Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 35 (BG 1.35) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

1.35 एतान् these? न not? हन्तुम् to kill? इच्छामि (I) wish? घ्नतःअपि even if they kill me? मधुसूदन O Madhusudana (the slayer of Madhu? a demon)? अपि even? त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य dominion over the three worlds? हेतोः for the sake of? किम् how? नु then? महीकृते for the sake of the earth.No Commentary.

Commentaries

Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.

This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.

Modern

Consider this: perhaps he has not presented his position firmly enough before Sri Krishna, so that the Lord might affirm his view. Arjuna speaks of renunciation in vain. He wishes to demonstrate that he possesses such a noble heart that even if his cousins were to slay him, he would still not be willing to strike them down. He reaches the extreme limit of exaggeration when he declares that even if offered sovereignty over the three worlds, he would not engage in battle—what then is the mere kingdom of Hastinapura?