Unsettled state of mind, with, one foot in and one foot out of the war.

Sankhya Yoga

Chapter 2, Verse 5

 

gurūn ahatvā hi mahānubhāvān 

śreyo bhoktuṁ bhaikṣyam apīha loke 

hatvārtha kāmāṁs tu gurūn ihaiva 

bhuñjīya bhogān rudhira-pradigdhān

 

It is better to live in this world even on alms than to slay these high-souled  

gurus. Slaying these gurus, I would only taste blood-stained enjoyments in  

this world.

 

Here Arjuna is referring to Kripacharya, and Dronacharya: “These people are worthy to be praised and worshipped.

How will I slay them? How will I be free from that sin? Even though these noble characters have fallen low, I can’t dishonour them. Even though I am a Kshatriya, even though I am a warrior, I would rather live on alms than commit this great sin for enjoyment and pleasure.”

 

Here, we have to see that Arjuna had very high knowledge. For one who is realised, the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ become one. However, Realisation also means that one has to let go of everything. Arjuna was wise, because he knew this. But here he is saying,

“How can I let go of all this? I can’t let go of it! It’s not right, if out of revengefulness, I massacre these elders who are worthy to be praised. How will I enjoy what I gain? I will not get salvation or good merit from this and will not even enjoy the kingdom which afterwards will be mine. I will feel guilty.”

 

As in Chapter 1, Arjuna is still continuing to try to reason with Krishna. He is still very attached to the world, though not just blindly. He is saying, “I want to fight and I don’t want to fight.” He is still in this unsettled state of mind, with, one foot in and one foot out of the war.

Bhagavad Gita