Verse 1.32
Speaker: Arjuna
Sanskrit
किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा | येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च ||३२||
Transliteration (IAST)
kiṁ no rājyena govinda kiṁ bhogairjīvitena vā | yeṣāmarthe kāṅkṣitaṁ no rājyaṁ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca ||32||
Word-by-Word Meanings
किम्-what use
राज्येन-with kingdom
गोविन्द-O Krishna (protector of cows)
भोगैः-with enjoyments
जीवितेन-with life
येषाम्-for whose
अर्थे-sake
Translation
Of what use is a kingdom to us, O Govinda, or enjoyments, or even life itself, when those for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyments, and pleasures are arrayed in battle?
Commentary
Arjuna articulates the paradox at the heart of his crisis: the very people for whom one seeks prosperity are the ones who must be destroyed to obtain it. This is a profound philosophical question about the relationship between means and ends that Krishna will address through the teaching of nishkama karma.
Themes
dharmadutysurrender
Related Verses
dharma1 verse
surrender1 verse