Sanskrit
येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च । त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ॥
yeṣām arthe kāṅkṣitaṃ no rājyaṃ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca ta ime'vasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṃs tyaktvā dhanāni ca
Translation
Those for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyments and pleasures, they stand here in battle, abandoning life and riches—
Annie Besant · The Bhagavad-Gita, translated by Annie Besant (4th ed., 1922) — Wikisource · Public Domain
Explanation
A sharper version of verse 32’s point: kingdom and pleasure were never wanted for their own sake, only for the sake of family — and it’s exactly that family now standing ready to die for this same war. The purpose of winning and the cost of winning turn out to be the same people.
Study deeper
Word by word
- yeṣām artheयेषां अर्थे
- for whose sake
- kāṅkṣitaṃ noकाङ्क्षितं नो
- we desired
- rājyaṃ bhogāḥ sukhāni caराज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च
- kingdom, enjoyments, and pleasures
- ta ime'vasthitāत इमेऽवस्थिता
- these very ones stand here
- yuddheयुद्धे
- in battle
- prāṇāṃs tyaktvāप्राणांस् त्यक्त्वा
- having given up their lives
- dhanāni caधनानि च
- and their wealth
Commentary
Site Commentary
This verse performs something like an audit on verse 32’s renunciation: kingdom and pleasure weren’t wanted for their own sake to begin with, only ever “for the sake of” family — so this isn’t new detachment, it’s the discovery that the wanting was never really about the thing itself.
Original commentary written for this site · © Amit Singh — original commentary
Concepts
Apply this verse
Lessons
Personal
- When you're trying to let go of a long-held goal, ask honestly who or what you actually wanted it for — you may find the goal itself was always a means to something else, and that something else is what actually needs examining.
Professional
- Before defending a target or metric you've been chasing, trace who it was actually meant to serve — if the answer has changed or disappeared, the target may no longer deserve the weight you're giving it.
Family & Social
- When you notice you're still pursuing something for a family member's sake even after their needs have changed, pause and ask whether the goal itself still makes sense — the original 'why' may have quietly stopped applying.
Ask yourself
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