Chapter 1: Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Bhagavad-gita As It Is 1.44

aho bata mahat papam

kartum vyavasita vayam

yad rajya-sukha-lobhena

hantum sva-janam udyatah

SYNONYMS

aho -- alas; bata -- how strange it is; mahat -- great; papam -- sins; kartum -- to perform; vyavasitah -- have decided; vayam -- we; yat -- because; rajya-sukha-lobhena -- driven by greed for royal happiness; hantum -- to kill; sva-janam -- kinsmen; udyatah -- trying.

TRANSLATION

Alas, how strange it is that we are preparing to commit greatly sinful acts. Driven by the desire to enjoy royal happiness, we are intent on killing our own kinsmen.

PURPORT

Driven by selfish motives, one may be inclined to such sinful acts as the killing of one's own brother, father or mother. There are many such instances in the history of the world. But Arjuna, being a saintly devotee of the Lord, is always conscious of moral principles and therefore takes care to avoid such activities.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness