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Chapter 1: Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra

Bg 1.30
TEXT 30
na ca saknomy avasthatum
bhramativa ca me manah
nimittani ca pasyami
viparitani kesava
SYNONYMS
na—nor; ca—also; saknomi—am I able; avasthatum—to stay; bhramati—forgetting; iva—as; ca—and; me—my; manah—mind; nimittani—causes; ca—also; pasyami—I foresee; viparitani—just the opposite; kesava—O killer of the demon Kesi (Krsna).
TRANSLATION
I am now unable to stand here any longer. I am forgetting myself, and my mind is reeling. I foresee only evil, O killer of the Kesi demon.
PURPORT
Due to his impatience, Arjuna was unable to stay on the battlefield, and he was forgetting himself on account of the weakness of his mind. Excessive attachment for material things puts a man in a bewildering condition of existence. Bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah: such fearfulness and loss of mental equilibrium take place in persons who are too affected by material conditions. Arjuna envisioned only unhappiness in the battlefield—he would not be happy even by gaining victory over the foe. The word nimitta is significant. When a man sees only frustration in his expectations, he thinks, "Why am I here?" Everyone is interested in himself and his own welfare. No one is interested in the Supreme Self. Arjuna is supposed to show disregard for self-interest by submission to the will of Krsna, who is everyone's real self-interest. The conditioned soul forgets this, and therefore suffers material pains. Arjuna thought that his victory in the battle would only be a cause of lamentation for him.

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Copyright (c) 1972 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada