Chapter 2 – Sankhya Yoga
Verse 4
arjuna uvācha
kathaṁ bhīṣhmam ahaṁ sankhye droṇaṁ cha madhusūdana
iṣhubhiḥ pratiyotsyāmi pūjārhāvari-sūdana
Simple English Meaning:
Arjuna said —
“O Madhusūdana! How can I shoot arrows at great and honorable personalities like Bhishma Pitamaha and Acharya Drona on the battlefield? O Arisūdana! They are my teachers and elders. It is impossible for me to kill them.”
Detailed Explanation:
In this verse, Arjuna expresses the deep conflict within his heart.
When he sees his guru Dronacharya and his grandsire Bhishma standing before him on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, a strong wave of compassion, respect, and duty clashes inside him.
Arjuna’s mind was saying:
- “How can I shoot arrows at the very guru who taught me the art of warfare since childhood?”
- “How can I fight against my grandsire who has always blessed and loved me?”
Arjuna is unable to understand whether killing them in war is righteous or unrighteous.
That is why he emotionally questions Shri Krishna — How can I raise weapons against such venerable personalities?
This verse reveals his mental state clearly:
katham bhīṣmam aham
Attack Bhishma, the great and respected warrior?
droṇam ca
Strike my own guru, Dronacharya?
iṣubhiḥ pratiyotsyāmi
How can I shoot arrows at them?
pūjārhau
They are worthy of worship and deep respect.
Arjuna’s question is not just his personal conflict;
it represents the conflict every human faces when duty and emotion stand against each other.
Spiritual Insight (Inner Meaning):
This verse teaches that—
- When a person becomes trapped between duty and relationships, their sense of discrimination becomes disturbed.
- Arjuna’s battle is not only an external war but also an inner war of the soul.
This verse shows that—
- Many times in life, we must make decisions that are emotionally painful.
- With the right guidance (like Krishna guiding Arjuna), one can understand and follow their true duty.
The use of names like Madhusūdana and Arisūdana indicates that Arjuna knows—
Shri Krishna is the one who can destroy his inner confusion and delusion.
