Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 7
Vibhūti-yoga in the Bhāgavata: The Lord’s Manifest Opulences and the Discipline of Control
ज्ञात्वा ज्ञातिवधं गर्ह्यमधर्मं राज्यहेतुकम् । ततो निवृत्तो हन्ताहं हतोऽयमिति लौकिक: ॥ ७ ॥
jñātvā jñāti-vadhaṁ garhyam adharmaṁ rājya-hetukam tato nivṛtto hantāhaṁ hato ’yam iti laukikaḥ
Trên chiến địa Kurukṣetra, Arjuna nghĩ rằng giết người thân là điều ghê tởm và phi pháp (adharma), chỉ do ham muốn đoạt lấy vương quốc. Vì thế chàng rút lui khỏi trận chiến, nghĩ: “Ta sẽ là kẻ sát hại thân tộc; họ sẽ bị diệt vong.” Như vậy Arjuna bị khổ vì ý thức thế tục.
Lord Kṛṣṇa here explains to Uddhava the circumstances in which Śrī Arjuna posed his questions.
FAQs
This verse states that killing one’s own kinsmen for political gain is garhya (condemnable) and adharma (irreligious), and thus a wise person should desist from such violence.
Kṛṣṇa highlights the laukika (worldly) sense of doership and duality—identifying oneself as the agent of action—which binds one to sin and suffering and obscures higher spiritual understanding.
Avoid harming others for personal advancement, and reduce ego-driven “I am the doer” thinking by acting ethically, responsibly, and with devotion, remembering that worldly ambition should not override dharma.