Chapter I · Śloka 38
Arjuna uvāca
कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम् |
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ||
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ||
kathaṃ na jñeyam asmābhiḥ pāpād asmān nivartitum |
kula-kṣaya-kṛtaṃ doṣaṃ prapaśyadbhir janārdana ||
kula-kṣaya-kṛtaṃ doṣaṃ prapaśyadbhir janārdana ||
Why should we, who clearly see the evil of the destruction of a family, not turn away from this sin, O Janardana?
Arjuna completes the argument begun in v37: if we can see the evil they cannot, we bear the greater responsibility to stop. The logic is sincere but the conclusion — inaction — will prove to be the deeper error.