Bhagavad-Gita As It Is Verses 1.31-1.46 Self-interest – real vs false Reasons for not fighting : What happiness? Whom to share with? Sins will overcome us. Society ruined. Religious duties lost. Residence in hell. Arjuna’s soft heartedness revealed.

Text 31-35 What is real self- interest? Govinda – who gives pleasure to cows and senses. Whom to share with the opulence? Typical calculation of material life.

Text 36 Aggressors – of six kind. Three kinds of instructions – Niti, Dharma and Spiritual. Madhava – The Husband of Goddess of Fortune. Krsna never brings misfortune to anyone, not to speak of devotees.

Obligation binding only if the effect is good. Text 37-43 Destruction of dynasty – family tradition vanquished – family becomes irreligious – women polluted –unwanted progeny – hellish life for both the family and one who caused all this – pinda and shraddha ceremony stopped – ancestors fall down – all the family and community welfare projects lost – residence in hell. Obligation binding only if the effect is good.

Text 44-46 Arjuna wondering – killing kinsmen for royal happiness? Arjun’s compassion for his enemies – willing to die even if enemies attack him, but do not retaliate. Devotees soft hearted and compassionate to all the living beings – thus fit to receive transcendental knowledge.