Having exhausted his logical, social, and spiritual arguments, Arjuna’s lament reaches its final, devastating conclusion. In the forty-sixth verse, known as the Yadi Mam Apratikaram verse, he offers his own life as the only moral solution to the impossible dilemma he faces. This is the ultimate statement of his renunciation, a complete rejection of his warrior dharma in favor of what he perceives as a higher moral path.
Sanskrit Verse
यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः ।
धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ॥ ४६ ॥Transliteration
yadi māmapratīkāramaśastraṁ śastrapāṇayaḥ |
dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyustanme kṣemataraṁ bhavet || 46 ||Word for Word Translation
yadi – if; mām – me; apratīkāram – unresisting; aśastram – unarmed; śastra-pāṇayaḥ – those with weapons in hand; dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ – the sons of Dhritarashtra; raṇe – in the battle; hanyuḥ – may kill; tat – that; me – for me; kṣemataram – more beneficial; bhavet – would be.
English Translation
It would be far better for me if the sons of Dhritarashtra, with weapons in hand, were to kill me on the battlefield, unarmed and unresisting.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
This verse is the absolute nadir of Arjuna’s despair. He is not just refusing to fight; he is actively proposing his own death as the most desirable outcome. His statement is built on two key principles of surrender:
- Aśastram (Unarmed): He would throw down his divine Gandiva bow, the very symbol of his identity and power.
- Apratīkāram (Unresisting): He would not even defend himself, completely abandoning the core duty of a `kshatriya` warrior. For him, this ultimate act of Ahimsa (non-violence) has become a higher virtue than fighting for a kingdom.
He concludes that this fate—to be killed by his own cousins—would be “kṣemataram,” which means better, safer, or more beneficial for his soul’s welfare. He genuinely believes that dying as an innocent victim is spiritually superior to living as a victorious sinner. This is the final, logical endpoint of his grief-stricken reasoning. He sees no path to happiness or Dharma through action, so he chooses the path of complete inaction, even to the point of accepting his own demise.
Conclusion
Arjuna’s declaration is the ultimate expression of a soul in crisis. He has reached a point where death seems like a more righteous and peaceful option than the living hell that victory would create. It is a powerful testament to the overwhelming force of his compassion and his horror at the prospect of sinning. He has reasoned himself into a state of complete helplessness and surrender.
This verse teaches a profound lesson about “rock bottom.” It is often only when we reach a point of utter helplessness, when all our own logic and worldly identities have failed us, that we become truly open to receiving a higher wisdom. Arjuna has completely emptied himself of his warrior pride and his desire for a kingdom. He is now a blank slate, a vessel of pure sorrow and confusion. Having presented his case and declared his own death preferable, he is about to make his final, physical gesture of surrender, setting the stage for the end of the first chapter and the beginning of the Lord’s divine instruction.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 – Verse 47 – Sanjaya Uvaca Evam Uktvarjunah
