Bhakti ArohanBhakti Arohan

Bhagavad Gita — Chapter 2, Verse 5

गुरूनहत्वा हि महानुभावान् श्रेयो भोक्तुं भैक्ष्यमपीह लोके । हत्वार्थकामांस्तु गुरूनिहैव भुञ्जीय भोगान् रुधिरप्रदिग्धान् ॥ ५ ॥

gurūnahatvā hi mahānubhāvān śhreyo bhoktuṁ bhaikṣhyamapīha loke hatvārtha-kāmāṁstu gurūnihaiva bhuñjīya bhogān rudhira-pradigdhān

Translation

Better to live in this world even by begging than to kill these noble teachers. For by killing our elders, even though they seek worldly gain, we would enjoy only pleasures stained with blood.

Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)

इन महानुभाव गुरुजनों को मारने की अपेक्षा इस लोक में भिक्षा माँगकर जीना भी श्रेयस्कर है। क्योंकि अर्थ की कामना वाले इन गुरुजनों को मारकर भी हम यहाँ रक्त से सने भोग ही भोगेंगे।

Commentary

The metre changes here from the usual anushtubh to the longer trishtubh, as if Arjun's emotion needs more room. For a kshatriya, living by alms was unthinkable — so his offer to beg shows how desperate he is. He also concedes that his elders are fighting for worldly reasons (artha-kāmān), yet still cannot bring himself to harm them.