Bhagavad Gita · Verse 1.45
Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga (अर्जुनविषादयोगः)
(Arjuna spoke)
अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् । यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ॥४५॥
aho bata mahatpāpaṃ kartuṃ vyavasitā vayam | yadrājyasukhalobhena hantuṃ svajanamudyatāḥ ||45||
Complete Shloka Translation
Alas, we have resolved to commit a great sin: driven by greed for the pleasures of kingship, we are ready to kill our own people.
Word-by-Word Translation (Padartha / Anvaya)
| Sanskrit Term (पद) | IAST Roman | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अहो बत | aho bata | alas! what a tragedy and grief |
| महत् | mahat | a colossal and monstrous |
| पापम् | pāpam | sin / unrighteous crime |
| कर्तुम् | kartum | to commit |
| व्यवसिताः | vyavasitāḥ | resolved and bent upon |
| वयम् | vayam | we |
| यत् | yat | that |
| राज्य-सुख-लोभेन | rājya-sukha-lobhena | blinded by craving for royal pleasures |
| हन्तुम् | hantum | to slaughter |
| स्वजनम् | svajanam | our own family members |
| उद्यताः | udyatāḥ | stand ready with weapons |
alas! what a tragedy and grief
a colossal and monstrous
sin / unrighteous crime
to commit
resolved and bent upon
we
that
blinded by craving for royal pleasures
to slaughter
our own family members
stand ready with weapons
Detailed Commentary & Meaningful Thoughts
Earlier he described the others as blinded by greed; here he includes himself in the accusation. This marks a deepening of his moral distress, but the judgment still belongs to his unresolved account of the conflict.
Philosophical Reflection & Self-Inquiry
"Arjuna now turns the charge of greed upon his own side as well."
Inquiry Question to Ponder:
Have I examined my own motives as carefully as I examine others' motives?
Modern Life Implementation (Practical Real-Life Application)
Rationalizing Avoidance of Difficult Duty: Arjuna laments that greed for a kingdom's pleasures led them to resolve on slaughter. Often, when faced with an agonizing duty, the ego clothes avoidance in high-sounding moral rationalizations.