Bhagavad Gita 1.36-1.38: The Sin of Killing One's Own Kin

Shlokas 1.36 – 1.46 Meaning: Arjuna argues that the destruction of a family line destroys eternal family traditions, leading to social chaos and the fall of ancestors. He concludes that it would be better for him to die unarmed and unresisting at the hands of Dhritarashtra's sons than to commit such a great sin.

Shloka 1.36

निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्न: का प्रीति: स्याज्जनार्दन |
पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिन: || 36 ||

IAST: nihatya dhārtarāṣhṭrān naḥ kā prītiḥ syāj janārdana | pāpam evāśhrayed asmān hatvaitān ātatāyinaḥ

Transliteration: nihatya dhartarashtran nah ka pritih syaj janardana | papam evashrayed asman hatvaitan atatayinah

Shloka 1.37

तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान् |
स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिन: स्याम माधव || 37||

IAST: tasmān nārhā vayaṁ hantuṁ dhārtarāṣhṭrān sa-bāndhavān | sva-janaṁ hi kathaṁ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava

Transliteration: tasman narha vayam hantum dhartarashtran sa-bandhavan | sva-janam hi katham hatva sukhinah syama madhava

Shloka 1.38

यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतस: |
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् || 38||

IAST: yady apy ete na paśhyanti lobhopahata-chetasaḥ | kula-kṣhaya-kṛitaṁ doṣhaṁ mitra-drohe cha pātakam

Transliteration: yady apy ete na pashyanti lobhopahata-chetasah | kula-kshaya-kritam dosham mitra-drohe cha patakam

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