आचार्या: पितर: पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहा: |
मातुला: श्वशुरा: पौत्रा: श्याला: सम्बन्धिनस्तथा || 34||
एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन |
अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतो: किं नु महीकृते || 35||
Teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, grandsons, fathers-in-law, grand-nephews, brothers-in-law, and other kinsmen are present here on the battlefield, staking their lives and riches. O Madhusudan, although they would like to kill me, I don’t want to attack them. If we kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, what satisfaction will we derive from the dominion over the three worlds, what to speak of this Earth?
Arjun glances over the battlefield and once again tries to justify his decision of not fighting. He highlights his relationships with the people on the other side of the battle to Shri Krishna. Arjuna highlights that there are teachers like Dronacharya and Kripacharaya ready to battle with him. There are also people that are like father, son, grandfather, maternal uncle, grandson, fathers-in-law, grand-nephew, and brother-in-law.
Arjuna says that he does not wish to slay those near and dear ones, even though they are ready to slay him. By uttering those words, Arjuna highlights that he has given up on the thought of fighting this war just for the sake of the attachment to his relatives.
Arjuna further justifies his retreat by highlighting that he does not wish to rule the three worlds by slaying the son of Dhritarashtra (Kauravas), let alone to rule the Earth. He does not want to slay any of his relatives for the sake of worldly pleasure. He addresses Shree Krishna as Madhusudan, the killer of a demon named Madhu. Indirectly, he may be highlighting the fact that only demons should be killed and not near and dear ones.
Attachment with the relatives of his mortal existence is hindering Arjuna to fulfill his righteous duty.
