Gita 1.46
यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः।
धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत्।।
yadi mām apratīkāram aśastraṁ śastra-pāṇayaḥ dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyus tan me kṣemataraṁ bhavet
"It would be better for me if the sons of Dhritarashtra, weapons in hand, were to kill me unarmed and unresisting in battle."
What This Means:
Arjuna declares he'd rather die unarmed than fight. Let the Kauravas kill him—that would be 'better' (kshemataram). This is suicidal thinking presented as virtue.
Going Deeper:
This isn't heroic sacrifice; it's depression speaking. Arjuna fantasizes about passive death as escape from an impossible choice. This is the low point—and exactly why Krishna's teaching is needed.
How To Apply This:
When you find yourself wishing for passive destruction as an 'escape,' recognize this as a signal of crisis, not a viable option. This is when you most need help and perspective.
Key Sanskrit Terms:
Apratīkāra= Unresisting, not retaliatingAśastra= UnarmedKṣematara= More peaceful, better