1.46 — When every choice feels unbearable

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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 1.45–1.46 share one connected lesson. Each shloka retains its own number.

Context, Sanskrit and lesson transcript

Arjuna’s argument reaches a painful conclusion. He tells Krishna what he would prefer to fighting his own relatives.

अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम्।
यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः॥४५॥

यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः।
धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत्॥४६॥

Brief meaning, in our own words. Arjuna laments that, driven by desire for royal pleasures, they are preparing to commit the great wrong of killing their own people. He says it would be better if Dhritarashtra’s armed sons killed him in battle while he remained unarmed and unresisting.

This is Arjuna’s position in a moment of deep distress. It is not the conclusion of the Gita’s teaching, nor a general instruction to accept violence. The conversation still has to unfold.

Here is our everyday reflection. When every option feels unbearable, allow time for a clearer understanding. Put the difficulty into words and seek a thoughtful conversation before deciding.