Bhagavad Gita BG 1.31
Chapter 1, Verse 31 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव । न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे ॥ ३१ ॥
nimittāni ca paśyāmi viparītāni keśava na ca śreyo 'nupaśyāmi hatvā svajanam āhave
Meaning
O Keshava, I see only bad omens, and I foresee no good in killing my own kinsmen in battle.
Understanding
Arjuna now makes a moral-strategic argument: he sees 'nimittāni viparītāni' — bad omens, contrary signs — suggesting the battle is inauspicious. More significantly, he cannot foresee any 'shreya' — any good or benefit — from killing his own kin. 'Shreya' is a key term meaning lasting good or highest welfare, as opposed to 'preya' (pleasant but transient). This is actually a profound observation — though his reasoning will be incomplete, the question is genuine.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| निमित्तानि | nimittāni | omens / signs / portents |
| विपरीतानि | viparītāni | bad / contrary / inauspicious |
| केशव | keśava | O Keshava — Krishna (killer of the demon Keshi) |
| श्रेयः | śreyaḥ | lasting good / true welfare / highest benefit |
| स्वजनम् | svajanam | own kinsmen / own people |
| च | ca | and (conjunction) |
| पश्यामि | paśyāmi | I see / I observe |
| न | na | not (negation) |
| अनुपश्यामि | anupaśyāmi | I foresee / I see ahead |
| हत्वा | hatvā | having killed / by slaying |
| आहवे | āhave | in battle / in the fight |