In Bhagavad Gita 1.35, Arjuna declares that he will not kill his kinsmen even if they kill him, not even for rule over the three worlds, much less for the earth.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि
घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन
अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य
हेतोः किं नु महीकृते ॥ १-३५ ॥
etānna hantumicchāmi
ghnato’pi madhusūdana
api trailokyarājyasya
hetoḥ kiṃ nu mahīkṛte
English transliteration etaanna hantumichchhaami
ghnato’pi madhusoodana
api trailokyaraajyasya
hetoh kim nu maheekrite ॥ 1.35 ॥
Translation / Meaning
I do not wish to kill them, O Madhusudana, even though they kill me, not even for sovereignty over the three worlds, how much less for the sake of the earth.
Verses 1.32–1.35 form one line of reasoning.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| एतान् etān | these |
| न na | not |
| हन्तुम् hantum | to kill |
| इच्छामि icchāmi | I wish |
| घ्नतः ghnataḥ | killing |
| अपि api | even if |
| मधुसूदन madhusūdana | O Madhusūdana, slayer of the demon Madhu (Kṛṣṇa) |
| अपि api | even |
| त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य trailokyarājyasya | of sovereignty over the three worlds trailokya (three worlds) + rājyasya (of rule) |
| हेतोः hetoḥ | for the sake of |
| किम् नु kim nu | how much less |
| महीकृते mahīkṛte | for the sake of the earth mahī (earth) + kṛte (for the sake of) |
Word-wise Chanting
- e–tān–na han–tu–mic–chā–mi 8 syllables e-taan-na han-tu-mich-chhaa-mi
- ghna–to–‘pi ma–dhu–sū–da–na | 8 syllables ghna-to-‘pi ma-dhu-soo-da-na
- a–pi trai–lok–ya–rāj–yas–ya 8 syllables a-pi trai-lok-ya-raaj-yas-ya
- he–toḥ kiṃ nu ma–hī–kṛ–te || 1-35 8 syllables he-toh kim nu ma-hee-kri-te
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 35
Context
Arjuna ends this line of reasoning (1.32–1.35) with a firm refusal.
Meaning
Arjuna calls Krishna Madhusudana, slayer of the demon Madhu, perhaps implying that Krishna kills demons, not kinsmen. His refusal is total: no reward could justify killing his family, not even rule over heaven, earth and the lower worlds. The words echo a genuine ethical feeling that the Gita will honour even as it corrects Arjuna’s conclusion.
Arjuna is not a coward; he is ready to die rather than kill. This is important. The Gita’s dialogue is not about persuading a frightened man to fight, but about guiding a good man who has lost his bearings. Moral sensitivity is a strength; what it needs is wisdom to guide it.
In Practice
Think of a principle you would not give up for any reward. Let that principle quietly guide one choice you make today.
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.