SB 1.8.48 (1964)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 48
- Aho me pasyata ajnanam hridi rudham duratmanah
- Parakyasyaiba dehasya bahbyo me akshouhini hatah.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Aho—oh, Me—mine, Pasyata—just see, Ajnanam—ignorance, Hridi—in the heart, Rudham—situated in, Duratmanah—of the sinful, Parakyasya—meant for others, Eva—certainly, Dehasya—of the body, Bahbyo—many many, Me—by me, Akshauhini—combination of military phalanx, Hatah—killed.
TRANSLATION
Oh my lot, I am the most sinful man and just look upon my heart full of ignorance. For this body which is ultimately meant for others, I have killed many many combination of military phalanx.
PURPORT
A solid phalanx of military combination consisting of 21870 chariots, 21870 elephants, 109650 infantry, 65600 cavalry, is called a Akshouhini. And many such Akshouhini living beings were killed on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Maharaj Yudhisthir as the most pious king of the world takes for himself the responsibility of killing such huge lot of living beings because the battle was fought for reinstating him on the throne. This body is after all meant for others. While there is life in the body it is meant for the service of others and while it is dead it is meant for being eaten up by dogs and jackals or moth within the earth. He is sorry because for such temporary body he had committed such huge massacre of living being.