na chaitadvidmaḥ kataranno garīyo
yadvā jayema yadi vā no jayeyuḥ
yāneva hatvā na jijīviṣhāmas
te ’vasthitāḥ pramukhe dhārtarāṣhṭrāḥ
na — not;
cha — and;
etat — this;
vidmaḥ — we know;
katarat — which;
naḥ — for us;
garīyaḥ — is preferable;
yat vā — whether;
jayema — we may conquer;
yadi — if;
vā — or;
naḥ — us;
jayeyuḥ — they may conquer;
yān — whom;
eva — certainly;
hatvā — after killing;
na — not;
jijīviṣhāmaḥ — we desire to live;
te — they;
avasthitāḥ — are standing;
pramukhe — before us;
dhārtarāṣhṭrāḥ — the sons of Dhritarashtra
In this verse, Arjuna is expressing his confusion about what to do in a difficult situation. He is in a battle, surrounded by people he cares about, especially the sons of Dhritarashtra, whom he considers important and honorable. Arjuna is torn between the duty of fighting, which is expected of warriors like him, and the personal feelings he has for these opponents.
He is saying that he can't decide whether it’s better to fight and possibly win, or to hold back and risk losing to the other side. This shows that he doesn't just think about winning; he thinks about the consequences of all actions. Winning could mean hurting his own teachers and family, which is something that deeply troubles him. The idea of killing these people makes it hard for him to think about enjoying any victory.
If he did become victorious and killed his enemies, like the sons of Dhritarashtra, he would lose his will to live. How could he enjoy a victory if it comes at the price of lives he valued? In his mind, he imagines life without them as unbearable, almost like a defeat in itself.
Arjuna's thoughts reveal that he is not just a fighter blindly seeking victory. He shows great moral depth and awareness. Even though he is a prince and could easily choose to fight and enjoy the spoils of war, he is open to the idea of living a simple life by begging instead of killing those he respects. This willingness to live simply highlights his detachment from material possessions and status. He shows that he values life and relationships more than the throne or victory in battle.
His reflections demonstrate that he is a thoughtful and wise person. Having control over his emotions and desires is important for achieving true knowledge. Arjuna's situation is significant because it illustrates how personal understanding and control over one’s feelings are essential for making right decisions.
In summary, this verse speaks to the inner struggle one faces when knowing what is right according to duty versus what feels right emotionally. It suggests that real wisdom lies in recognizing the value of relationships and life over mere victories or accomplishments. Arjuna embodies qualities such as virtue, consideration for others, and a deep-seated faith in teachings from Krishna, preparing him for a greater understanding of life and perhaps liberation from worldly attachments.