In Bhagavad Gita 1.38, Arjuna says that the Kauravas, their minds overpowered by greed, cannot see the evil of destroying a family or the sin of betraying friends.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति
लोभोपहतचेतसः
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं
मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ॥ १-३८ ॥
yadyapyete na paśyanti
lobhopahatacetasaḥ
kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ
mitradrohe ca pātakam
English transliteration yadyapyete na pashyanti
lobhopahatachetasah
kulakshayakritam dosham
mitradrohe cha paatakam ॥ 1.38 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Even if they, their minds overpowered by greed, see no fault in destroying the family and no sin in treachery toward friends,
Verses 1.38–1.39 form one sentence.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यदि अपि yadi api | even if |
| एते ete | these |
| न na | not |
| पश्यन्ति paśyanti | see |
| लोभोपहतचेतसः lobhopahatacetasaḥ | their minds overpowered by greed lobha (greed) + upahata (overpowered) + cetasaḥ (minds) |
| कुलक्षयकृतम् kulakṣayakṛtam | caused by the destruction of the family kula (family) + kṣaya (destruction) + kṛtam (caused) |
| दोषम् doṣam | fault |
| मित्रद्रोहे mitradrohe | in treachery to friends mitra (friends) + drohe (in betrayal) |
| च ca | and |
| पातकम् pātakam | sin |
Word-wise Chanting
- yad–yap–ye–te na paś–yan–ti 8 syllables yad-yap-ye-te na pash-yan-ti
- lo–bho–pa–ha–ta–ce–ta–saḥ | 8 syllables lo-bho-pa-ha-ta-che-ta-sah
- ku–la–kṣa–ya–kṛ–taṃ do–ṣaṃ 8 syllables ku-la-ksha-ya-kri-tam do-sham
- mit–rad–ro–he ca pā–ta–kam || 1-38 8 syllables mit-rad-ro-he cha paa-ta-kam
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 38
Context
Arjuna now contrasts the blindness of the Kauravas with his own awareness; the sentence completes in 1.39.
Meaning
Arjuna diagnoses his opponents precisely: greed, lobha, has overpowered their minds. Greed narrows vision until a person can no longer see the harm of their own actions. The Kauravas do not see the destruction of their family or the betrayal of friendship as wrong because desire has clouded their perception.
This verse is a lesson about how wrongdoing usually happens. Few people choose evil knowingly; most are blinded by desire, fear or anger until wrong looks right. The Gita will later name desire and anger as the great enemies that cover knowledge (3.37–3.39). Arjuna sees this clearly in others; the deeper work is to see it in oneself.
In Practice
Pick an area where you strongly want something. Ask a trusted friend whether that wanting may be hiding something from you.
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.