2-6 Sankhya Yoga (सांख्य योग) Sixth verse

न चैतद्विद्म: कतरन्नो गरीयो
यद्वा जयेम यदि वा नो जयेयु: |
यानेव हत्वा न जिजीविषाम
स्तेऽवस्थिता: प्रमुखे धार्तराष्ट्रा: ||(2-6)||

na chaitadvidmaḥ kataranno garīyo
yadvā jayema yadi vā no jayeyuḥ
yāneva hatvā na jijīviṣhāmas
te ’vasthitāḥ pramukhe dhārtarāṣhṭrāḥ

 

Word to Word Meaning: nah = for us; katarat = (to perform) which; garīyaḥ = is preferable cha = and; etat = these; na vidmaḥnaḥ = we know not; jayema = we may conquer;  yat vā = whether;  jayeyuḥ = they may conquer; yadi = if; vā = or; yān = whom; hatvā—after killing; naḥ = for us; jijīviṣhāmaḥ = we desire to live; te = they; dhārtarāṣhṭrāḥ = the sons of Dhritarashtra; eva = certainly; pramukhe = before us; avasthitāḥ = are standing;

 

Literal Meaning: (Krishna!) I do not even know which result of this war is preferable for us—conquering them or being conquered by them. Even after killing them, I shall not desire to live. Yet these great men have taken the side of the sons of Dhritarasthra, and now brave us on the battlefield.

Commentary:

1. Arjuna is still looking for reasons. The fact that Arjuna lost his composure and forgot why he was there (on the battlefield). His confused state of mind is clear from the words he spoke.

2. In many instances, we are pulled by conflicting feelings. Wisdom is to choose the right path. Most of us squander on this step. 

3. Refer to the poem by Annamacharya below reflecting the state of mind of common man.  

 

ఆరయఁ గొండయెత్తినట్టు వేఁగౌ సంసారము

వూరక కలిమిలేము లొక్కొక్కవేళ

మేరలేని చీఁకటియై మించును దుఃఖములెల్లా

వూరటలేని కర్మికి నొక్కొక్కవేళా ॥అట్టి॥

Araya goMDayettinaTTu vEgau saMsAramu

vUraka kalimilEmu lokkokkavELa

mEralEni chIkaTiyai miMchunu duhkhamulellA

vUraTalEni karmiki nokkokkavELA ॥aTTi॥

 

Meaning: Sometimes, the presence or absence of wealth makes life feel like an uphill struggle, as if lifting a hill. Such a person feels like they are inside a frying pan. At other times, sorrows surround them like an endless darkness.