Chapter 1 · Verse 39

Arjuna's Dilemma

कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम्। कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन

kathaṁ na jñeyam asmābhiḥ pāpād asmān nivartitum kula-kṣhaya-kṛitaṁ doṣhaṁ prapaśhyadbhir janārdana

Word Meanings

katham na jñeyam asmābhiḥ pāpāt asmāt nivartitum kula-kṣhaya kṛitam doṣham prapaśhyadbhiḥ janārdana

Translation

Why should we not have the wisdom to turn away from this sin, O Janardana, we who can clearly see the evil in the destruction of our kinsmen?

Commentary

कथम् why? न not? ज्ञेयम् should be learnt? अस्माभिः by us? पापात् from sin? अस्मात् this? निवर्तितुम् to turn away? कुलक्षयकृतम् in the destruction of families? दोषम् evil? प्रपश्यद्भिः clearly seeing? जनार्दन O Janardana.Commentary Ignorance of law is no excuse but wanton sinful conduct is a grave crime? unworthy of us? who are wiser.