Gita 1.45

Chapter 1: Arjuna's Dilemma

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Gita 1.45
अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम्। यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः।।

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:

Aho bata= Alas! What a pity!Rājya-sukha-lobha= Greed for royal pleasures