In Bhagavad Gita 1.33, Arjuna says that the very people for whose sake they wanted kingdom, enjoyments and pleasures now stand in battle, ready to give up life and wealth.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो
राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च
त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे
प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ॥ १-३३ ॥
yeṣāmarthe kāṅkṣitaṃ no
rājyaṃ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca
ta ime’vasthitā yuddhe
prāṇāṃstyaktvā dhanāni ca
English transliteration yeshaamarthe kaankshitam no
raajyam bhogaah sukhaani cha
ta ime’vasthitaa yuddhe
praanaamstyaktvaa dhanaani cha ॥ 1.33 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Those for whose sake we desired kingdom, enjoyments and pleasures stand here in battle, having given up their lives and wealth.
Verses 1.32–1.35 form one line of reasoning.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| येषाम् yeṣām | of whom |
| अर्थे arthe | for the sake |
| काङ्क्षितम् kāṅkṣitam | desired |
| नः naḥ | by us |
| राज्यम् rājyam | kingdom |
| भोगाः bhogāḥ | enjoyments |
| सुखानि sukhāni | pleasures |
| च ca | and |
| ते te | they |
| इमे ime | these |
| अवस्थिताः avasthitāḥ | standing |
| युद्धे yuddhe | in battle |
| प्राणान् prāṇān | lives |
| त्यक्त्वा tyaktvā | giving up |
| धनानि dhanāni | wealth |
| च ca | and |
Word-wise Chanting
- ye–ṣā–mar–the kāṅ–kṣi–taṃ no 8 syllables ye-shaa-mar-the kaan-kshi-tam no
- rāj–yaṃ bho–gāḥ su–khā–ni ca | 8 syllables raaj-yam bho-gaah su-khaa-ni cha
- ta i–me–‘vas–thi–tā yud–dhe 8 syllables ta i-me-‘vas-thi-taa yud-dhe
- prā–ṇāṃs–tyak–tvā dha–nā–ni ca || 1-33 8 syllables praa-naams-tyak-tvaa dha-naa-ni cha
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 33
Context
Arjuna develops his point from 1.32: the purpose of winning a kingdom has collapsed.
Meaning
Arjuna touches a deep truth about human motivation. We seek success and comfort largely for the people we love, to share it with them. If winning means losing them, the reward becomes meaningless. The enemies before him are the very people for whom victory would have had value.
This is one of the most human verses in the Gita. It reminds us that our ambitions are bound up with relationships, and that success which destroys relationships defeats its own purpose. Krishna will not dismiss this insight; he will place it within a larger view of duty, the Self and the Divine.
In Practice
Name the people for whom you are really working. Do one thing today that serves them directly rather than through your ambitions.
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.