Bhagavad Gita 1.39

Arjuna argues that those who see the harm of destroying a family should turn away from it.

कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम्।
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन॥

kathaṃ na jñeyam asmābhiḥ pāpād asmān nivartitum
kula-kṣaya-kṛtaṃ doṣaṃ prapaśyadbhir janārdana

Translation

then why should we, who clearly see the fault in destroying a family, not know enough to turn away from this sin, Janardana?

Hindi

तो हे जनार्दन, कुल के नाश से होने वाले दोष को स्पष्ट देखने वाले हम लोग इस पाप से हटना क्यों न जानें?

Commentary

This completes the thought begun in 1.38. Arjuna argues that knowledge brings responsibility: those who understand the harm cannot hide behind ignorance. It is a moral claim about the cost of knowing. Next he describes what that harm would be, in 1.40.

Characters in this verse

Arjunaअर्जुन

Krishnaकृष्ण

Places in this verse

Kurukshetraकुरुक्षेत्र