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Chapter 1 · Verse 39 · Arjuna Visada Yoga

Bhagavad Gita 1.39

urgent Dharma & Duty Karma & Action Fear & Courage

Sanskrit

कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम्। कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन।।1.39।।

Transliteration

kathaṁ na jñeyam asmābhiḥ pāpād asmān nivartitum kula-kṣhaya-kṛitaṁ doṣhaṁ prapaśhyadbhir janārdana

हिंदी अर्थ

हे जनार्दन, हम कुल के विनाश से होने वाले पाप को देखते हुए इससे बचने का कारण कैसे नहीं समझते? हमारे कुल के नाश में जो बुराई है, उससे हम अपने आप को क्यों नहीं बचा सकते?

Word by Word

katham why
na not
jñeyam should be known
asmābhiḥ we
pāpāt from sin
asmāt these
nivartitum to turn away
kula-kṣhaya killing the kindered
kṛitam done
doṣham crime
prapaśhyadbhiḥ who can see
janārdana he who looks after the public, Shree Krishna
Simplified Perspective

Arjuna's anguish here reveals the deepest crisis of dharma—when right action appears to produce only sin and ruin. Yet Krishna will show that this apparent contradiction dissolves when we see beyond the surface consequences to the eternal nature of the soul and the laws of karma.

This is the beginning of genuine discernment: recognizing that guilt and fear arise from ignorance of our true duty, not from duty itself. When you face a choice that seems to harm everyone, pause and ask whether you are seeing the full picture—or whether fear is masking a deeper dharmic path.

Listen

Bhagavad Gita 1.39 — BG 1.39

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Sanskrit text from the Bhagavad Gita (public domain). Commentary © Mahakatha.

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