Chapter 1 Shlokas 38,39

यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतस:।

कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम्।।३८।।

कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभि: पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम्।

कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन।।३९।।

Arjuna continues:

Even if these people, immersed in greed, do not see the sin involved in the destruction of their families and in opposing their friends and relatives, yet, O Janardhana, Why should not we, who see the innate vice in the destruction of the family, consider distancing ourselves from this sin?

Chapter 1 Shlokas 38,39

यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतस:।

कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम्।।३८।।

कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभि: पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम्।

कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन।।३९।।

Arjuna continues:

Even if these people, immersed in greed, do not see the sin involved in the destruction of their families and in opposing their friends and relatives, yet, O Janardhana, Why should not we, who see the innate vice in the destruction of the family, consider distancing ourselves from this sin?

Arjuna again called Lord Krishna ‘Janardhana’ i.e. One who eradicates sin by inflicting pain on the sinner. (Chp.1, shloka 36). Arjuna now says, “At least we should save ourselves from sin by refraining from killing our brethren.”

Behaviour of the Kaurava clan

1. The Kauravas were guilty of the destruction of many families by their aggression.

2. They had soiled many women through lust.

3. They had deprived people of their wealth to satiate their own greed.

4. They must have sullied many a reputation and deceived many.

5. They must have pained many innocents through their injustice.

Their friends resemble them inasmuch as they too must be tyrannising others and troubling them. Arjuna seems to have forgotten this fact regarding the characteristics of the Kaurava family.

Little one,

1. A friend of the greedy is one who feeds his greed.

2. A friend of the proud feeds his pride.

3. The deceiver considers that one to be his friend who helps him in his deceptions.

4. The wicked only count those amongst their friends, who aid their wickedness.

From this point of view, the Kauravas’ friends were tyrannical like themselves.

These days we experience the same phenomenon in many a home and indeed in every sphere of the nation’s affairs. This example can be found amongst all individualistic and selfish beings. The saintly never side with tormentors. They try to save others from their clutches.

1. Sadhaks and Realised Souls only support the Truth, not their own families.

2. Their duty is towards the Truth and not towards persons.

3. They never forsake the Truth to protect themselves or their kin.

4. They are drawn towards divine qualities and are indifferent towards themselves.

5. They never make efforts for any reconciliation with an oppressor even though they may be seen to sometimes strike a friendship with such a one as a strategy to eradicate oppression.

Just as Arjuna is taking support of illusory principles to renounce his duty, so also, a sadhu often endeavours to free himself of all duties and uses the prop of lofty principles in order to do so! Actually, little one, when such sadhus leave their homes to find refuge in Ashrams and in the midst of forests, away from their arena of duty, they help in the proliferation of sin.

A sadhak must give proof of freedom from attachment to his body in his daily life by giving others rights over himself. No matter if the world turns against him, the sadhak must remain unaffected, only then can he progress in the practice of divine qualities and attributes of the Supreme. Thus he becomes a living example, inspiring others who watch him to appreciate and understand those attributes, to develop faith in them and imbibe them. Inherent in such an attitude is the sadhak’s true love for all beings, for the Lord and for his duty.

A true lover of the Lord never tries to escape a difficult situation – he tackles it. If he wants to run away, then he does not really love the Lord.