Verse 2.5
Speaker: Arjuna
Sanskrit
गुरूनहत्वा हि महानुभावान् श्रेयो भोक्तुं भैक्ष्यमपीह लोके। हत्वार्थकामांस्तु गुरूनिहैव भुञ्जीय भोगान् रुधिरप्रदिग्धान्॥
Transliteration (IAST)
gurūn ahatvā hi mahānubhāvān śreyo bhoktuṁ bhaikṣyam apīha loke hatvārtha-kāmāṁs tu gurūn ihaiva bhuñjīya bhogān rudhira-pradigdhān
Word-by-Word Meanings
gurūn-teachers/elders
mahānubhāvān-great souls
bhaikṣyam-begging/alms
bhogān-enjoyments
rudhira-pradigdhān-stained with blood
Translation
It would be better to live in this world by begging than to slay these great-souled teachers. If I kill them, all my enjoyments of wealth and desires will be stained with blood.
Commentary
Arjuna argues that poverty through begging is preferable to wealth gained by killing teachers. This reflects genuine ethical sensitivity, but Krishna will show that Arjuna's reasoning is based on misidentification of the Self with the body.
Themes
dharmadutykarma