Bhagavad Gita 1.45 is Chapter 1, Verse 45, in Arjuna Vishada Yoga (Arjuna's Dilemma). Below are the Sanskrit text, a transliteration, a plain-English translation and an explanation.
aho bata mahat pāpaṁ kartuṁ vyavasitā vayam yad rājya-sukha-lobhena hantuṁ sva-janam udyatāḥ
"Alas! We are resolved to commit a great sin, for we are prepared to kill our own relatives out of greed for royal pleasures."
What This Means:
Arjuna laments: 'What a great sin we're about to commit! Killing relatives just for a kingdom!' He sees the Pandavas' cause as no different from the Kauravas', just greed.
Going Deeper:
Arjuna has completely lost perspective. He forgets that the Pandavas didn't seek this war, they were robbed, cheated, exiled, and nearly killed. This isn't greed; it's justice. But grief has clouded his memory.
How To Apply This:
In emotional crisis, we can completely reframe our own legitimate position as wrong. Don't let momentary despair rewrite the history of genuine injustices you've faced.
Key Sanskrit Terms: