2.8. "Even if I were to obtain an unrivaled and prosperous kingdom on earth, or even sovereignty over the gods in heaven, I do not see that it would remove this sorrow which is drying up my senses."
Commentary: [Arjuna thinks that the Lord might believe that if Arjuna fights, he will be victorious, and upon victory he will gain a kingdom, which would remove his anxiety and sorrow and bring him satisfaction. But due to sorrow, my condition is such that even if victory were achieved, I do not see that my sorrow would be removed.]
'Even if I were to obtain an unrivaled and prosperous kingdom on earth'—Even if I were to obtain a kingdom rich in wealth and grain and free from thorns, meaning a kingdom where the subjects are very happy, possess abundant wealth and grain, lack nothing, and where there is no enemy—even if such a kingdom were obtained, still my sorrow cannot be removed. 'Or even sovereignty over the gods'—What to speak of the petty enjoyments of an earthly kingdom, even if I were to obtain the divine kingdom of Indra with its celestial enjoyments, still my sorrow, anguish, and anxiety cannot be removed.
In the first chapter, Arjuna had stated that he desires neither victory, nor kingdom, nor even happiness; for what will be gained by that kingdom? What will be gained by those enjoyments? And what will be gained by living? Those for whom we desire kingdom, enjoyments, and happiness are the very ones standing before us to be slain (1.32-33). Here, Arjuna says that even if he were to obtain a kingdom on earth rich in wealth and grain and free from thorns, and even sovereignty over the gods, still his sorrow cannot be removed, he cannot become happy by them. There (in 1.32-33), Arjuna's withdrawal from battle was due to a predominance of the sentiment of familial attachment. But here, the withdrawal that is occurring is happening due to the arising of the sentiment for his own spiritual welfare. Therefore, there is a great difference between the withdrawal there and the withdrawal here.
'I do not see that it would remove this sorrow which is drying up my senses'—When the mere apprehension of the death of my kinsmen is causing me such sorrow, then how much greater sorrow will I feel upon their actual death! If my sorrow were merely for the kingdom, then it would be removed by obtaining the kingdom; but how can the sorrow arising from the apprehension of the destruction of my family be removed by obtaining a kingdom? Far from being removed, the sorrow will rather increase; because if all are slain in the war, who will enjoy the kingdom that is obtained? Of what use will it be to anyone? Therefore, even upon obtaining an earthly kingdom and sovereignty in heaven, the sorrow which is drying up my senses cannot be removed.
Connection—After saying, "I do not see that my sorrow would be removed even upon obtaining worldly objects," Sanjaya describes what Arjuna did next in the following verse.
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