1.35
निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन | पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ||३५||
nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrān naḥ kā prītiḥ syāj janārdana pāpam evāśhrayed asmān hatvaitān ātatāyinaḥ
Translation
What happiness can we derive from killing the sons of Dhritarashtra, O Janardana? Sin alone will accrue to us from slaying these aggressors.
Interpretation
Arjuna raises the question of sin (papa). He fears moral pollution from the act of killing, even if the Kauravas are aggressors. This concern for moral purity is genuine, but it misapplies dharmic principles — a Kshatriya's duty includes protecting the innocent through righteous battle.