Shloka 46
Karma-Yoga, Yajña-Cakra, and the Governance of Desire (कर्मयोग–यज्ञचक्र–कामनिग्रह)
यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्र शस्त्रपाणय: । धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत्,यदि मुझ शस्त्ररहित एवं सामना न करनेवालेको शस्त्र हाथमें लिये धृतराष्ट्रके पुत्र रणमें मार डालें तो वह मारना भी मेरे लिये अधिक कल्याणकारक होगा
arjuna uvāca | yadi mām apratīkāram aśastraṁ śastra-pāṇayaḥ | dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyus tan me kṣemataraṁ bhavet ||
यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः । धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ॥
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights Arjuna’s ethical revulsion toward fighting his own relatives: he judges that dying defenseless would be preferable to committing violence that he fears would violate dharma and burden his conscience. It frames the inner conflict that prompts the subsequent instruction on duty, righteousness, and right action.
On the battlefield, Arjuna is overwhelmed by sorrow and moral hesitation. He tells that if the Kauravas were to kill him while he remains unarmed and does not retaliate, he would consider that outcome better than engaging in the battle against his own kin.