to shoot my grandfather Bhisma and my respected teacher dronacharya..”
What generally happens in the growth of man. Man always creates a hierarchy of relationship in his mind. The hierarchy consists of the people you admire and respect and want to become one of them. They are more over your well wishers. We always come across certain types of behavior in our normal relationship with others that they ask whom you like most, your father or mother, then who come second, third..etc. What was happening unconsciously, once you have created a hierarchy of relationships it’s very difficult to alter even after their death. They still live in that hierarchy position as idols.
Here Arjuna cries I cannot kill Bhishma (Grandfather) and Dronacharya (Teacher) Coz they are the legend occupying in his dominance hierarchy and killing them his like removing or wiping out from the hierarchy and suddenly you feel emptiness and no way you will going to find another in your lifetime. It’s like you are broken beyond repairs. That’s why Arjuna cries, how can I kill them?
The cry was not because they are going to die but because of his image to the outer world. The world will not forget and forgive Arjuna for his act in the name of War, that he has killed his grandfather and his teacher in order to achieve material gains. If you see your whole process of movement in your life is to live and fulfill the expectations of the people in your hierarchy. But killing them is killing you and your image. This made him fumble in front of Lord Krishna..