Chapter 2 – Sāṅkhya Yoga
Verse 5
gurūn ahatvā hi mahānubhāvān
śreyo bhoktuṁ bhaikṣyam apīha loke |
hatvārthakāmāṁs tu gurūn ihaiva
bhuñjīya bhogān rudhira-pradigdhān || 5||
Simple English Meaning
Arjuna says — What benefit will I get by killing such great and respectable gurus? Whatever kingdom, pleasures or wealth I obtain by fighting and killing them will be soaked in blood for me. Therefore, instead of killing these noble gurus, it is better that I spend my life in this world by begging.
Detailed Explanation
In this verse, Arjuna expresses his deep confusion and emotional pain. He sees that in the battlefield stand his most revered teachers — Dronacharya and Kripacharya.
He may win the war, but such victory will have no meaning because it will be gained after killing his own gurus.
The following feelings arise in Arjuna’s mind:
Great and noble gurus:
Drona, Kripa, etc., are not just warriors for him, but symbols of respect and reverence.
Life of begging:
Arjuna feels that it is better to live by begging than to win by killing such revered gurus.
Blood-stained enjoyment:
Even if he wins the war, the fruits of that victory — kingdom, pleasures, wealth — will appear to him filled with sin and stained with blood.
Thus, Arjuna’s inner sorrow and duty-conflict intensify greatly. He is trapped in a deep moral dilemma — on one side lies duty, and on the other side love and respect for his teachers.
In this mental state, Arjuna becomes completely confused and unable to decide what is right.
Spiritual Insight
This verse shows that when one’s duty comes into conflict with one’s loved or respected ones, a person falls into a deep moral crisis.
Arjuna’s doubt is not just about war; it reflects the eternal dilemma between duty and relationships.
The message here is:
- Decisions driven by sin or attachment, even if emotional, take us away from our true duty.
- A person must understand what real righteousness (dharma) is — a decision based on emotions or performing duty for greater good?
To resolve this confusion, Lord Krishna begins to give him divine knowledge.
