Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 31

Chapter 1 – Arjuna Vishada Yoga · Speaker: Arjuna

Sanskrit verse

निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव ।
न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे ॥

Transliteration

nimittāni ca paśyāmi viparītāni keśava .
na ca śreyo.anupaśyāmi hatvā svajanamāhave ॥

Meaning

And I see adverse omens, O Keshava; nor do I foresee any good in killing my own kinsmen in battle.

Word meanings

निमित्तानि – omens, signs
च – and
पश्यामि – I see
विपरीतानि – adverse, contrary
केशव – O Keshava (Krishna)
न – not
श्रेयः – good, lasting welfare
अनुपश्यामि – I foresee
हत्वा – having killed
स्वजनम् – one's own kinsmen
आहवे – in battle

Anvaya (word order)

केशव, विपरीतानि निमित्तानि च पश्यामि; आहवे स्वजनं हत्वा श्रेयः च न अनुपश्यामि ।

Explanation

After the turmoil of body and mind, Arjuna now looks at outward signs and at the future outcome. Nimittani viparitani, 'adverse signs', means ill omens. The Mahabharata describes many omens before the war: meteors falling, strange behaviour of animals and birds, the sun and moon losing their lustre. Vyasa himself had warned Dhritarashtra of these signs.

The phrase has a second meaning too. Nimitta also means 'cause' or 'purpose'. Then the sense becomes, 'I see the purposes of this war turned upside down.' Arjuna feels that the kingdom and happiness for which the war is being fought will turn into sorrow through the death of his kin; purpose and outcome will be reversed.

Na cha shreyo 'nupashyami, 'I see no good in it', is a crucial statement. Shreyas is a key word of the Gita: true and lasting good, as opposed to preyas, immediate pleasure. Arjuna speaks of shreyas, but his vision is still clouded by attachment. He takes the lives of his kin to be the highest good, whereas the true good lies in following dharma. In the second chapter (2.7) Arjuna himself will ask Krishna, 'Tell me decisively what is shreyas for me.'

Arjuna calls Krishna Keshava, 'he of beautiful hair', or 'slayer of the demon Keshi'. He who destroyed the demon Keshi will now destroy the demon of delusion within Arjuna.

Context

In verses 29-30 Arjuna described his physical and mental distress. Here he speaks of ill omens and the outcome of the war. From the next verse he begins arguing that victory, kingdom and pleasure are meaningless.

Life lesson

Distinguishing immediate pleasure (preyas) from true welfare (shreyas) is life's great wisdom. When the mind is full of attachment, even what looks like 'the good' may be an illusion; that is why genuine guidance is needed.

Key terms

Nimitta: omen, sign; or cause, purpose
Shreyas: true and lasting good
Keshava: he of beautiful hair; slayer of the demon Keshi; Krishna
Ahava: battle, war