and personal feelings.
Arjuna's actions here indicate that he understands the significance of the battle and the pain it brings. He doesn’t just see enemies before him; he sees brothers, teachers, and loved ones. This realization is heartbreaking and demonstrates his deep sense of empathy. Because of this, Arjuna becomes a symbol of someone who values relationships and humanity over blind duty.
This moment also emphasizes the importance of self-knowledge and understanding one's own values and emotions. Arjuna, despite being a warrior, shows profound depth of feeling, which makes him deserving of wisdom and spiritual insight. His hesitation invites us to think about our own lives—how we navigate choices that might hurt others and how we prioritize our values amidst our duties.