न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च |
किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा || 32||
येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगा: सुखानि च |
त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च || 33||
O Krishna, neither do I desire victory, nor kingdom, nor the happiness accruing it. Of what value is the kingdom, pleasure, or even life itself, O Govinda! When the very persons for whom we seek kingdom, enjoyment, and happiness, are all present on this battlefield ready to jeopardize their Kingdoms and their lives in this battle.
Arjuna, after seeing the enemy, has lost the zeal to fight in the battle. As seen in the previous shloka, his physical attributes are showcasing the sign of depression as he is torn between the attachment to the relative of his mortal body and his duty to stand for what is right.
In this Shloka, Arjuna tries to justify his thoughts by highlighting that there will be no good in slaying his own relatives. He expresses his feelings to Lord Krishna that he does not desire such type of victory or kingdom or the happiness that comes from it by slaying his relatives.
He argues that what value will be of the kingdom acquired by slaughtering the relatives in the battlefield. How can he be happy after killing all of his relatives on the battlefield?
Arjuna highlights that we endeavor to achieve something in life for the near and dear ones and that brings them joy in their life. What joy it will bring after he wins the kingdom by killing his relatives, who are also eager to fight with him for the kingdom.
Arjuna expresses his inner turmoil of fight for what is right or to allow his compassion and attachment towards his relatives to dictate his further actions. He saw no good in killing the relatives for a mere piece of land.
To be frank, I am also somewhat curious to know that how will Shri Krishna explain to him what is right and what should Arjuna do. Let’s See.
