Gita 1.27
श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि।
तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान्।।
śvaśurān suhṛdaś caiva senayor ubhayor api tān samīkṣya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvān bandhūn avasthitān
"He also saw fathers-in-law and well-wishers in both armies. Seeing all these relatives present there, the son of Kunti..."
What This Means:
It gets worse—fathers-in-law and well-wishers appear on BOTH sides. There's no clean 'us vs. them.' People Arjuna loves are on both sides of the battlefield. This is truly a family war.
Going Deeper:
The phrase 'ubhayor api' (in both armies) is devastating. Arjuna can't simply 'pick a side.' Any arrow he shoots might hit someone he loves, regardless of direction.
How To Apply This:
In many conflicts, the people we care about aren't all on one side. Family disputes, workplace conflicts, community divisions—we often have loved ones on multiple sides. What do we do then?
Key Sanskrit Terms:
Shvashura= Father-in-lawSuhrid= Well-wisher, friendBandhu= Relative, kinsman