In Bhagavad Gita 1.46, Arjuna says it would be better for him if the armed sons of Dhritarashtra killed him in battle, unarmed and unresisting.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
यदि मामप्रतीकारम्
अशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः
धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्
तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ॥ १-४६ ॥
yadi māmapratīkāram
aśastraṃ śastrapāṇayaḥ
dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyus
tanme kṣemataraṃ bhavet
English transliteration yadi maamaprateekaaram
ashastram shastrapaanayah
dhaartaraashtraa rane hanyus
tanme kshemataram bhavet ॥ 1.46 ॥
Translation / Meaning
It would be better for me if the sons of Dhritarashtra, weapons in hand, were to kill me in battle, unresisting and unarmed.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यदि yadi | if |
| माम् mām | me |
| अप्रतीकारम् apratīkāram | unresisting |
| अशस्त्रम् aśastram | unarmed |
| शस्त्रपाणयः śastrapāṇayaḥ | weapons in hand śastra (weapons) + pāṇayaḥ (in hand) |
| धार्तराष्ट्राः dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ | the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra |
| रणे raṇe | in battle |
| हन्युः hanyuḥ | were to kill |
| तत् tat | that |
| मे me | for me |
| क्षेमतरम् kṣemataram | better, more beneficial |
| भवेत् bhavet | would be |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–di mā–map–ra–tī–kā–ram– 8 syllables ya-di maa-map-ra-tee-kaa-ram-
- a–śas–traṃ śas–tra–pā–ṇa–yaḥ | 8 syllables a-shas-tram shas-tra-paa-na-yah
- dhār–ta–rāṣ–ṭrā ra–ṇe han–yus– 8 syllables dhaar-ta-raash-traa ra-ne han-yus-
- tan–me kṣe–ma–ta–raṃ bha–vet || 1-46 8 syllables tan-me kshe-ma-ta-ram bha-vet
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 46
Context
Arjuna ends his speech to Krishna (1.28–1.46) with a final wish.
Meaning
Arjuna’s last words in Chapter 1 express a complete surrender to despair. He would rather die than fight. He imagines himself unarmed and unresisting, killed by his own cousins, and calls this “better.” It is a wish to escape responsibility altogether, even at the cost of his life.
This verse shows the end point of a mind that has lost its centre: when every course seems wrong, it longs to disappear. Many people know this feeling in times of crisis. The Gita does not leave Arjuna there. The whole of Krishna’s teaching begins precisely at this lowest point, where despair is honest enough to be met.
In Practice
If you ever feel that withdrawing completely would be easier than facing a situation, reach out to someone you trust and talk it through before deciding anything.
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.