Chapter1- Ślokās 32*,33
kiṃ no rājyena govinda kiṃ bhogair jīvitena vā ||32 ||
yeṣām arthe kāṇkṣitaṃ no rājyaṃ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca |
ta ime’ vasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṃs tyaktvā dhanāni ca ||33 ||
(1.32*-1.33)
Govinda- O Govinda! rājyena kiṃ- what use is the empire; kiṃ- what use are; bhogaiḥ- (flower garlands, ornaments etc) enjoyments; jīvitena vā- even our lives; naḥ- to us; yeṣām arthe- those acāryas, etc. for whose sake; rājyaṃ- empire; bhogāḥ- enjoyments; sukhāni ca- comforts; kāṇkṣitaṃ- are desirable; naḥ- to us; te- all of them; ime- these; avasthitāḥ- are standing here; yuddhe- on this battlefield; tyaktvā- ready to renounce; prāṇāṇ- their lives; dhanāni ca- and riches;
Purport
Arjuna continues to speak to Kṛṣṇa.
He said,“O Govinda! Of what use is an empire, or enjoyments or even our lives to us. Those for whose sake the empire, enjoyment and pleasures are desired by us, stand here on this battlefield to fight with us, ready to renounce their lives and wealth.”
kiṃ no rājyena govinda (O Govinda! Of what use is this kingdom to us?) Govinda is the name Bhagawān acquired when he lifted bhūmi/earth (denoted by the term 'go') as Śveta Varāha to protect her after the pralaya (deluge). HE reclaimed bhūmi for the protection of all the living beings.
HE Lifted the Govardhana to protect cattle from the rain of rocks and was felicitated with the name Govinda (Govindapattābhiṣekam). Arjuna's sentiments behind addressing Kṛṣṇa as Govinda and saying that he does not desire victory or kingdom are as follows, 'O Govinda! YOU protected the earth by lifting her. YOU claimed the earth to protect all the living beings. How can we kill our own kinsmen to acquire this earth? YOU lifted the Govardhana to protect cattle from the rain of rocks. YOU performed these most strenuous tasks in order to protect those who took refuge in YOU. How can we perform the totally contradictory act of killing our relatives and associates for the sake of the kingdom and our own comforts?'
yeṣām arthe kāṅkṣitaṃ...śarīraṃ vasu vigñānaṃ vāsaḥ karmaguṇānsūṇ gurvarthaṃ dhārayet (body, possessions, knowledge, place of residence, karmas(duties and rewards) and qualities must be adorned for one’s guru’s sake only). When śāstras say so, how can we kill such gurūs and still honour our body and prāṇa (life force)?