Bhagavad-gita As It Is | Part [BG.CH1.23]

Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra

 

TEXTS 37-38:

yady apy ete na pasyanti

lobhopahata-cetasah

kula-kshaya-kritam dosham

 mitra-drohe ca patakam

 

katham na jneyam asmabhih

papad asman nivartitum

kula-kshaya-kritam dosham

prapasyadbhir janardana

 

TRANSLATION:

O Janardana, although these men, their hearts overtaken by greed, see no fault in killing one's family or quarreling with friends, why should we, who can see the crime in destroying a family, engage in these acts of sin?

 

PURPORT:

A kshatriya is not supposed to refuse to battle or gamble when he is so invited by some rival party. Under such an obligation, Arjuna could not refuse to fight, because he had been challenged by the party of Duryodhana. In this connection, Arjuna considered that the other party might be blind to the effects of such a challenge. Arjuna, however, could see the evil consequences and could not accept the challenge. Obligation is actually binding when the effect is good, but when the effect is otherwise, then no one can be bound. Considering all these pros and cons, Arjuna decided not to fight.

 

TEXT 39:

kula-kshaye pranasyanti

kula-dharmah sanatanah

dharme nashte kulam kritsnam

adharmo 'bhibhavaty uta

 

TRANSLATION:

With the destruction of the dynasty, the eternal family tradition is vanquished, and thus the rest of the family becomes involved in irreligion.

 

PURPORT:

In the system of the varnasrama institution there are many principles of religious traditions to help members of the family grow properly and attain spiritual values. The elder members are responsible for such purifying processes in the family, beginning from birth to death. But on the death of the elder members, such family traditions of purification may stop, and the remaining younger family members may develop irreligious habits and thereby lose their chance for spiritual salvation. Therefore, for no purpose should the elder members of the family be slain.

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Translation and commentary by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada