1 First Chapter: Verses 32, 32 Arjun Viṣhād Yog (Arjuna’s Lamentation)

 ఈ భాగము తెలుగులో చదవడానికి ఇక్కడ నొక్కండి.

अर्जुन उवाच |

न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च |
किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा || 1-32||

येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगा: सुखानि च |
त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ||1-33||

Arjun uvācha

na kāṅkṣhe vijayaṁ kṛiṣhṇa na cha rājyaṁ sukhāni cha
kiṁ no rājyena govinda kiṁ bhogair jīvitena vā (1-32)

yeṣhām arthe kāṅkṣhitaṁ no rājyaṁ bhogāḥ sukhāni cha
ta ime ’vasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṁs tyaktvā dhanāni cha (1-33)

 

Purport: Arjuna voiced, "Krishna, I have no desire for victory in this war or the pleasures of kingship. A life of royal luxuries holds no appeal for me. Reflect on all those we seek to gain dominion, pleasures, and happiness for—our teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, uncles, their children, grandchildren, brothers-in-law, and other relatives. The very individuals for whom we covet these prizes, are ready to face us, risking their lives and worldly possessions."   

Explanation:

1. Possessions such as kingdom, pleasure, and happiness are all relative. However, when there are no more relatives left after the war, these notions cannot be compared to anyone else. Therefore, Arjuna concludes that they are all ultimately in vain.
2. Throughout the last five thousand years, thousands of wars have been fought. As Bertrand Russell aptly put it, "War doesn't determine who's right, it determines who's left." Regardless of the context, one undeniable truth persists: the common man bears the brunt of war's brutality. Such conflicts often bring out the most primal and animalistic tendencies within us, serving as a stark reminder of the barbarity inherent in mankind. Regrettably, even in contemporary times, these tendencies persist, reflecting the unfortunate continuation of such behaviors.
3. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it – George Santayana (Spanish Thinker)