Arjuna found himself astonished; fully cognizant that the impending war would only unleash calamity upon all—the warriors on the battlefield and the families left bereaved. Despite this awareness, there was an inexplicable eagerness among them to embrace this sinful path. He commenced his reflection with the exclamation “aho,” signifying ‘alas.’ While he meticulously detailed the potential catastrophes that loomed if the war unfolded, he seemed to overlook the profound reality that failing to penalize the wrongdoers could inflict even graver harm upon society.
Frequently, we attribute blame to external circumstances or others, conveniently ignoring our own vulnerabilities. Arjuna’s reluctance to engage in combat with his avaricious cousins and kin stemmed from his personal attachment and compassion towards them. Despite acknowledging the moral dilemma of slaying his own relatives, he remained oblivious to the realization that his sentiments were rooted in materialistic considerations rather than transcendental understanding. Enveloped by his compassionate sentiments, he lost sight of his duty as a warrior, transcending the confines of his material body. His delusion reached a critical juncture where he contemplated relinquishing his weapons, allowing his adversaries to strike him down unarmed.