Bhagavad Gita · Arjuna Vishada YogaChapter 1, Shloka 36 (1.36)

"Kā prītiḥ" — what joy? Madhusudana: for the sake of a fleeting semblance of pleasure fit only for the deluded, killing our kinsmen — the cause of long suffering in hell — is not right for us. Arjuna sees no satisfaction even in revenge.

The rule of the atatayi — and Arjuna's refusal. This shloka raises a serious question of dharmashastra. A smriti statement says: "seeing an atatayi (aggressor) approaching, one should kill him without hesitation; there is no fault for the killer in slaying an atatayi." The Kauravas had committed all these kinds of crimes. So by the rule, killing them should be free of fault. Then why does Arjuna say "only sin will come to us"?

The answer of Shridhara and Madhusudana (on Arjuna's behalf): "Kill the aggressor" — this is a rule of arthashastra (the science of statecraft and practical affairs); "do no violence" — this is a rule of dharmashastra; and dharmashastra is stronger than arthashastra. As proof, both quote a statement from the Yajnavalkya Smriti: "when two smritis conflict, in practice reasoned justice prevails; but dharmashastra is stronger than arthashastra — this is the established limit."

In other words, Arjuna's argument is: yes, they are aggressors, and one rule declares killing them free of fault — but a higher rule (ahimsa) forbids it.

Madhusudana's reading of "Janardana". Madhusudana says that by saying "Janardana" Arjuna is as if saying: "if they must be killed, then you kill them — you are not touched by any sin even when you destroy everything at the dissolution." A sharp, almost sarcastic hint.

A second reading (Madhusudana's aparā vyākhyā). Madhusudana also gives an alternative meaning: the "sin" will fall on those aggressors who will remain even after killing us. Abhinavagupta too takes "sin" in a different sense — the sin of greed and the like that has already taken hold of the enemies. The main reading (sin will come to us) is the most widely accepted.