Pearls of Sri Bhagavat Gita - Chapter 1.45, 46

                                                     

Bg 1.45,46

aho bata mahat pāpaṁ
kartuṁ vyavasitā vayam
yad rājya-sukha-lobhena
hantuṁ sva-janam udyatāḥ

yadi mām apratīkāram
aśastraṁ śastra-pāṇayaḥ
dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyus
tan me kṣema-taraṁ bhavet

Translation: 

Alas, we made efforts to commit great sin, by attempting to kill our own people, due to greed for the pleasures of the kingdom. It will be better for me if the sons of Dhritarashtra with arms in their hands; kill me in the war, myself not fighting back and being without arms.

                                                                    Import:

1) Arjuna said" I do not know already how to relieve myself from the sins due to my participation in gambling; but we are once again going to commit another sin."

But Sri Krishna replied " But whatever atrocities the Kauravas had done is also sin; therefore you have the right to fight against them."

Arjuna replied " Even still; the result of this war is only insignificant Rajyam ( Kingdom ) simply to satisfy ones own greed.

Sri Krishna Replied " But Sri Rama also fought in the war and also killed female demons not for insignificant pleasures but for the welfare of the whole world"

Sri Krishna said to arjuna " If you dont kill them; they will kill you ? "

Arjuna Replied " Its alright even if they kill me " . Its not out of fear Arjuna replied like this, Arjuna knew perfectly that he will win the war; but its due to his soft heart filled with compassion for his brothers he desisted from the war. He feared " If i killed them which is not according to relegious principles; he will incur sins

2) mahat pāpaṁ: After Hanuman was captured by Ravana; he decided to kill Hanuman as he did not follow the codes of a Messenger by killing many soldiers of Lanka; but Vibhishana  replied " Still on account of him being a Dhoota ( Messenger ) its Maha Papam ( a great sin ) to kill a messenger. Similarly Arjuna replied " Although the Kauravas had humiliated Draupadi and also tried to kill us; still if i kill them for the pleasure of my kingdom its a great sin.