Chapter 1, Verse 35 (Bhagavad Gita 1.35)
Chapter 1: Arjun Viṣhād Yog – Arjuna's Dilemma
Sanskrit Shloka
एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन। अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते
Transliteration
etān na hantum ichchhāmi ghnato ’pi madhusūdana api trailokya-rājyasya hetoḥ kiṁ nu mahī-kṛite
Word Meanings
etān—these; na—not; hantum—to slay; ichchhāmi—I wish; ghnataḥ—killed; api—even though; madhusūdana—Shree Krishna, killer of the demon Madhu; api—even though; trai-lokya-rājyasya—dominion over three worlds; hetoḥ—for the sake of; kim nu—what to speak of; mahī-kṛite—for the earth
Translation
These I do not wish to kill, O Krishna, even though they kill me, for the sake of dominion over the three worlds; leave alone killing them for the sake of the earth."
Meaning & Commentary
Arjuna expresses a profound crisis of conscience where the value of human connection and moral integrity transcends personal safety and material ambition. This signifies the shedding of ego-driven desires, as he realizes that victory at the cost of righteousness is ultimately a hollow and self-destructive pursuit.