1.39 How should we, who can? Arjuna speaks

कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम्
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन

kathaṁ na jñeyam asmābhiḥ pāpād asmān nivartitum
kula-kṣhaya-kṛitaṁ doṣhaṁ prapaśhyadbhir janārdana

how should we, who can see it, not turn away from this wrong?

Explanation

How should we, who can see it?

The question is the hinge of his whole case: knowing better is what makes the act ours in a way it is not theirs.

It is a real principle and it is honestly held. Krishna's eventual answer will not deny it — it will deny that Arjuna has correctly identified what he is doing.

Word by word

katham: why
na: not
jñeyam: should be known
asmābhiḥ: we
pāpāt: from sin
asmāt: these
nivartitum: to turn away
kula-kṣhaya: killing the kindered
kṛitam: done
doṣham: crime
prapaśhyadbhiḥ: who can see
janārdana: he who looks after the public, Shree Krishna