अर्जुन उवाचकथं भीष्ममहं संख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन ।
इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन ॥
इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
अर्जुन बोले हे मधुसूदन मैं रणभूमिमें भीष्म और द्रोणके साथ बाणोंसे युद्ध कैसे करूँ क्योंकि हे अरिसूदन ये दोनों ही पूजाके योग्य हैं ॥
English
Arjuna said: How can I fight Bhishma and Drona with arrows in battle, O Madhusudana? They are worthy of worship, O destroyer of enemies.
What this verse means
Arjuna cannot imagine fighting his own respected teachers and elders. His hesitation is not tactical; it is moral and emotional.
Context & commentary
On the Kurukshetra field, Krishna has just challenged Arjuna’s collapse. Arjuna answers with a deeper wound: Bhishma and Drona are not enemies in his heart, but revered teachers. His refusal to shoot reveals the conflict tearing him apart.
Why this verse still matters
You have to speak against a mentor who shaped you. Your hand freezes because the person in front of you is not just wrong — they are beloved.
The takeaway
Some conflicts hurt because the people involved still matter to you.
Word-by-word translation
अर्जुन उवाच (Arjuna said) / कथम् (how) / भीष्मम् (Bhishma) / अहम् (I) / संख्ये (in battle) / द्रोणम् (Drona) / च (and) / मधुसूदन (O Madhusudana) / इषुभिः (with arrows) / प्रतियोत्स्यामि (shall fight) / पूजार्हौ (worthy of worship) / अरिसूदन (O destroyer of enemies)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga — The Yoga of Knowledge, which contains 72 verses.
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), arjuna (52 verses)