Chapter 1 Shloka 32

न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च।

किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा।।३२।।

Says Arjuna:

O Krishna! I do not desire victory;

I do not desire the kingdom or its pleasures.

O Govind! Of what use is this kingdom to us?

Indeed, of what use is this life?

Chapter 1 Shloka 32

न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च।

किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा।।३२।।

Says Arjuna:

O Krishna! I do not desire victory; I do not desire the kingdom or its pleasures. O Govind ! Of what use is this kingdom to us? Indeed, of what use is this life?

Little one, look! Arjuna became anxious at the thought of such a war.

1. In the first instance it was a desire for the kingdom and its pleasures and happiness that drove the Pandavas to prepare for war.

2. They must have sought help from others and practised archery and the use of other weapons.

3. They must have studied countless warring strategies.

4. They must have collected wealth and all types of equipment for the war and performed various yagyas towards this end.

5. They would have trained many soldiers in wielding various weapons and enthused them so that they became ready to fight.

6. They must have gone all out to prove that justice was with them.

7. They must have borne many hardships and solved many problems towards attaining victory in war.

They knew well they were pitted against their own relations and revered teachers. What had happened now?

Dhritrashtra had sent Sanjay to the Pandavas to advise them:

1. “Do not enter into a war.

2. How will you kill these relations who have been fathers to you?

3. How can you kill your Gurus and teachers?

4. Duryodhana is irresponsible, but you are wise.

5. You stand on the path of dharma, so do not fight.

6. You are sadhus. Do not renounce your virtue thus.”

Inspite of hearing all this, the Pandavas continued to prepare for war. What transpired thereafter?

a) Moha was awakened within them.

b) They began to go against their nature. They who were imbued with divine attributes and a virtuous leaning, were also brave Kshatriyas possessed of a martial nature.

c) Yet, their sense of duty and their basic virtuous nature came to the forefront upon seeing their elders and revered ones pitted against them.

d) Their heads refused to rise in defiance where they were accustomed to being humble.

e) How could they fight the very people whom they had always obeyed?

The mind longs to escape from such a situation and seeks the support of knowledge. Therefore Arjuna now changes the connotation of ‘duty’ and says “We do not want the kingdom, its pleasures, or victory. We do not even want to live.”

When the veil of attachment blinds us thus:

1. We forget the path of Truth.

2. We interpret knowledge to suit our own ends.

3. We make excuses.

4. Our arguments are based on the weak foundations of erroneous principles.

Here, Arjuna addresses Lord Krishna as ‘Govind’. ‘Govind’ means the Omniscient One, an ocean of knowledge, a Master of the sense organs.

Abha, little one! One takes the Lord’s name when one wants to sound wise, regardless of whether one is in fact right or wrong! When the mind is worried and nonplussed and cannot see the possibility of a desire being fulfilled, it begins to despair even of life! The intellect becomes shrouded by attachments and unsure of where one’s duty lies.