Arjuna continues his heart-wrenching monologue, explaining to Lord Krishna precisely why victory has become meaningless. The thirty-third verse, known as the Yesham Arthe Kankshitam Nah verse, is a deeply personal and poignant list of all the people who give life and kingdom its value. The Yesham Arthe Kankshitam Nah verse is the tragic irony at the heart of Arjuna’s despair.
Sanskrit Verse
येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च ।
त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ॥ ३३ ॥Transliteration
yeṣāmarthe kāṅkṣitaṁ no rājyaṁ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca |
ta ime'vasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṁstyaktvā dhanāni ca || 33 ||Word for Word Translation
yeṣām arthe – for the sake of whom; kāṅkṣitam – is desired; naḥ – by us; rājyam – kingdom; bhogāḥ – enjoyment; sukhāni – happiness; ca – also; te – they; ime – these; avasthitāḥ – are situated; yuddhe – in this battle; prāṇān – lives; tyaktvā – having given up; dhanāni – riches; ca – also.
English Translation
Those for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyment, and happiness—they are now arrayed on this battlefield, having given up their lives and fortunes.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
The Yesham Arthe Kankshitam Nah verse is the logical proof for Arjuna’s emotional breakdown. He is explaining to Krishna that his rejection of the kingdom is not a whim; it is a rational conclusion based on a devastating fact. The very purpose of having a kingdom is to provide for and share it with one’s family and elders.
He points to the opposing army and sees the pillars of his society, the people who would be the honored guests in his royal court. In the next verses, he will list them explicitly: “teachers, fathers, sons, and even grandfathers.” He sees that they have come to this battle “prāṇāṁs tyaktvā,” having already given up on their lives, ready to die. The tragic irony is overwhelming. How can he fight to win a kingdom for the sake of his family, when the price of that kingdom is the destruction of that very family?
The Yesham Arthe Kankshitam Nah verse reveals Arjuna’s deep understanding of a king’s Dharma. A kingdom is not for personal enjoyment but for the well-being of the entire clan. Since the most revered members of his clan are on the opposing side, the war creates an impossible paradox. To fulfill his duty to win the kingdom would be to fail in his duty to honor his elders. This is the heart of his moral collapse.
Conclusion
The Yesham Arthe Kankshitam Nah verse teaches a profound lesson about the “why” behind our goals. We often chase success, wealth, and power, but Arjuna’s crisis forces us to ask: “For whom are we doing this?” and “What is the cost?” He realizes that a victory that destroys the very people who give that victory meaning is not a victory at all—it is a catastrophe.
This verse is a timeless warning against ambition that becomes disconnected from human relationships. It reminds us that our greatest treasures are not the kingdoms we conquer or the wealth we accumulate, but the people we love. The Yesham Arthe Kankshitam Nah verse shows that Arjuna, in his grief, has stumbled upon a truth more profound than any military strategy: a victory without love is the most profound kind of loss.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 – Verse 34 – Acharyah Pitarah Putras
