Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 33

Chapter 1 – Arjuna Vishada Yoga · Speaker: Arjuna

Sanskrit verse

येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च ।
त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ॥

Transliteration

yeṣāmarthe kāṅkṣitaṃ no rājyaṃ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca .
ta ime.avasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṃstyaktvā dhanāni ca ॥

Meaning

Those for whose sake we desired kingdom, enjoyments and pleasures stand here in battle, having staked their lives and riches.

Word meanings

येषाम् – of whom
अर्थे – for the sake
काङ्क्षितम् – was desired
नः – by us
राज्यम् – kingdom
भोगाः – enjoyments
सुखानि – pleasures
च – and
ते – they
इमे – these
अवस्थिताः – stand
युद्धे – in battle
प्राणान् – lives
त्यक्त्वा – giving up
धनानि – riches

Anvaya (word order)

येषाम् अर्थे नः राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च काङ्क्षितम्, ते इमे प्राणान् धनानि च त्यक्त्वा युद्धे अवस्थिताः ।

Explanation

Arjuna explains his previous statement. Kingdom, enjoyments and pleasures have no meaning in themselves; their joy lies in sharing them with those we love. Yet the very people with whom he would have enjoyed these things now stand ready to give up their lives. If they are gone, with whom and for whom is the kingdom?

From a human point of view this reasoning is natural and touching. People earn wealth, position and honour for the sake of family and community. Our happiness takes its meaning from our bonds with others. What joy is there for a king alone in an empty palace?

It is instructive to compare this verse with Duryodhana's words in verse 9. Duryodhana said madarthe tyaktajivitah, 'they have given up their lives for my sake'. There, everyone's sacrifice was 'for me'. Arjuna says yesham arthe, 'for whose sake' we wanted a kingdom. Duryodhana treats others as means to his own ends; Arjuna sees himself as living for others. This is the fundamental difference between the two characters.

Still, Arjuna's reasoning is incomplete. He forgets that these people have chosen to stand on the side of adharma, and that the purpose of the war is not personal pleasure but the restoration of dharma. Krishna will correct precisely this error.

Context

In the previous verse Arjuna declared kingdom and pleasure meaningless; here he gives the reason. In the next verse he lists the kinsmen standing in battle.

Life lesson

It is true that happiness finds its meaning in being shared. But it is not right to let attachment to personal relationships blind us to the wider good of dharma and society.

Key terms

Yesham arthe: for whose sake; an outlook centred on others
Prana: life-breath, life
Bhoga: worldly enjoyment