Arjuna's Dilemma

20. Arjuna beheld the vast army assembled for the war, and before the missiles began to fly, lifted his bow and uttered the following words to his charioteer Krishna 

21. O infallible one, place my chariot between both the forces that are assembled here

22. I would like to observe those who stand here desirous of battle and the ones whom I must face as opponents

23. I desire to see who all have assembled here to favour the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra

24. Krishna moved the chariot and placed it in the middle of the forces

25. He strategically placed it (instead of placing it in front of Duryodhana and increasing the energy, he placed it in front of his favourite relatives and drained his energy) and made Arjuna face his grandsire Bhishma and Guru Drona, and the other benevolent rulers and said, “Arjuna, see these Kauravas!”

26. There Arjuna observed both the armies. He could only see fathers, grandfathers, teachers, brothers, sons, grandsons, friends, uncles, other loving beings and well wishers

27. That son of Kunti, beholding his relatives, keenly observed them and overwhelmed with compassion and despondency uttered the following words

28. O Krishna, seeing my relatives assembled and eager for the fight, my body is losing all its energy and my mouth becomes dry

29. My entire frame is trembling, my hair stands on its end, my bow, which has the name Gandiva, slips from my hand and my skin burns

30. Krishna, I have lost the strength to even stand, my mind is in a turmoil. I behold bad omens

31. In this war, I am unable to see the benefits of killing my relatives. Now, I do not desire victory, kingdom, and other pleasures  

32. What benefit do we achieve by possessing the kingdom without the people?  

33. They for whose sake, we are desiring sovereignty, enjoyments, and pleasures are arrayed for this battle prepared to give up their life and wealth

34. Teachers, parents, children, grandparents, uncles, brothers, brothers-in-law, marital relatives are assembled here against us

35. Even for the sake of the three worlds, I will not slay them. For the sake of this earth, will I kill them?

36. What happiness do we achieve by slaying this army of Dhritarashtra? Even if we kill these aggressors, only sins will overtake us

37. Therefore, killing our relatives is something that I will not be able to do. Krishna, how can we be happy by killing our own relatives?

38. Owing to their greed, they are unable to appreciate the evil that arises from the quarrel within a family and extermination of the race   

39. But shouldn’t we who understand those sins abstain from it?

40. When a race is destroyed, the eternal customs and values are lost. And iniquity surrounds everyone  

41. When iniquity increases in proportions, immorality follows. Family ladies become corrupt, unwanted progeny comes into being and races intermingle  

42. Unwanted progeny ensures social evils and makes life hell to those who are pure and those that intermingle. The familial rites end. And without food and water, ancestors fall from heaven

43. When races intermingle eternal rites of families become extinct

44. I have heard that the ones whose family rites become extinct always dwell in hell

45. Because of the desire to rule this land, I have resolved to perpetrate such a great sin of killing my own kinsmen. Alas! How strange is it?

46. Wouldn’t it be better to remain unarmed and be killed by Dhritarashtra’s men in this war? 

47. Having spoken these words, Arjuna, with his mind troubled in grief, threw his bows and arrows away, and sat down in his chariot’s floor 

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