Bhagavad Gita · Verse 1.38
Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga (अर्जुनविषादयोगः)
(Arjuna spoke)
यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः । कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ॥३८॥
yadyapyete na paśyanti lobhopahatacetasaḥ | kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ mitradrohe ca pātakam ||38||
Complete Shloka Translation
Although their minds, overpowered by greed, do not see the wrong in destroying a family or the sin in betraying friends...
Word-by-Word Translation (Padartha / Anvaya)
| Sanskrit Term (पद) | IAST Roman | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| यदि अपि | yadi api | even though / although |
| एते | ete | these people |
| न | na | not |
| पश्यन्ति | paśyanti | perceive / see |
| लोभोपहतचेतसः | lobha-upahata-cetasaḥ | their discernment eclipsed by greed |
| कुलक्षयकृतम् | kula-kṣaya-kṛtam | caused by the destruction of the lineage |
| दोषम् | doṣam | the grave calamity / fault |
| मित्रद्रोहे | mitra-drohe | in betraying and slaying friends |
| च | ca | and |
| पातकम् | pātakam | the dreadful sin |
even though / although
these people
not
perceive / see
their discernment eclipsed by greed
caused by the destruction of the lineage
the grave calamity / fault
in betraying and slaying friends
and
the dreadful sin
Detailed Commentary & Meaningful Thoughts
The assessment of greed is Arjuna's description of the opposing side. The concessive sentence remains unfinished here and receives its answering question in the next verse.
Philosophical Reflection & Self-Inquiry
"Arjuna argues that the others' failure to see harm does not remove his own responsibility to see it."
Inquiry Question to Ponder:
Am I using another person's conduct to excuse my own choices?
Modern Life Implementation (Practical Real-Life Application)
Greed Blinds Moral Discernment: Arjuna recognizes that greed has destroyed the Kauravas' capacity to see the evil of treachery. Greed, jealousy, and obsession with power create severe cognitive blindness in business and politics.