In Bhagavad Gita 1.31, Arjuna tells Krishna that he sees inauspicious omens and can foresee no good from killing his own kinsmen in battle.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
निमित्तानि च पश्यामि
विपरीतानि केशव
न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि
हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे ॥ १-३१ ॥
nimittāni ca paśyāmi
viparītāni keśava
na ca śreyo’nupaśyāmi
hatvā svajanamāhave
English transliteration nimittaani cha pashyaami
vipareetaani keshava
na cha shreyo’nupashyaami
hatvaa svajanamaahave ॥ 1.31 ॥
Translation / Meaning
And I see adverse omens, O Keshava. I do not foresee any good in killing my own kinsmen in battle.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| निमित्तानि nimittāni | omens, signs |
| च ca | and |
| पश्यामि paśyāmi | I see |
| विपरीतानि viparītāni | adverse, contrary |
| केशव keśava | O Keśava (Kṛṣṇa) |
| न na | not |
| च ca | and |
| श्रेयः śreyaḥ | good, welfare |
| अनुपश्यामि anupaśyāmi | I foresee |
| हत्वा hatvā | by killing |
| स्वजनम् svajanam | my own people sva (own) + janam (people) |
| आहवे āhave | in battle |
Word-wise Chanting
- ni–mit–tā–ni ca paś–yā–mi 8 syllables ni-mit-taa-ni cha pash-yaa-mi
- vi–pa–rī–tā–ni ke–śa–va | 8 syllables vi-pa-ree-taa-ni ke-sha-va
- na ca śre–yo–‘nu–paś–yā–mi 8 syllables na cha shre-yo-‘nu-pash-yaa-mi
- hat–vā sva–ja–na–mā–ha–ve || 1-31 8 syllables hat-vaa sva-ja-na-maa-ha-ve
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 1 Verse 31
Context
Having described his physical distress (1.28–1.30), Arjuna begins to give reasons against fighting (1.31–1.46).
Meaning
The language shifts from body to reasoning. Arjuna reads the omens as unfavourable and concludes that no good, śreyas, can come from killing his own people. Śreyas is an important word in the Gita: the higher good as distinct from what is merely pleasant. Arjuna is asking the right question, but from inside a disturbed mind.
A distressed mind finds signs everywhere that confirm its fear. Arjuna’s question, “what good can come of this?”, is a genuine moral question, and Krishna will take it seriously. But first Arjuna must see that his answer is shaped by grief. Good questions asked in panic tend to produce hasty answers.
In Practice
When you find yourself seeing only bad signs, write down the evidence for and against your fear. Let the paper, not the panic, give the answer.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga (The Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.