TEXT 45
yadi mam apratikaram
asastram sastra-panayah
dhartarastra rane hanyus
tan me ksemataram bhavet
SYNONYMS
yadieven if; mamunto me; apratikaramwithout being resistant; asastramwithout being fully equipped; sastra-panayahthose with weapons in hand; dhartarastrahthe sons of Dhrtarastra; ranein the battlefield; hanyuhmay kill; tatthat; memine; ksematarambetter; bhavetbecome.
TRANSLATION
I would consider it better for the sons of Dhrtarastra to kill me unarmed and unresisting, rather than fight with them.
PURPORT
It is the custom—according to ksatriya fighting principles—that an unarmed and unwilling foe should not be attacked. Arjuna, however, in such an enigmatic position, decided he would not fight if he were attacked by the enemy. He did not consider how much the other party was bent upon fighting. All these symptoms are due to softheartedness resulting from his being a great devotee of the Lord.

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