In Bhagavad Gita 1.45, Arjuna exclaims in anguish that they were ready to commit a great sin, prepared to kill their own kin out of greed for the pleasures of a kingdom.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
अहो बत महत्पापं
कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम्
यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन
हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ॥ १-४५ ॥
aho bata mahatpāpaṃ
kartuṃ vyavasitā vayam
yadrājyasukhalobhena
hantuṃ svajanamudyatāḥ
English transliteration aho bata mahatpaapam
kartum vyavasitaa vayam
yadraajyasukhalobhena
hantum svajanamudyataah ॥ 1.45 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Alas, what a great sin we have resolved to commit, prepared to kill our own kinsmen out of greed for the pleasures of a kingdom!
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अहो बत aho bata | alas |
| महत् mahat | great |
| पापम् pāpam | sin |
| कर्तुम् kartum | to commit |
| व्यवसिताः vyavasitāḥ | resolved |
| वयम् vayam | we |
| यत् yat | that |
| राज्यसुखलोभेन rājyasukhalobhena | out of greed for the pleasures of a kingdom rājya (kingdom) + sukha (pleasures) + lobhena (by greed) |
| हन्तुम् hantum | to kill |
| स्वजनम् svajanam | our own kin sva (own) + janam (people) |
| उद्यताः udyatāḥ | prepared |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–ho ba–ta ma–hat–pā–paṃ 8 syllables a-ho ba-ta ma-hat-paa-pam
- kar–tuṃ vya–va–si–tā va–yam | 8 syllables kar-tum vya-va-si-taa va-yam
- yad–rāj–ya–su–kha–lo–bhe–na 8 syllables yad-raaj-ya-su-kha-lo-bhe-na
- han–tuṃ sva–ja–na–mud–ya–tāḥ || 1-45 8 syllables han-tum sva-ja-na-mud-ya-taah
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 45
Context
After his chain of reasoning (1.31–1.44), Arjuna breaks into a cry of remorse.
Meaning
Arjuna’s argument turns into an exclamation, aho bata, alas! He accuses himself of the same greed, lobha, that he saw in the Kauravas (1.38). In his anguish he now sees his own side as driven by desire for kingdom and comfort. It is an honest moment of self-examination, though distorted by despair.
There is something valuable in Arjuna’s readiness to examine his own motives. Many people never do this. Yet self-accusation in a state of grief can be as distorted as blindness. The Gita will help Arjuna separate genuine self-knowledge from guilt that clouds judgement, so that his action can be pure without being paralysed.
In Practice
When you criticise yourself, ask whether the criticism helps you act better or only weighs you down. Keep the insight and let go of the excess guilt.
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.