अर्जुन उवाच
कथं भीष्ममहं संख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन।
इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन।।2.4।।
2.4 Arjuna said O Madhusudana, O destroyer of enemies, how can I fight with arrows in battle against Bhisma and Drona who are worthy of adoration?
2.4 Arjuna said How, O Madhusudana, shall I fight in battle with arrows against Bhishma and Drona, who are fit to be worshipped, O destroyer of enemies?
2.4. Arjuna said How shall I with arrows fight in battle against Bhisma and Drona, both being worthy of reverence ? O slayer of Mandhu, O slayer of foes !
2.4 कथम् how? भीष्मम् Bhishma? अहम् I? संख्ये in battle? द्रोणम् Drona? च and? मधुसूदन O Madhusudana? इषुभिः with arrows? प्रतियोत्स्यामि shall fight? पूजार्हौ worthy to be worshipped? अरिसूदन O destroyer of enemies.No commentary.
2.4 Sri Sankaracharya did not comment on this sloka. The commentary starts from 2.10.
2.4 See Comment under 2.6
2.4 - 2.5 Arjuna said Again Arjuna, being moved by love, compassion and fear, mistaking unrighteousness for righteousness, and not understanding, i.e., not knowing the beneficial words of Sri Krsna, said as follows: How can I slay Bhisma, Drona and others worthy or reverence? After slaying those elders, though they are intensely attached to enjoyments, how can I enjoy those very pleasures which are now being enjoyed by them? For, it will be mixed with their blood.
“According to scriptures of dharma, not respecting those worthy of worship is a cause of bondage: pratibadhnati hi sreyah pujya-puja-vyatikramah. Therefore I withdraw from fighting. How can I kill them?” The form prati yotsyami (parasmaipada) is used instead of the form prati yotsye (atmanepada, for oneself). “But those two elders are fighting. Are you not able to fight against them?” “No I cannot do so, for they are worthy of worship (pujarhau): I should offer flowers to their feet in devotion rather than sharp arrows in anger. O friend Krishna! Even you injure only the enemies in battle, and not your own guru Sandipani Muni or your friends the Yadus, O Madhusudana, killer of Madhu!” “But I am a descendent of Madhu, therefore called Madhava, in the ancient lineage of the Yadu dynasty. How could I have killed Madhu?” “No, 1 do not mean that Madhu. I am speaking about the demon named Madhu who was your enemy (ari sudana).”
I am not withdrawing from battle out of cowardice but because it is improper to attack my superiors. This is what Arjuna meant by asking the Supreme Lord Krishna: How shall I fight against Bhishma and Drona? When it is wrong to even speak of fighting against them, how can I then even consider actually fighting them. This is the factual meaning of these words expressed by Arjuna.
There is no commentary for this verse.
There is no commentary for this verse.
Although Lord Krishnas instructions are perfectly correct still it might be submitted that one coming from noble lineage should only fight a battle which is not antagonistic to ones family traditions regarding righteousness and not fight a battle which would be instrumental in destroying these family traditions. Arjuna is asking how can he engage in battle with his superior Bhishma and his preceptor Drona. When even to argue against them is improper then what to think against attacking them with deadly arrows in earnest. Why? Because preceptors and superiors are always to be respected. Duryodhana by placing Bhishma and Drona directly in the forefront caused the ever righteous Pandavas discomfort at the thought of having to fight against them as it was opposed to the time honored noble traditions of their family lineage. So what Arjuna in fact is stating is why should they engage themselves in this battle being aware of the great sinfulness declared in the Vedic scriptures of disregarding superiors and showing aggression against the preceptor which results in the perpetrator becoming a ghostly demon known as a brahma-raksasa.
Arjuna Uvaacha: Katham bheeshmamaham sankhye dronam cha madhusoodana; Ishubhih pratiyotsyaami poojaarhaavarisoodana.
arjunaḥ uvācha—Arjun said; katham—how; bhīṣhmam—Bheeshma; aham—I; sankhye—in battle; droṇam—Dronacharya; cha—and; madhu-sūdana—Shree Krishn, slayer of the Madhu demon; iṣhubhiḥ—with arrows; pratiyotsyāmi—shall I shoot; pūjā-arhau—worthy of worship; ari-sūdana—destroyer of enemies
