Teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other relatives.
— Arjuna
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Bhagavad Gita · 1.34
Hindi · हिन्दी
आचार्य, पिता, पुत्र और उसी प्रकार पितामह, मामा, ससुर, पौत्र, साले तथा अन्य जितने भी सम्बन्धी हैं, मुझ पर प्रहार करने पर भी मैं इनको मारना नहीं चाहता, और हे मधुसूदन मुझे त्रिलोकी का राज्य मिलता हो, तो भी मैं इनको मारना नहीं चाहता, फिर पृथ्वी के लिये तो मैं इनको मारूँ ही क्या ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
आचार्याःteachersपितरःfathersपुत्राःsonsतथा एव चand likewiseपितामहाःgrandfathersमातुलाःmaternal unclesश्चशुराःfathers-in-lawपौत्राःgrandsonsश्यालाःbrothers-in-lawसम्बन्धिनःrelativesतथाand so on
Read literallyteachers · fathers · sons · and likewise · grandfathers · maternal uncles · fathers-in-law · grandsons · brothers-in-law · relatives · and so on
Understanding the verse
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It shifts the mind from winning a conflict to facing the human cost of victory.
01
In plain words
What this verse means
Arjuna lists the family members and relatives on both sides of the battlefield. He is overwhelmed because the people he would have to fight are his own kin.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna looks across the battlefield and sees not strangers but teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, uncles, in-laws, and cousins. The war has become a family catastrophe, and his refusal to strike is growing sharper.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You open a message thread and realize the argument is no longer about the issue. It is about people you love, and hurting them now feels impossible.
The takeaway
“The conflict feels unbearable because the enemy is not abstract — it is family.”
Arjuna lists the family members and relatives on both sides of the battlefield. He is overwhelmed because the people he would have to fight are his own kin.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 1.34?
Arjuna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Arjuna Vishada Yoga" (The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 1.34?
Verse 34 sits in Chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita — Arjuna Vishada Yoga, "The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair". The chapter has 47 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 1.34 matter today?
You open a message thread and realize the argument is no longer about the issue. It is about people you love, and hurting them now feels impossible.
It shifts the mind from winning a conflict to facing the human cost of victory.
What this verse means
Arjuna lists the family members and relatives on both sides of the battlefield. He is overwhelmed because the people he would have to fight are his own kin.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna looks across the battlefield and sees not strangers but teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, uncles, in-laws, and cousins. The war has become a family catastrophe, and his refusal to strike is growing sharper.
Why this verse still matters
You open a message thread and realize the argument is no longer about the issue. It is about people you love, and hurting them now feels impossible.
“The conflict feels unbearable because the enemy is not abstract — it is family.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses)