2-6 to 2-7

न चैतद्विद्मः कतरन्नो गरीयो
यद्वा जयेम यदि वा नो जयेयुः ।
यानेव हत्वा न जिजीविशामः
तेऽवस्थिताः प्रमुखे धार्तराष्त्राः ॥ ७ ॥
कार्पन्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः
पृच्छामि त्वा धर्मसम्मूढचेताः ।
यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्चितम् ब्रूहि तन्मे
शिष्यस्तेऽहम् शाधि माम् त्वम् प्रपन्नम् ॥ ८ ॥

na caitadvidmaH kataranno garIyo
yadvA jayema yadi vA no jayeyuH |
yAneva hatvA na jijIvizAmaH
te'vasthitAH pramukhe dhArtarAStrAH || 7 ||
kArpanyadoSopahatasvabhAvaH
pRcchAmi tvA dharmasammUDhacetAH |
yacchreyaH syAnnizcitam brUhi tanme
ziSyaste'ham zAdhi mAm tvam prapannam || 8 ||

यद्वा जयेम [yadvA jayema] Whether victory is ours यदि वा जयेयुः [yadi vA jayeyuH] or we are conquered- एतत् न विद्मः [etat na vidmaH] We don’t know कतरत् गरीयः [katarat garIyaH] what is better नः [naH] for us. यानेव [yAneva] Those very people, हत्वा [hatvA] after killing whom न जिजीविशामः [na jijIvizAmaH] we don’t wish to live further, ते धार्तताष्त्राः [te dhArtatAStrAH] those people of Dhritarashtra अवस्थिताः [avasthitAH] are standing प्रमुखे [pramukhe] in front of their army. कार्पन्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः [kArpanyadoSopahatasvabhAvaH] I am overcome with the weakness of pity, धर्मसम्मूढचेताः [dharmasammUDhacetAH] and am confused about my code of conduct. पृच्छामि त्वा [pRcchAmi tvA] I ask you- यत् [yat] which is निश्चितम् [nizcitam] decidedly शेयः [zeyaH] better मे [me] for me? ब्रूहि [brUhi] Tell me तत् [tat] that. शाधि [zAdhi] Order माम् [mAm] me, त्वम् प्रपन्नम् [tvam prapannam] I have taken refuge in you, शिष्यः ते अहम् [ziSyaH te aham] I am your student.

Arjuna continues-

‘Suppose we turn back after starting this war. If Dhritarashtra’s people were to pursue and kill us, so be it. The way I see it, our death at the hands of those who cannot differentiate between right and wrong is better than our victory. Our victory would be tainted by unrighteousness. I am your student and I surrender to you. Tell me what you determine to be the best option.’

Saying this, Arjuna humbly took refuge at the Lord’s feet.