Chapter 2, Verse 4 (Bhagavad Gita 2.4)
Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yog – Transcendental Knowledge
Sanskrit Shloka
अर्जुन उवाच कथं भीष्ममहं संख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन। इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन
Transliteration
arjuna uvācha kathaṁ bhīṣhmam ahaṁ sankhye droṇaṁ cha madhusūdana iṣhubhiḥ pratiyotsyāmi pūjārhāvari-sūdana
Word Meanings
arjunaḥ uvācha—Arjun said; katham—how; bhīṣhmam—Bheeshma; aham—I; sankhye—in battle; droṇam—Dronacharya; cha—and; madhu-sūdana—Shree Krishn, slayer of the Madhu demon; iṣhubhiḥ—with arrows; pratiyotsyāmi—shall I shoot; pūjā-arhau—worthy of worship; ari-sūdana—destroyer of enemies
Translation
Arjuna said: 'O Madhusudana, killer of the demon Madhu, how can I counterattack with arrows in this battle against Bhishma and Drona, who are worthy of my deepest veneration? O slayer of enemies, they are my superiors and deserve to be worshipped.'
Meaning & Commentary
This verse captures the profound psychological paralysis that occurs when moral duty clashes with emotional attachment. Arjuna is not merely expressing cowardice; he is articulating the conflict between social dharma and the human instinct to honor those who shaped our lives. It teaches us that true wisdom requires us to transcend sentimental attachments that hinder the performance of our prescribed duties. When we face moral dilemmas, we must look beyond personal feelings to the higher principles of righteousness. This transformation marks the beginning of the soul's journey from confusion to clarity.