Bg. 1.37-38 · Bhagavad-gita As It Is

Devanagari

यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः । कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ॥ ३७ ॥ कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मन्निवर्तितुम् । कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भ‍िर्जनार्दन ॥ ३८ ॥

Verse text

yady apy ete na paśyanti lobhopahata-cetasaḥ kula-kṣaya-kṛtaṁ doṣaṁ mitra-drohe ca pātakam kathaṁ na jṣeyam asmābhiḥ pāpād asmān nivartitum kula-kṣaya-kṛtaṁ doṣaṁ prapaśyadbhir janārdana

Synonyms

yadi — if ; api — even ; ete — they ; na — do not ; paśyanti — see ; lobha — by greed ; upahata — overpowered ; cetasaḥ — their hearts ; kula-kṣaya — in killing the family ; kṛtam — done ; doṣam — fault ; mitra-drohe — in quarreling with friends ; ca — also ; pātakam — sinful reactions ; katham — why ; na — should not ; jṣeyam — be known ; asmābhiḥ — by us ; pāpāt — from sins ; asmāt — these ; nivartitum — to cease ; kula-kṣaya — in the destruction of a dynasty ; kṛtam — done ; doṣam — crime ; prapaśyadbhiḥ — by those who can see ; janārdana — O Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

O Janārdana, although these men, their hearts overtaken by greed, see no fault in killing one’s family or quarreling with friends, why should we, who can see the crime in destroying a family, engage in these acts of sin?

Translation (Bhurijana Dasa)

O Janardana, although these men, their hearts overtaken by greed, see no fault in killing one's family or quarreling with friends, why should we, who can see the crime in destroying a family, engage in these acts of sin? (cn/DS) To be king of the world is a job for 'mahabhagavats' not for ordinary devotees. The Pandavas had such a high karma to be born in such a powerful family able to govern all the world. Many times Krsna addressed Arjuna 'O prtha!", remarking his high lineage. "This is your family heritage, how can you not fight?" This was the mood of the ksatriyas, they were proud of their families. They would uphold their family tradition. And if this family tradition was destroyed, then practically, because all the rest of the population was dependent on the kings, the rest of the population would be in trouble. And the sacrifices that the elders of the family would perform for the benefit of the forefathers and the future generations which practically the future of the world, these would stop. Therefore Arjuna is saying that too much bad is going to come.

Purport

A kṣatriya is not supposed to refuse to battle or gamble when he is so invited by some rival party. Under such an obligation, Arjuna could not refuse to fight, because he had been challenged by the party of Duryodhana. In this connection, Arjuna considered that the other party might be blind to the effects of such a challenge. Arjuna, however, could see the evil consequences and could not accept the challenge. Obligation is actually binding when the effect is good, but when the effect is otherwise, then no one can be bound. Considering all these pros and cons, Arjuna decided not to fight.