arjuna uvācha
kathaṁ bhīṣhmam ahaṁ sankhye droṇaṁ cha madhusūdana
iṣhubhiḥ pratiyotsyāmi pūjārhāvari-sūdana
arjunaḥ uvācha — Arjun said;
katham — how;
bhīṣhmam — Bheeshma;
aham — I;
sankhye — in battle;
droṇam — Dronacharya;
cha — and;
madhu-sūdana — Shree Krishn, slayer of the Madhu demon;
iṣhubhiḥ — with arrows;
pratiyotsyāmi — shall I shoot;
pūjā-arhau — worthy of worship;
ari-sūdana — destroyer of enemies
In this verse, Arjuna is expressing his deep inner conflict to Krishna, who is his charioteer and friend. Arjuna is facing a moral dilemma as he prepares to go into battle. He is particularly troubled about fighting against two of his most respected figures: Bhisma, who is like a grandfather to him, and Dronacharya, who is his teacher. Arjuna acknowledges their worthiness for respect and worship, which means he holds them in very high regard and sees them as figures who deserve honor and reverence.
Arjuna is asking Krishna: "How can I possibly shoot arrows at these great men?" He feels that even if they are part of the opposing army, it is wrong to retaliate against those who have taught him and cared for him. In many cultures, there is a strong belief in respecting elders and teachers. Arjuna’s concern reflects these values as he grapples with the idea of fighting against the very people he looks up to in life.
This verse highlights a universal and relatable situation: conflict between duty and respect. Imagine being in a job where you have to confront a boss or mentor who has guided you throughout your career. Even if they are on the opposing side, how does one confront someone they respect? Arjuna is wrestling with that notion. He believes that people in superior positions, whether by age or by knowledge, should not be harmed, regardless of the situation.
He also suggests that engaging in a battle against them would be against common decency. It feels wrong to retaliate, and this moral struggle leaves him feeling confused and lost. He questions whether anyone, including Krishna, would attack someone they respect—pointing out that Krishna would never attack His own grandfather, Ugrasena, or His beloved teacher, Sandipani Muni.
This situation is very relatable. It teaches us that while we may have to confront challenges (like Arjuna did), there are often deeper feelings of respect and the need for honor that we must navigate. Arjuna's feelings illustrate the emotional difficulties that come with duties—especially when those duties seem to clash with deeply rooted values of respect and loyalty. This inner turmoil is a powerful reminder of the complexities of human relationships and the challenges of making tough decisions.