Verses 1.37-38

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verses 1.37-38:

यद्यप्य् एते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहत-चेतसः ।
कुल-क्षय-कृतं दोषं मित्र-द्रोहे च पातकम् ॥ ३७ ॥
कथं न ज्ञेयम् अस्माभिः पापाद् अस्मान् निवर्त्तितुम् ।
कुल-क्षय-कृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर् जनार्दन ॥ ३८ ॥

yadyapy ete na paśyanti lobhopahata-cetasaḥ |
kula-kṣaya-kṛtaṃ doṣaṃ mitra-drohe ca pātakam || 37 ||
kathaṃ na jñeyam asmābhiḥ pāpād asmān nivarttitum |
kula-kṣaya-kṛtaṃ doṣaṃ prapaśyadbhir janārdana || 38 ||

yadi api–even though; ete–they; na paśyanti–do not see; lobha–by greed; upahata–are afflicted; cetasaḥ–whose hearts; kula-kṣaya–in the destruction of the dynasty; kṛtam–incurred; doṣam–the fault; mitra-drohe–in treachery to friends; ca–and; pātakam–the sin; katham–why?; na jñeyam–should not consider; asmābhiḥ–we; pāpāt asmāt–from this sin; nivarttitum–to desist; kula-kṣaya–the destruction of the dynasty; kṛtam–in performing; doṣam–the crime; prapaśyadbhiḥ–who can see; janārdana–O Janārdana.

O Janārdana, the intelligence of Duryodhana and others has been polluted by greed to attain the kingdom. Thus, they are unable to see the faults that arise from destroying the dynasty, or the sin incurred by betraying their friends. But since we are in knowledge of these faults, why do we not consider the situation and refrain from such improper acts?

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

Arjuna asks, “Alas! Why are we still inclined to engage in this battle?” To answer his own question, he speaks this verse beginning with the words yady apy.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

Arjuna considers that in this battle there are teachers such as Droṇācārya and Kṛpācārya, maternal uncles such as Śalya and Śakuni, family elders such as Bhīṣma, the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and relatives and kinsmen such as Jayadratha. Scripture forbids turning against such persons: “ṛtvik-purohitācārya-mātulātithi-saṃśriteḥ bāla-vṛddhāturair vaidya-jñāti-sambandhi-bāndhavaiḥ–you should not quarrel with one who performs sacrifice on your behalf, a family priest, a teacher, a maternal uncle, a guest, those who are dependents, like young children, the elderly and relatives.”

“But I have to fight with these very persons.” Thus, Arjuna expressed his unwillingness to fight with his own kinsmen, who now stood before him. Arjuna contemplates, “Why are they determined to fight with us?” and concludes that they have become overpowered by their petty, selfish interests. They have thus lost their ability to discriminate between what is beneficial and what is not beneficial, between religion and irreligion. As a result, they have forgotten the sinful reactions that are incurred by destroying one’s own dynasty. “We have no selfish motives, so why should we engage in such an abominable and sinful act?”

Thus ends the Sārārtha-varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti
by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja,
on the First Chapter of Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā.