Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 35

Chapter 1 – Arjuna Vishada Yoga · Speaker: Arjuna

Sanskrit verse

एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन ।
अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते ॥

Transliteration

etānna hantumicchāmi ghnato.api madhusūdana .
api trailokyarājyasya hetoḥ kiṃ nu mahīkṛte ॥

Meaning

O Madhusudana, I do not wish to kill them even if they kill me, not even for the sovereignty of the three worlds; how much less for the sake of this earth!

Word meanings

एतान् – these
न – not
हन्तुम् – to kill
इच्छामि – I wish
घ्नतः – even while they are killing (me)
अपि – even
मधुसूदन – O Madhusudana, slayer of the demon Madhu
त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य – of the kingdom of the three worlds
हेतोः – for the sake
किम् नु – how much less
महीकृते – for the earth

Anvaya (word order)

मधुसूदन, घ्नतः अपि एतान् (अहं) त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः अपि हन्तुं न इच्छामि, किं नु महीकृते ।

Explanation

Arjuna's resolve is hardening now, a resolve born of attachment. He says that even if these men kill him, he will not raise his hand against them. Not for the kingdom of the three worlds, earth, mid-space and heaven, and so certainly not for the kingdom of Hastinapura.

This declaration reveals Arjuna's noble heart. There is no desire for revenge in him; he is not burning with vengeance. Even towards those who wronged him so deeply he feels compassion. This is no ordinary quality, and it is why Arjuna is a worthy recipient of the Gita. A hard-hearted Duryodhana would never feel such anguish.

Yet a great error is hidden here too. Arjuna sees the question only in terms of personal gain and loss: 'whether or not I get the kingdom'. He forgets that a kshatriya's battle is not for himself but for dharma and the people. Laying down arms before adharma, however generous the motive, only strengthens adharma.

Arjuna calls Krishna Madhusudana, slayer of the demon Madhu. There is a subtle irony in this: Arjuna addresses the very one who slew demons to protect dharma, and tells him that he will not slay the unrighteous.

Context

In the previous two verses Arjuna listed the kinsmen standing in battle; here he announces his decision not to kill them. In the next verse he gives a moral reason: killing them would bring sin.

Life lesson

A heart free of vengeance is a great virtue, but becoming passive in the face of injustice is not compassion; it is turning from duty. True magnanimity protects dharma while remaining free of hatred.

Key terms

Madhusudana: slayer of the demon Madhu; Krishna
Trailokya: the three worlds: earth, mid-space and heaven
Mahi: the earth; here earthly sovereignty