Verse 1.44
Speaker: Arjuna
Sanskrit
अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् | यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ||४४||
Transliteration (IAST)
aho bata mahatpāpaṁ kartuṁ vyavasitā vayam | yadrājyasukhalobhena hantuṁ svajanamudyatāḥ ||44||
Word-by-Word Meanings
अहो बत-alas, how strange
महत्-great
पापम्-sin
कर्तुम्-to perform
राज्यसुखलोभेन-driven by greed for royal pleasures
स्वजनम्-our own kinsmen
हन्तुम्-to kill
Translation
Alas, how strange it is that we are preparing to commit great sins, driven by the desire for royal pleasures, and are intent on killing our own kinsmen.
Commentary
The exclamation 'aho bata' (alas!) marks the emotional peak of Arjuna's lament. He now includes himself in the accusation of greed - 'we' are driven by desire for kingdom. This self-accusation shows genuine moral sensitivity, but also reveals his confusion between righteous duty and selfish desire.
Themes
dharmakarmasurrender