Teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other relatives.
— Arjuna
❋
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. Tap 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
✦
Arjuna names them one by one: teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, uncles, in-laws, grandsons, brothers-in-law.
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
Arjuna looks across the battlefield and sees familiar faces: 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
What it looks like today
Writing invitations for a grandmother's eightieth birthday, you go through teachers, uncles, in-laws and grandchildren one by one. Arjuna makes the same kind of list, but these names stand opposite him in battle.
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?
Writing invitations for a grandmother's eightieth birthday, you go through teachers, uncles, in-laws and grandchildren one by one. Arjuna makes the same kind of list, but these names stand opposite him in battle.
Arjuna names them one by one: teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, uncles, in-laws, grandsons, brothers-in-law.
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
Arjuna looks across the battlefield and sees familiar faces: teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, uncles, in-laws, and cousins. The war has become a family catastrophe, and his refusal to strike is growing sharper.
What it looks like today
Writing invitations for a grandmother's eightieth birthday, you go through teachers, uncles, in-laws and grandchildren one by one. Arjuna makes the same kind of list, but these names stand opposite him in battle.
“The conflict feels unbearable because the enemy is not abstract — it is family.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses)