Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 1 · Arjuna Vishada Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 1.37 तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं
श्लोक 1.37
तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान् ।
स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ॥
tasmānnārhā vayaṃ hantuṃ dhārtarāṣṭrānsvabāndhavān |
svajanaṃ hi kathaṃ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
इसलिए अपने ही बन्धु धृतराष्ट्र-पुत्रों को मारना हमें उचित नहीं। हे माधव, अपने ही स्वजनों को मारकर हम कैसे सुखी रह सकते हैं?
Meaning in English
So it is not right for us to kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our own relatives. O Madhava, how could we be happy after killing our own people?
Bhagavad Gita 1.37 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| तस्मात् | tasmāt | therefore |
| न | na | not |
| अर्हाः | arhāḥ | justified, fit |
| वयम् | vayam | we |
| हन्तुम् | hantum | to kill |
| धार्तराष्ट्रान् | dhārtarāṣṭrān | the sons of Dhritarashtra |
| स्व-बान्धवान् | sva-bāndhavān | our own kinsmen |
| स्वजनम् | svajanam | our own people |
| हि | hi | indeed |
| कथम् | katham | how |
| हत्वा | hatvā | having killed |
| सुखिनः | sukhinaḥ | happy |
| स्याम | syāma | could we be |
| माधव | mādhava | O Madhava |
Explanation
So it is not right for us to kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our own kinsmen. How could we be happy, Madhava, after killing our own people?
Arjuna draws a conclusion from his feelings: since killing kin would bring no happiness, it must be wrong. Commentators note the weakness in this reasoning: whether an act brings happiness is not the same as whether it is right. Much of Krishna's teaching in chapter 2 separates duty from the pleasure or pain it brings.
भावार्थ
इसलिए अपने ही बन्धु धृतराष्ट्र-पुत्रों को मारना हमारे लिए उचित नहीं है। हे माधव, अपने ही स्वजनों को मारकर हम कैसे सुखी होंगे?
Living it today
Whether something feels good is not the only test of whether it is right. Ask both questions separately.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 1.37?
So it is not right for us to kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our own kinsmen. How could we be happy, Madhava, after killing our own people?
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 1.37?
Arjuna speaks this verse, in Chapter 1 (Arjuna Vishada Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 1.37 in daily life?
Whether something feels good is not the only test of whether it is right. Ask both questions separately.
Reflected on verse 1.37?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.