Though greed has blinded them, they do not see the fault in destroying a family or the wrong in betraying friends.
— Arjuna
❋
Bhagavad Gita · 1.38
Hindi · हिन्दी
यद्यपि लोभ के कारण जिनका विवेकविचार लुप्त हो गया है, ऐसे ये दुर्योधन आदि कुल का नाश करने से होनेवाले दोष को और मित्रों के साथ द्वेष करने से होनेवाले पाप को नहीं देखते, तो भी हे जनार्दन कुल का नाश करने से होनेवाले दोष को ठीकठीक जाननेवाले हमलोग इस पाप से निवृत्त होने का विचार क्यों न करें ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
यद्यपिthoughएतेtheseन पश्यन्तिdo not seeलोभोपहतचेतसःthose whose minds are overcome by greedकुलक्षयकृतंcaused by destruction of the familyदोषम्faultमित्रद्रोहेin betrayal of friendsचandपातकम्wrongdoing
Read literallythough · these · do not see · those whose minds are overcome by greed · caused by destruction of the family · fault · in betrayal of friends · and · wrongdoing
Understanding the verse
✦
It shifts attention from winning the argument to seeing the moral cost of greed-driven action.
Built onlobha
01
In plain words
What this verse means
Greed has made these people blind. They cannot see the harm in destroying their own family or betraying friends.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On the Kurukshetra battlefield, Arjuna keeps arguing against war while the armies wait. He points out that Duryodhana and his side are blinded by greed and cannot see the ruin they are causing, which deepens Arjuna’s refusal to fight his own kin.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You’re in a family meeting where money has turned relatives against each other. Everyone speaks loudly, but no one sees the damage being done until it is too late.
The takeaway
“Clear seeing can survive even in a room full of pressure and blindness.”
Greed has made these people blind. They cannot see the harm in destroying their own family or betraying friends.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 1.38?
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 1.38?
Verse 38 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 1.38 matter today?
You’re in a family meeting where money has turned relatives against each other. Everyone speaks loudly, but no one sees the damage being done until it is too late.
It shifts attention from winning the argument to seeing the moral cost of greed-driven action.
What this verse means
Greed has made these people blind. They cannot see the harm in destroying their own family or betraying friends.
Context & commentary
On the Kurukshetra battlefield, Arjuna keeps arguing against war while the armies wait. He points out that Duryodhana and his side are blinded by greed and cannot see the ruin they are causing, which deepens Arjuna’s refusal to fight his own kin.
Why this verse still matters
You’re in a family meeting where money has turned relatives against each other. Everyone speaks loudly, but no one sees the damage being done until it is too late.
“Clear seeing can survive even in a room full of pressure and blindness.”
Explore related themes: arjuna vishada (14 verses)