Chapter1- Ślokās 38,39
yadyapyete na paśyanti lobhopahata cetasaḥ |
kula-kṣaya-kṛtaṃ doṣaṃ mitra-drohe ca pātakam || 38 ||
kathaṃ na jñeyam asmābhiḥ pāpād asmān nivartitum |
kula-kṣaya-kṛtaṃ doṣaṃ prapaśyadbhir janārdana || 39 ||
(1.38-1.39)
Janārdana- O Janārdana; lobhopahata cetasaḥ- having lost the clear perception of the mind overcome by greed for the kingdom; ete- Duryodhana and his people; yadyapi na paśyanti tathāpi- even if they do not see; kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ- the sin incurred in destroying a clan; mitra drohe pātakam ca- and the sin incurred due to treachery towards friends; prapaśyadbhiḥ- we who can very well see; kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ- the evil caused by destruction of a clan; kathaṃ na jñeyam- how can it be not known; asmābhiḥ- by us; nivartitum- to recoil; asmāt pāpāt- from performing these two sins mentioned above;
Purport
Arjuna continues, “Though Duryodhana and his supporters, whose minds are overpowered by greed for the kingdom, see no sin in destroying a clan and in performing treachery towards friends, O Janārdana! How can we, who can very well see the evil caused by the destruction of a clan not recoil from performing these two sins in this war.”
These words spoken by Arjuna to Kṛṣṇa bring out the question lingering in his mind that, 'O Janārdana, Protector of the people! Killing kinsmen and betraying friends are both condemnable acts. How can you, who protects people by torturing the wicked, instruct us to perform such acts?'