Bhagavad Gita · Arjuna Vishada YogaChapter 1, Shloka 45 (1.45)

From argument to lament. Until now Arjuna was arguing — about the good, happiness, sin, family dharma. Here the tone changes: aho bata! — "alas!" This is the soliloquy of a broken person, astonished and grieved at his own decision. According to Abhinavagupta it is spoken to himself — as if Arjuna were talking to himself.

The resolve itself is sin. Madhusudana makes a subtle point: the war has not yet happened, yet Arjuna says "we have resolved to commit sin." For him, the resolve — the intention — is itself sin. And Madhusudana tells us something else on Arjuna's mind: lest anyone say, "if you thought this way, why did you come here intending to fight at all?" — because (in Arjuna's words) I committed this rashness without reflection.

"Vayam" — we (all). Arjuna says "we", not "I". Abhinavagupta: vayam = the Kauravas and the Pandavas — everyone. Arjuna now counts himself too as part of the sin for which he had earlier blamed only the Kauravas (1.38). This is moral honesty.

"Rājya-sukha-lobhena" — out of greed for the pleasures of a kingdom. In 1.38 Arjuna called the Kauravas lobhopahata-cetas (minds ruined by greed). Now he makes the same charge against himself — "out of greed for the pleasures of a kingdom, we…" This is a deep turn: the fault he saw in others, he now sees within himself too.