Verse 1.37
Speaker: Arjuna
Sanskrit
यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः | कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ||३७||
Transliteration (IAST)
yadyapyete na paśyanti lobhopahatacetasaḥ | kulakṣayakṛtaṁ doṣaṁ mitradrohe ca pātakam ||37||
Word-by-Word Meanings
लोभोपहतचेतसः-those whose minds are overcome by greed
कुलक्षयकृतम्-caused by the destruction of family
दोषम्-fault/sin
मित्रद्रोहे-in treachery to friends
पातकम्-sin
Translation
Even though these men, whose minds are overcome by greed, see no fault in the destruction of families and no sin in hostility to friends, why should we not have the wisdom to turn away from this sin?
Commentary
Arjuna distinguishes himself from the Kauravas by claiming moral superiority - they are blinded by greed while he can see the sin. This is a sophisticated ethical argument: knowing better creates greater responsibility. Yet Krishna will show that Arjuna's 'wisdom' is actually delusion masquerading as virtue.
Themes
dharmakarmaduty