CHAPTER 1 ARJUNA VISHADA YOGA

Chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita, known as "Arjuna Vishada Yoga" or "The Yoga of Arjuna's Dejection," sets the stage for the epic dialogue between Lord Krishna and the warrior prince Arjuna. It begins on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, where two great armies, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, are poised to engage in a devastating war.

Arjuna, the mighty warrior and a key figure in the Pandava army, finds himself overwhelmed by conflicting emotions as he surveys the battlefield. Despite his prowess as a warrior, he is deeply troubled by the prospect of fighting against his own kith and kin, including beloved elders, revered teachers, and dear friends, who stand on the opposing side. In a moment of profound anguish and moral dilemma, Arjuna turns to his charioteer, Lord Krishna, for guidance. He shares his inner turmoil and expresses his reluctance to fight, questioning the righteousness of engaging in a war that would result in the destruction of families and the loss of countless lives.

Total

47 Verses

Verse

1

Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, assembled in the holy land of Kurukshetra and desiring to fight, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do?

2

Sanjaya said: Upon seeing the Pandava army arrayed in battle formation, King Duryodhana approached his teacher Drona and spoke these words.

3

Behold, O Teacher, this grand army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed by the son of Drupada, your wise disciple.

4

Here in this army are heroic warriors, equal in fighting to Bhima and Arjuna; there are also great fighters like Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada.

5

Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjay, after gathering on the holy field of Kurukshetra, and desiring to fight, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do?

6

Yudhāmanyu, the valiant, the courageous Uttamauja, the invincible, Saubhadra, and the mighty sons of Draupadi—all these, O King, are great chariot warriors.

7

O best of the twice-born, behold these mighty warriors of ours, so worthy to be known! They are all stalwarts! This army of ours, marshalled by Bhishma, is insufficient.

8

Among our victorious generals are Bhishma, Karna, Kripa, Ashwatthama, Vikarna, and Bhurishrava.

9

There are many heroic warriors who are ready to lay down their lives for my sake, equipped with various kinds of weapons and experienced in military science.

10

Our strength, protected by Bhishma, is inadequate, whereas the strength of the Pandavas, protected by Bhima, is adequate.

11

"Let all the commanders of the Kaurava forces, occupying their respective positions, protect Bhishma alone at every cost."

12

In that army, Bhishma, the grandsire, sounded his conch horn very loudly, like the roar of a lion, giving joy to Duryodhana.

13

Then, from both sides, conches, drums, and trumpets resounded loudly, and the noise shook the hearts of everyone.

14

Then, Lord Krishna and Arjuna, stationed on a magnificent chariot yoked with white horses, blew their divine conch shells.

15

The Lord of the senses, Hrishikesh, blew the Panchajanya, while Arjuna, the conqueror of wealth, blew the Devadatta. Bhima, the performer of great deeds, blew the mighty Paundra, the one of voracious appetite.

16

King Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, who is always victorious, along with Nakula and Sahadeva, sounded their conches filled with jewels and gems.

17

Amongst ourselves, there are the mighty archers like Karna, Maharatha Shikhandi, the invincible fighter Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and the unbeatable Satyaki.

18

"King Drupada, the sons of Draupadi, and the mighty-armed son of Subhadra, each blew their respective conch shells."

19

Then, that tumultuous sound, reverberating through the hearts of Dhritarashtra's sons, made the sky and the earth tremble.

20

Then, Lord Krishna, known as Arjuna, saw the sons of Dhritarashtra standing arrayed and, moved by compassion, desisted from fighting.

21

Arjuna said: O Infallible One, please place my chariot between the two armies so that I may observe the warriors arrayed for battle. I wish to see those who have come here to fight on the side of the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra, eager to please him in this conflict.

22

23

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

24

Sanjay said: O King, thus addressed by Arjuna, Lord Krishna stationed the supreme chariot in the middle of the two armies.

25

In the presence of Bhishma, Drona, and all the rulers of the earth, the King said: "O Partha, behold these Kurus gathered here."

26

Arjuna saw fathers-in-law, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and friends in both armies.

27

"Seeing fathers-in-law, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and friends in both armies standing firm, O Kaunteya (Arjuna),"

28

Overcome with pity and confusion, Arjuna said these words: O Krishna, seeing my own kinsmen arrayed for battle here, I am pervaded by weakness.

29

"My limbs are giving way, and my mouth is drying up. My body trembles, and my hair is standing on end!"

30

"My whole body trembles, and my hair is standing on end. My bow, the Gandiva, is slipping from my hand, and my skin is burning. I am unable to stand still, and my mind seems to be whirling."

31

"I behold adverse omens, O Krishna. Nor do I foresee any good from killing my own kinsmen in battle."

32

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

33

"In whose interest are we to conquer this battle? Those for whom an empire, pleasures, and joys have been desired by us are now arrayed here in battle, abandoning their lives and wealth."

34

"Teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, grandsons, fathers-in-law, grandsons-in-law, and other relatives—none of them should be killed, O scion of Bharata."

35

"I do not wish to kill them, even though they are aggressive, O Madhusudana (Krishna), nor do I desire the victory, O Krishna, or the pleasures of kingship in this world."

36

"O Janardana, although these people, their hearts overtaken by greed, see no fault in killing one's family or quarreling with friends, why should we, who can see the crime in killing our own family, engage in these acts?"

37

"We, being the sons of Dhritarashtra, along with our friends, are not deserving of killing, O Madhava (Krishna). How can we be happy by killing our own relatives?"

38

"Although they, with intelligence overpowered by greed, see no evil in the destruction of families, and no sin in hostility to friends,"

"Why should we, who can see the crime in the destruction of a family, not turn away from this sin, O Janardana?"

39

40

When the family traditions decline, O Krishna, the entire family is taken over by lawlessness. With the prevalence of lawlessness, the women of the family become corrupt, and from the corruption of women, O descendant of Vrishni, comes unwanted progeny.

41

Lord Krishna, due to the prevalence of unrighteousness, the women of the family become corrupt, and from the corruption of women, O descendent of Vrishni (Arjuna), there arises a mixture of castes.

42

"Confusion destroys both the family and those who slay the family; the souls of their ancestors fall, deprived of the offerings of rice balls and water."

43

With these faults of the destroyers of the family leading to the confusion of castes, the eternal family traditions and caste duties of the people are destroyed.

44

O Janardana, it is heard that for those whose family traditions are destroyed, the eternal dwelling in hell is inevitable.

45

Oh, how strange it is that we are determined to commit a great sin! We are eager to kill our own kinsmen due to the greed for pleasures and kingdom.

46

If the sons of Dhritarashtra, with weapons in hand, were to kill me in battle without retaliating, it would be more beneficial for me.

47

Thus, having spoken on the battlefield, Arjuna, seated in his chariot between the two armies, threw down his bow and arrows, distressed and overwhelmed with sorrow.