Chapter 1 · 47 verses

Arjuna's Despair (Arjuna Vishada Yoga) अर्जुनविषादयोग

The two armies face each other at Kurukshetra. Seeing his own teachers, cousins and relatives ready to fight, Arjuna is overcome by grief, lays down his bow and sits down in the chariot. The Gita's teaching grows out of this crisis.

This English meaning is newly written by Bhajan Dhun and is still being reviewed by scholars.

1. 1.1

   धृतराष्ट्र उवाच

   धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः ।
   मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥१.१॥

   Dhritarashtra asked: O Sanjaya, at Kurukshetra, the field of dharma, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do, gathered there and eager to fight?

2. 1.2

   सञ्जय उवाच

   दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा ।
   आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥१.२॥

   Sanjaya said: Seeing the Pandava army drawn up in battle formation, King Duryodhana went to his teacher Drona and spoke these words.

3. 1.3

   पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् ।
   व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ॥१.३॥

   Look, O teacher, at this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed by your own gifted pupil, Dhrishtadyumna the son of Drupada.

4. 1.4

   अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि ।
   युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ॥१.४॥

   Here are heroes and great archers equal to Bhima and Arjuna in battle — Yuyudhana (Satyaki), Virata and the great chariot-warrior Drupada.

5. 1.5

   धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान् ।
   पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः ॥१.५॥

   Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, the valiant king of Kashi, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Shaibya, the best of men.

6. 1.6

   युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् ।
   सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ॥१.६॥

   The brave Yudhamanyu, the mighty Uttamaujas, Abhimanyu the son of Subhadra, and the five sons of Draupadi — all of them great chariot-warriors.

7. 1.7

   अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम ।
   नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते ॥१.७॥

   Now hear, O best of the twice-born, about the distinguished leaders on our side. I name the commanders of my army for your information.

8. 1.8

   भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः ।
   अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ॥१.८॥

   You yourself, Bhishma, Karna, Kripa who is victorious in battle, Ashvatthama, Vikarna and Bhurishrava the son of Somadatta.

9. 1.9

   अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः ।
   नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ॥१.९॥

   And many other heroes are ready to give their lives for my sake. All are armed with various weapons and skilled in warfare.

10. 1.10

    अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् ।
    पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ॥१.१०॥

    Our strength, protected by Bhishma, is unlimited, while theirs, protected by Bhima, is limited. (Some commentators read it the other way round — that ours is insufficient and theirs sufficient — revealing Duryodhana's hidden anxiety.)

11. 1.11

    अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः ।
    भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ॥१.११॥

    So all of you, holding your assigned positions at every entry point, must guard Bhishma above all.

12. 1.12

    तस्य संजनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः ।
    सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ॥१.१२॥

    Then Bhishma, the glorious grandsire and eldest of the Kurus, roared like a lion and blew his conch loudly to cheer Duryodhana.

13. 1.13

    ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः ।
    सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥१.१३॥

    At once conches, kettledrums, tabors, drums and horns blared together, and the sound was tremendous.

14. 1.14

    ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ ।
    माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः ॥१.१४॥

    Then Krishna and Arjuna, seated in their great chariot yoked to white horses, blew their divine conches.

15. 1.15

    पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनंजयः ।
    पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः ॥१.१५॥

    Krishna blew the Panchajanya, Arjuna the Devadatta, and Bhima, doer of mighty deeds, blew the great conch Paundra.

16. 1.16

    अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ।
    नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ ॥१.१६॥

    King Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, blew the Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughosha and the Manipushpaka.

17. 1.17

    काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः ।
    धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ॥१.१७॥

    The great archer, the king of Kashi, the mighty chariot-warrior Shikhandi, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata and the unconquered Satyaki

18. 1.18

    द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते ।
    सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक् ॥१.१८॥

    Drupada, the sons of Draupadi and the strong-armed Abhimanyu — O lord of the earth, each of them blew his own conch.

19. 1.19

    स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत् ।
    नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन् ॥१.१९॥

    That tumultuous sound, echoing through sky and earth, tore at the hearts of Dhritarashtra's sons.

20. 1.20

    अथ व्यवस्थितान् दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः ।
    प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसंपाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः ॥१.२०॥

    Then, as the weapons were about to clash, Arjuna — whose banner bears Hanuman — looked at the sons of Dhritarashtra standing in array and raised his bow.

21. 1.21

    हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते ।

    अर्जुन उवाच

    सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ॥१.२१॥

    O king, Arjuna then said to Krishna: O Achyuta, place my chariot between the two armies,

22. 1.22

    यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् ।
    कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन्रणसमुद्यमे ॥१.२२॥

    so that I may see those who stand here eager for battle, and know with whom I must fight in this war.

23. 1.23

    योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः ।
    धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः ॥१.२३॥

    I want to see those who have come here to fight, wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra.

24. 1.24

    सञ्जय उवाच

    एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत ।
    सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ॥१.२४॥

    Sanjaya said: O descendant of Bharata, when Arjuna said this, Krishna drew up that finest of chariots between the two armies,

25. 1.25

    भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् ।
    उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति ॥१.२५॥

    in front of Bhishma, Drona and all the kings, and said: Partha, behold these Kurus gathered together.

26. 1.26

    तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितृनथ पितामहान् ।
    आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातृन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा ॥१.२६॥

    There Arjuna saw, standing in both armies, fathers and grandfathers, teachers, uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons and friends,

27. 1.27

    श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि ।
    तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान् ॥१.२७॥

    fathers-in-law and well-wishers too. Seeing all these kinsmen arrayed there, the son of Kunti

28. 1.28

    कृपया परयाऽऽविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् ।

    अर्जुन उवाच

    दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् ॥१.२८॥

    was overcome with deep compassion and spoke in sorrow: O Krishna, seeing my own people here, eager to fight,

29. 1.29

    सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति ।
    वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते ॥१.२९॥

    my limbs give way, my mouth is parched, my body trembles and my hair stands on end.

30. 1.30

    गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते ।
    न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ॥१.३०॥

    The Gandiva bow slips from my hand and my skin burns. I cannot stand steady, and my mind is reeling.

31. 1.31

    निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव ।
    न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे ॥१.३१॥

    O Keshava, I see bad omens, and I see no good in killing my own kinsmen in battle.

32. 1.32

    न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च ।
    किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा ॥१.३२॥

    O Krishna, I do not desire victory, kingdom or pleasures. O Govinda, of what use is a kingdom, or enjoyment, or even life itself?

33. 1.33

    येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च ।
    त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ॥१.३३॥

    Those for whose sake we desired kingdom, enjoyments and pleasures stand here in battle, ready to give up life and wealth —

34. 1.34

    आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः ।
    मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा ॥१.३४॥

    teachers, fathers, sons and grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives.

35. 1.35

    एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन ।
    अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते ॥१.३५॥

    O Madhusudana, I do not wish to kill them even if they kill me — not even for the kingdom of the three worlds, let alone for this earth.

36. 1.36

    निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन ।
    पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ॥१.३६॥

    O Janardana, what joy could we have in killing the sons of Dhritarashtra? Even though they are aggressors, only sin would come to us by slaying them.

37. 1.37

    तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान् ।
    स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ॥१.३७॥

    So it is not right for us to kill our own kinsmen, the sons of Dhritarashtra. O Madhava, how could we be happy after killing our own people?

38. 1.38

    यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः ।
    कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ॥१.३८॥

    Even if they, their minds overpowered by greed, see no wrong in destroying the family and no sin in betraying friends,

39. 1.39

    कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम् ।
    कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ॥१.३९॥

    why should we, who clearly see the evil of destroying a family, not turn away from this sin, O Janardana?

40. 1.40

    कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः ।
    धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ॥१.४०॥

    When a family is destroyed, its age-old traditions perish, and when tradition is lost, lawlessness overtakes the whole family.

41. 1.41

    अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः ।
    स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः ॥१.४१॥

    When lawlessness prevails, O Krishna, the women of the family go astray, and from that, O Varshneya, comes the mixing of social order — so Arjuna argues.

42. 1.42

    सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च ।
    पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः ॥१.४२॥

    This confusion drags the family and its destroyers into hell, for the ancestors fall when the offerings of rice-balls and water to them cease.

43. 1.43

    दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः ।
    उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ॥१.४३॥

    Through these faults of the destroyers of families, the timeless duties of community and family are uprooted.

44. 1.44

    उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन ।
    नरकेऽनियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥१.४४॥

    O Janardana, we have heard that those whose family traditions are destroyed dwell in hell for a long time.

45. 1.45

    अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् ।
    यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ॥१.४५॥

    Alas, what a great sin we have resolved to commit, ready to kill our own kin out of greed for the pleasures of a kingdom!

46. 1.46

    यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः ।
    धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ॥१.४६॥

    It would be better for me if the armed sons of Dhritarashtra killed me in battle while I stood unarmed and did not resist.

47. 1.47

    सञ्जय उवाच

    एवमुक्त्वाऽर्जुनः संख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् ।
    विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः ॥१.४७॥

    Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus on the battlefield, Arjuna cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down in the chariot, his mind overwhelmed with grief.