Chapter I · Śloka 32
Arjuna uvāca
किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा |
येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च ||
येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च ||
kiṃ no rājyena govinda kiṃ bhogair jīvitena vā |
yeṣām arthe kāṅkṣitaṃ no rājyaṃ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca ||
yeṣām arthe kāṅkṣitaṃ no rājyaṃ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca ||
What use to us is a kingdom, Govinda, what use are enjoyments or even life itself — those for whose sake we desired kingdoms, enjoyments, and pleasures are standing here in battle array.
The logical structure of Arjuna's grief is almost airtight: the goods of life are valuable only because of the people who share them. Remove the people and the goods become hollow. He is not wrong — yet this is sorrow reasoning, not wisdom.