अर्जुन उवाच-कथं भीष्ममहं सङ्‍ख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन ।इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन ॥
अर्जुन उवाच-कथं भीष्ममहं सङ्‍ख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन ।इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन ॥

Chapter 2, Verse 4

अर्जुन उवाच |

कथं भीष्ममहं सङ्ख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन |

इषुभि: प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन || 4||

arjuna uvācha
kathaṁ bhīṣhmam ahaṁ sankhye droṇaṁ cha madhusūdana
iṣhubhiḥ pratiyotsyāmi pūjārhāvari-sūdana

भावार्थ:

अर्जुन बोले- हे मधुसूदन! मैं रणभूमि में किस प्रकार बाणों से भीष्म पितामह और द्रोणाचार्य के विरुद्ध लड़ूँगा? क्योंकि हे अरिसूदन! वे दोनों ही पूजनीय हैं॥4॥

Translation

Arjun said: O Madhusudan, how can I shoot arrows in battle on men like Bheeshma and Dronacharya, who are worthy of my worship, O destroyer of enemies?

2.4 कथम् how? भीष्मम् Bhishma? अहम् I? संख्ये in battle? द्रोणम् Drona? च and? मधुसूदन O Madhusudana? इषुभिः with arrows? प्रतियोत्स्यामि shall fight? पूजार्हौ worthy to be worshipped? अरिसूदन O destroyer of enemies.

Explanation in English:

Arjuna now expresses his internal conflict more clearly. He isn’t just afraid of battle — he’s emotionally torn because he’s being asked to fight people he deeply respects and reveres.

  • Bhishma and Drona are not ordinary opponents.
    Bhishma is his grand-uncle, a respected elder and warrior.
    Drona is his guru (teacher) who taught him archery.
  • He calls them “pūjārhāv” – worthy of worship.
    Arjuna sees them not as enemies, but as elders deserving honor and devotion, not arrows.
  • He calls Krishna “Madhusudana” (slayer of the demon Madhu) and “vari-sudana” (slayer of enemies), highlighting the contrast: Krishna destroys actual enemies, but Arjuna is being asked to raise weapons against his own kin and teachers.
See also  चुनड़ी बनाई मईया पाई पाई जोड़ के, राख लीजै मान म्हारी चुनड़ी नै ओढ़ के,

Key Takeaway:

Arjuna is struggling with the moral and emotional dilemma of duty vs. personal attachment. His heart is not ready to hurt those he honors. This verse highlights the deep human conflict that often arises when one must make tough choices for a greater cause — a theme central to the Gita.

Next: Chapter 2, Verse 5

The Bhagawad Gita: Chapter 2

The Bhagawad Gita

Recent Posts

Mere Satguru Ne Di Thi Davai Lyrics in Hindi & Meaning

Mere Satguru Ne Di Thi Davai: Invoking the Guru’s Liberating Wisdom This soul-stirring bhajan venerates the Satguru (True Spiritual Master) as the divine physician who dispenses the only remedy for life’s deepest sufferings. Composed by Sant Karmaveer Tufani, it…

Janm Diyo Thari Maa Dukh Dekhiyo Lyrics in Hindi & Meaning

जन्म दियो थारी माँ दुख देखियो (Maa’s Grief Upon Birthing You) This soul-stirring Chetavani Bhajan (admonitory hymn) is addressed to the Divine Mother (Maa) – a call for repentance when children forget their filial duties in the dark age…

Bhadi Sabha Mein Thane Manaun Lyrics in Hindi & Meaning

Bhadi Sabha Mein Thane Manaun: Invoking the Spear-Wielding Mother Mata Bhawani (श्री ज्वाला भवानी), the fiery manifestation of Shakti worshipped as the Protector of Dharma in Her Dhaulagarh sanctum. Origin & Spiritual Essence Composed in Rajasthani folk tradition by…

Maat Meri Chintapurni Lyrics in Hindi & Meaning

Maat Meri Chintapurni is a heartfelt devotional prayer dedicated to Maa Chintapurni, a form of the Divine Mother. She is revered as the remover of worries and the granter of wishes, especially venerated in the Himalayan region of Himachal…

थारी रे नदियां का ढावा पे खीची राजा Lyrics & Meaning

खीची राजा का अद्भुत युद्ध: एक शौर्य गाथा यह भजन एक पौराणिक या ऐतिहासिक शूरवीर राजा की वीरता का वर्णन करता है, जो प्रायः गुजराती लोक संस्कृति में लोककथाओं का हिस्सा है। इसकी रचना दुर्गेश कटारा ने की है…