1.32 — What would victory mean?

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Dharma In You · Updated 8 October 2026

Speaker: Arjuna, addressing Krishna

Teaching film · Sanskrit · Everyday reflection

Our original brief meaning and reflection accompany the Sanskrit below.

Verses 1.32–1.33 share one connected lesson. Each shloka retains its own number.

Context, Sanskrit and lesson transcript

Arjuna questions the value of victory. The people connected with his hopes now stand before him in battle.

न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च।
किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा॥३२॥

येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च।
त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च॥३३॥

Brief meaning, in our own words. Arjuna says he does not desire victory, a kingdom or its pleasures. He asks what use these, or life itself, would be when the very people for whose sake they were desired stand in battle, ready to give up life and wealth.

Govinda is another name for Krishna. These questions express Arjuna’s anguish and argument at this moment. The dialogue will examine his difficulty further; this passage alone is not the Gita’s final teaching about action.

Here is our everyday reflection. Think of a goal you are pursuing. Who is it meant to benefit, and what might pursuing it cost them? Let the purpose of the goal inform the way you pursue it.