Bhagavad Gita BG 1.32
Chapter 1, Verse 32 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च । किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा ॥ ३२ ॥
na kāṅkṣe vijayaṃ kṛṣṇa na ca rājyaṃ sukhāni ca kiṃ no rājyena govinda kiṃ bhogair jīvitena vā
Meaning
O Krishna, I desire neither victory nor kingdom nor pleasures. O Govinda, of what use is a kingdom to us, or enjoyment, or even life itself?
Understanding
In his grief, Arjuna rejects the very things the war was fought to reclaim — victory, kingdom, and pleasures. His renunciation here, born of grief, has a shadow of genuine wisdom: what IS the point of kingdoms and pleasures if those you love are gone? Krishna will later teach that this renunciation must come from wisdom, not from sorrow. Arjuna calls Krishna 'Govinda' — the protector of cows and senses, one who gives pleasure to all.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| न काङ्क्षे | na kāṅkṣe | I do not desire / I do not crave |
| विजयम् | vijayam | victory |
| राज्यम् | rājyam | kingdom |
| सुखानि | sukhāni | pleasures / happiness |
| गोविन्द | govinda | O Govinda — Krishna (protector of cows / one who gives joy) |
| भोगैः | bhogaiḥ | enjoyments / pleasures |
| कृष्ण | kṛṣṇa | O Krishna |
| न | na | not / neither |
| च | ca | and / nor |
| किम् | kim | what (use) / why / of what purpose |
| नः | naḥ | to us / for us |
| वा | vā | or / even |
| जीवितेन | jīvitena | with / by life itself |