Gyaneshwari -Sant Gyaneshwar
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Chapter-1
Despondency of Arjuna
34. Yonder are our teachers, fathers, sons and grand-fathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other kinsmen. I do not particularly fancy a victory of this kind. Of what use is a kingdom gained in this way (206-210)? If we have to kill all of them to enjoy pleasures, burn those pleasures, so said Partha. Rather than enjoy such pleasures, we shall gladly suffer misery of any kind and even risk our lives for them. To slay them and enjoy the pleasures of a kingdom, my mind cannot conceive of such a thing even in a dream. If we have to think of our elders with animus, why should we come to birth, and for whom should we live’? When a family longs for a son, do they expect of him that he should utterly destroy his kith and kin (211-215)? How could we think of being as hard and adamant? Rather we should do whatever good we can offer for them. We should let them enjoy whatever we earn; in fact we should devote our entire lives in their cause. We should conquer all kings up to the limits of the quarters to please them. But it is the irony of fate that all our relations have come here to fight forsaking their wives, children and wealth, and committing their lives to the charge of missiles (216220). How shall I kill them? How shall I wound my own heart? Don’t you know who they are? Yonder are Bhishma and Drona, who have placed us under many obligations. Here we have brothers-in-law, fathers-in-law, maternal uncles, cousins, sons and grandsons and other relations. Listen, everyone of them is closely related to us; we shall be committing sin, even if we talk of killing them. 35. These I do not wish to slay, even if they were to kill us. O Krishna, for the kingdom of the three worlds, let alone the earth. Even if they were to cause harm to us or slay us, we would not think of attacking them (221225). Even if we were to get the uncontested kingdom of the three worlds, I would not commit this foul act. If we commit this act today, how shall we retain the respect of others? Tell me, O Krishna, shall we be able to see your face thereafter? |
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