Bhagavad Gita BG 1.36
Chapter 1, Verse 36 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन । पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ॥ ३६ ॥
nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrān naḥ kā prītiḥ syāj janārdana pāpam evāśrayed asmān hatvaitān ātatāyinaḥ
Meaning
O Janardana, what pleasure could come to us from killing Dhritarashtra's sons? Only sin would befall us from slaying these aggressors.
Understanding
Arjuna introduces a new argument — sin (pāpa). He calls the Kauravas 'ātatāyinaḥ' (aggressors), which is interesting: he acknowledges they are in the wrong, yet argues that killing even aggressors brings sin. He uses the name 'Janardana' for Krishna — one who is the refuge of all beings, or one who gives joy to all. The concept of sin as a consequence of battle will be central to his next arguments about family destruction.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| निहत्य | nihatya | having killed / by slaying |
| प्रीतिः | prītiḥ | pleasure / joy / satisfaction |
| जनार्दन | janārdana | O Janardana — Krishna (refuge of all beings) |
| पापम् | pāpam | sin / evil / transgression |
| आततायिनः | ātatāyinaḥ | aggressors / those who have committed crimes |
| धार्तराष्ट्रान् | dhārtarāṣṭrān | the sons of Dhritarashtra |
| नः | naḥ | to us / for us |
| का | kā | what (pleasure) / which |
| स्यात् | syāt | would be / should arise |
| एव | eva | only / indeed (emphatic) |
| आश्रयेत् | āśrayet | would befall / would come upon |
| अस्मान् | asmān | us |
| हत्वा | hatvā | having killed / by slaying |