Bg. 1.27

The merciful Lord of all beings, desiring to deliver the universe through instructions to His dear associate, put Arjuna under illusion, making it appear that his duty to fight was against religious principles, through a distortion of the philosophy of non-violence mentioned in the śruti with mā hiṁsyāt sarva-bhūtāni: do not commit violence against any living entity. [Note: Ahiṁsan sarva bhūtāni is found in the Chāndogya Upaniṣad, 8.15. Na hiṁsyāt sarva bhūtāni is quoted by Rāmānuja in 2.19 and Srīdhara Svāmī in 18.3. na hiṁsyāt sarva bhūtāni maitrayāṇa gataḥ caret is found in Mahābharata, 12.316.18.] By addressing Arjuna as the son of Kuntī (kaunteya), as the son of his father’s sister, thereby suggesting Arjuna’s kṣatriya background, lamentation and bewilderment concering his kṣatriya dharma are here suggested. Because of his extremely compassionate nature (parayā kṛpayā), he showed remorse (viṣīdan). Because of the word krpayā in the instrumental case, there is a suggestion that this mercy is an inherent and perefect quality, emphasized by the word para, superior. Through analyzing the saṅdhi differently, the word aparayā can also be formed. In that case the meaning is “Though he had previously shown compassion for those in his own army, now he also showed different compassion for the members of the opposing army (aparayā kṛpāyā).” In stating that Arjuna talked while lamenting at the same time, it is suggested that while talking he showed the effects of remorse—tears, quivering body and contracted throat.