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Chapter 1. Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra TEXT 30 na ca saknomy avasthatum
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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