In Bhagavad Gita 1.36, Arjuna asks what joy could come from killing the sons of Dhritarashtra, saying that sin alone would come upon them for slaying even such aggressors.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः
का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन
पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्
हत्वैतानाततायिनः ॥ १-३६ ॥
nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrānnaḥ
kā prītiḥ syājjanārdana
pāpamevāśrayedasmān
hatvaitānātatāyinaḥ
English transliteration nihatya dhaartaraashtraannah
kaa preetih syaajjanaardana
paapamevaashrayedasmaan
hatvaitaanaatataayinah ॥ 1.36 ॥
Translation / Meaning
What joy could be ours, O Janardana, from killing the sons of Dhritarashtra? Sin alone would come upon us for slaying these aggressors.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| निहत्य nihatya | by killing |
| धार्तराष्ट्रान् dhārtarāṣṭrān | the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra |
| नः naḥ | our |
| का kā | what |
| प्रीतिः prītiḥ | joy |
| स्यात् syāt | would there be |
| जनार्दन janārdana | O Janārdana, one who cares for the people (Kṛṣṇa) |
| पापम् pāpam | sin |
| एव eva | only |
| आश्रयेत् āśrayet | would come upon |
| अस्मान् asmān | us |
| हत्वा hatvā | having killed |
| एतान् etān | these |
| आततायिनः ātatāyinaḥ | aggressors |
Word-wise Chanting
- ni–hat–ya dhār–ta–rāṣ–ṭrān–naḥ 8 syllables ni-hat-ya dhaar-ta-raash-traan-nah
- kā prī–tiḥ syāj–ja–nār–da–na | 8 syllables kaa pree-tih syaaj-ja-naar-da-na
- pā–pa–me–vāś–ra–ye–das–mān– 8 syllables paa-pa-me-vaash-ra-ye-das-maan-
- hat–vai–tā–nā–ta–tā–yi–naḥ || 1-36 8 syllables hat-vai-taa-naa-ta-taa-yi-nah
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 36
Context
Arjuna moves from his own feelings to a moral argument: killing kinsmen, even wrongdoers, is sin.
Meaning
Ātatāyin is a technical term for a violent aggressor: one who sets fire to a home, poisons, attacks with weapons, seizes wealth, land or another’s wife. Ancient law allowed such aggressors to be killed in self-defence, and the Kauravas had committed several of these acts against the Pandavas. Arjuna admits they are aggressors, yet still feels that killing them would bring sin.
Arjuna is torn between two rules: the duty to resist aggression and the sacredness of family bonds. When principles collide, a person can feel trapped. The Gita will not resolve this by choosing one rule over the other, but by changing the level at which Arjuna sees the whole situation.
In Practice
When two good principles conflict in your life, write both down and ask what deeper value each one serves. Look for an action that honours that deeper value.
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.