Bhagavad Gita BG 2.4
Chapter 2, Verse 4 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
अर्जुन उवाच । कथं भीष्ममहं सङ्ख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन । इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन ॥ ४ ॥
arjuna uvāca kathaṃ bhīṣmam ahaṃ saṅkhye droṇaṃ ca madhusūdana iṣubhiḥ pratiyotsyāmi pūjārhāv arisūdana
Meaning
Arjuna said: O Madhusudana, O destroyer of enemies, how can I fight with arrows in battle against Bhishma and Drona, who are worthy of my worship?
Understanding
Arjuna is not simply afraid — his argument is moral. Bhishma (his grandsire) and Drona (his beloved teacher) are 'pūjārhau' — worthy of worship. The relationship between student and teacher, between grandson and grandfather, is sacred in Indian culture. To shoot arrows at one's own guru is not merely uncomfortable — it is a profound violation of the sacred order of things. This is a genuine moral dilemma, not cowardice.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कथम् | katham | how / in what way |
| सङ्ख्ये | saṅkhye | in battle |
| इषुभिः | iṣubhiḥ | with arrows |
| प्रतियोत्स्यामि | pratiyotsyāmi | I shall fight / contend against |
| पूजार्हौ | pūjārhau | worthy of worship / deserving reverence |
| अरिसूदन | arisūdana | O destroyer of enemies (Krishna) |
| अर्जुन उवाच | arjuna uvāca | Arjuna said (speaker attribution) |
| भीष्मम् | bhīṣmam | Bhishma (the grandsire) |
| अहम् | aham | I |
| द्रोणम् | droṇam | Drona (the teacher) |
| च | ca | and (conjunction) |
| मधुसूदन | madhusūdana | O Madhusudana — Krishna (slayer of demon Madhu) |