Bhagavad Gita · Verse 1.31
Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga (अर्जुनविषादयोगः)
(Arjuna spoke)
निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव । न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे ॥३१॥
nimittāni ca paśyāmi viparītāni keśava | na ca śreyo'nupaśyāmi hatvā svajanamāhave ||31||
Complete Shloka Translation
I see adverse omens, Keshava, and I see no good in killing my own people in battle.
Word-by-Word Translation (Padartha / Anvaya)
| Sanskrit Term (पद) | IAST Roman | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| निमित्तानि | nimittāni | portents / omens |
| च | ca | and |
| पश्यामि | paśyāmi | I perceive clearly |
| विपरीतानि | viparītāni | inauspicious / adverse |
| केशव | keśava | O Keshava (Krishna) |
| न च | na ca | nor indeed |
| श्रेयः | śreyaḥ | good / supreme auspiciousness |
| अनुपश्यामि | anupaśyāmi | do I foresee |
| हत्वा | hatvā | by killing / slaughtering |
| स्वजनम् | svajanam | our own relatives |
| आहवे | āhave | in this war |
portents / omens
and
I perceive clearly
inauspicious / adverse
O Keshava (Krishna)
nor indeed
good / supreme auspiciousness
do I foresee
by killing / slaughtering
our own relatives
in this war
Detailed Commentary & Meaningful Thoughts
The adverse omens are reported as Arjuna's perception, not independently confirmed predictions. His concern now shifts from what he feels to whether victory through killing relatives could be good at all.
Philosophical Reflection & Self-Inquiry
"Arjuna begins judging the likely outcome of the battle as harmful rather than beneficial."
Inquiry Question to Ponder:
Which consequences have I examined, and which am I only assuming?
Modern Life Implementation (Practical Real-Life Application)
Questioning the Utility of Pyhrric Victories: Arjuna questions what good will come from slaughtering his own people. In corporate takeovers, family divorces, or political fights, winning at the cost of complete collateral destruction is no victory at all.