The Verse
श्लोक
Translation
अनुवाद
English
Alas! How strange that we are determined to commit great sin, driven by greed for royal pleasures, ready to kill our own kinsmen.
हिंदी
अहो! कैसा आश्चर्य है कि हम लोग बड़ा भारी पाप करने को तैयार हैं, जो राज्य और सुख के लोभ से अपने ही बन्धुओं को मारने को उद्यत हैं।
Deep Reflection
गहन चिंतन
Now Arjuna expresses shock at himself and his brothers:
"Alas! How strange that WE are about to commit this great sin—all for greed!"
He's turned the mirror on himself. Not just the Kauravas who are greedy—the Pandavas too.
The Psychology of Recognizing Shared Fault
"Vayam"—we. Not they, not them. We. Arjuna includes himself in the accusation.
He accused the Kauravas of greed-blindness. Now he sees the same in his own side. We too are driven by desire for kingdom and comfort.
Greed for Royal Pleasures
"Rājya-sukha-lobhena"—by greed for the pleasures of kingship. All this for a throne?
Arjuna strips away justifications. Justice? Righteousness? Or just... we want to rule? We want the palace and the power? Underneath noble reasons, maybe just desire.
The Word "Strange"
"Aho bata"—alas, how strange. There's bewilderment here. How did we get here? How did this seem like a good idea?
You've been moving toward something for years, and suddenly you see it clearly. "Wait—what am I doing? How did I think this was okay?"
Great Sin
"Mahat pāpam"—great sin, not small sin. This isn't a minor wrong. It's massive.
Arjuna isn't worried about technicalities. He's facing what he sees as a fundamental moral catastrophe. Proportionality matters.
Why Horror Precedes Surrender
This verse has the feel of someone breaking. The arguments are done. Now there's just horror at what he's about to do.
Arjuna has reasoned and cited and argued. Now he's simply appalled. This is the emotional breaking point that precedes his complete collapse in the next verses.
What This Means for You
व्यावहारिक ज्ञान
Turn the mirror on yourself. Before criticizing others' motives, examine your own.
Name what you're really after. Strip away noble justifications. What's the actual desire?
"How did I get here?" is a valuable question. Mid-path realization can prevent worse outcomes.
Some wrongs are greater than others. Proportionality in moral response is appropriate.
Live With It
इस श्लोक को जिएं
The "What Have I Become?" Moment.
Arjuna finally looks at himself. "We are determined to commit great sin... driven by greed."
He stops blaming the Kauravas. He stops analyzing society. He looks in the mirror and sees a man willing to kill his family for a chair.
It is a moment of profound disgust.
Have you ever caught yourself? "I'm screaming at my child because I'm late for a meeting." "I'm lying to my friend to look cool."
That moment of horror—"Alas! How strange!"—is painful. But it is the most necessary moment of your life. Until you see your own greed, your own potential for "mahat papam" (great sin), you can't change it.
Don't run from the shame. Let it wake you up.
A Question to Sit With
चिंतन के लिए प्रश्न
"What "noble" goal of yours might, stripped of justification, reveal simpler desires underneath?"