कथं भीष्ममहं संख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन ।इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन ॥
kathaṃ bhīṣmamahaṃ saṃkhye droṇaṃ ca madhusūdana |iṣubhiḥ pratiyotsyāmi pūjārhāvarisūdana ||
How, O Madhusudana, can I fight back in battle with arrows against Bhishma and Drona, O slayer of enemies—when both are worthy of my reverence?
Explanation
Arjuna answers Krishna's rebuke from the previous verse. He says he cannot bring himself to shoot at his grandsire Bhishma and his teacher Drona, because they deserve honor, not arrows. Here Arjuna's reluctance comes from reverence and duty toward elders, not simple fear, though Krishna will question whether it is the right response.