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Chapter 1: Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra |
| Verse: 31 na ca sreyo 'nupasyami hatva sva-janam ahave na kankshe vijayam krishna na ca rajyam sukhani ca |
Translation:
I do not see how any good can come from killing my own kinsmen in this battle, nor can I, my dear Krishna, desire any subsequent victory, kingdom, or happiness.
Explanation:
In the six verses Arjuna gives the second reason for not wanting to fight – personal enjoyment.
Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur, a great Vaishnava Acarya, describes Arjuna's second reason not to fight. He is thinking that with Sri Krishna on his side his victory is assured. However even if he wins the war then while the people who will be killed will be elevated to heavenly planets (following their ksatriya dharma) he would have to suffer the sinful reactions of killing his friends and relatives.
Arjuna builds on the theme of compassion he has previously spoken but now changes the object of the compassion. Previously he was lamenting for others and now he laments for himself. As per the scriptures warriors who die in battle become eligible to reside on the Sun planet in the heavenly kingdom. But Arjuna feels that his subsequent happiness will be tainted by the sin of all these killings and thus he will not be able to enjoy the kingdom that he will win. Srila Prabhupada summarizes Arjuna's confusion as follows, "But Arjuna has no kingdom. Arjuna's sole opportunity for gaining a kingdom lies in fighting with his cousins and brothers and reclaiming the kingdom inherited from his father, which he does not like to do. Therefore he considers himself fit to go to the forest to live a secluded life of frustration."
Please read the Sanskrit Verse and the Prabhupada's Purport.
