Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga
Lord Krishna · Ancient · from the Sanskrit original
Original
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच ।धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः ।मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥ १ ॥
Translation
Dhritarashtra said -O’ Sanjaya, on the holy field of Kuruxetra, when my people & the sons of Pandu assembled, ready for a battle, what did they do there?
Original
सञ्जय उवाच ।दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा ।आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ २ ॥
Translation
Sanjaya said -King Duryodhana, on seeing the Pandava army ready for battle in array, went to his teacher, Guru Drona & spoke the following words
Original
पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् ।व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ॥ ३ ॥
Translation
O’ Teacher, look at the mighty army of the sons of Pandu, so expertly arrayed in formation by your wise disciple, the son of Drupada
Original
अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि ।युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ॥ ४ ॥
Translation
Behold here Yuyudhana, Virata & Drupada in their army - all great heroes & mighty archers; equal in their prowess to Bhima & Arjuna
Original
धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान् ।पुरुजित् कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः ॥ ५ ॥
Translation
Also see here brave warriors like Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana & the King of Kashi. And best of men like Purujit, Kuntibhoja & Shaibya
Original
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् ।सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ॥ ६ ॥
Translation
The powerful Yudhamanyu & the courageous Uttamauja; the son of Subhadra & the sons of Draupadi; great warriors all - see them here
Original
अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान् निबोध द्विजोत्तम ।नायका मम सैन्यस्य सञ्ज्ञार्थं तान् ब्रवीमि ते ॥ ७ ॥
Translation
O’ best among Brahmins, let me read out a list of the names of the most distinguished chiefs gathered amongst us - leaders of my army
Original
भवान् भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः ।अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ॥ ८ ॥
Translation
Yourself, Bhishma, Karna, Kripacharya; all ever victorious in wars - and Ashwatthama, Vikrama & Bhurishriva, son of Somadatta
Original
अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः ।नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ॥ ९ ॥
Translation
Behold other warriors here; renowned for their battle skills - armed with weapons - ready to fight & give up their lives for my sake
Original
अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् ।पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ॥ १० ॥
Translation
This army of ours, led & protected by Bhishma is big & unlimited, whereas theirs, led & protected by Bhima is small & limited in size
Original
अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः ।भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ॥ ११ ॥
Translation
I now call upon all chiefs of my army for your complete support to protect Commander Bhishma even as you protect your own divisions
Original
तस्य सञ्जनयन् हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः ।सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ॥ १२ ॥
Translation
Then, to instil joy in Duryodhana, the brave patriarch of the Kurus, General Bhishma roared like a lion & blew his conch Shashanka
Original
ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः ।सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥ १३ ॥
Translation
Then suddenly, conches, bugles, kettle drums, military drums, tabors and horns blared forth - their sound heard was tremendous
Original
ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ ।माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः ॥ १४ ॥
Translation
Then, Krishna & Arjuna, amidst Pandava army, seated in their glorious chariot yoked with 4 white horses, blew the divine conches
Original
पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः ।पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः ॥ १५ ॥
Translation
Hrishikesha blew his Panchajanya, Dhananjaya blew his Devadutta & Vrikodara, the doer of terrible deeds blew the great Paundra
Original
अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ।नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ ॥ १६ ॥
Translation
Kunti’s son, King Yudhishtira blew his Anantvijaya, while Nakula & Sahadeva blew their divine conches Sughosha & Manipushpaka
Original
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः ।धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ॥ १७ ॥
Translation
The King of Kashi, an excellent archer & Shikhandi, the mighty warrior & Drishtadyumna, Virata & Satyaki, the unconquerable one
Original
द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते ।सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान् दध्मुः पृथक् पृथक् ॥ १८ ॥
Translation
O’ Lord of the Earth - Drupada & the five sons of Draupadi - along with the valorous & powerful son of Subhadra all blew their conches
Original
स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत् ।नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन् ॥ १९ ॥
Translation
The resulting tumultuous sound of all these conches pierced the hearts of all Kaurava brothers & made the earth & sky reverberate
Original
अथ व्यवस्थितान् दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान् कपिध्वजः ।प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः ॥ २० ॥
Translation
Seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra arrayed in battle formation & ready to fight, Arjuna, in his Kapidhvaja chariot, took up his bow
Original
हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते ।अर्जुन उवाच ।सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ॥ २१ ॥
Translation
O’ Lord of the Earth, these were the words spoken to HrishikeshaArjuna said -O’ Achyuta, take the chariot & place it in the centre of the 2 armies
Original
यावदेतान् निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् ।कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन् रणसमुद्यमे ॥ २२ ॥
Translation
So that I can observe who is standing on there desirous to fight me & who is standing here; along with whom I must fight in this battle
Original
योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः ।धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः ॥ २३ ॥
Translation
I desire to see all those who are assembled on the other side wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra in this battle
Original
सञ्जय उवाच ।एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत ।सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ॥ २४ ॥
Translation
Sanjaya said -These were the words addressed to Hrishikesha by Arjuna sitting in his divine chariot that was placed in the middle of both armies
Original
भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् ।उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान् समवेतान् कुरूनिति ॥ २५ ॥
Translation
Krishna, having placed the chariot in front of Bhishma, Drona & other kings, said “O’ Partha, behold all the Kurus gathered here”
Original
तत्रापश्यत् स्थितान् पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान् ।आचार्यान्मातुलान् भ्रातॄन् पुत्रान् पौत्रान् सखींस्तथा ॥ २६ ॥
Translation
Then Arjuna saw fathers, grandfathers, maternal uncles, teachers, brothers, sons, grandsons & friends, in array on both sides
Original
श्वशुरान् सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि ।तान् समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान् बन्धूनवस्थितान् ॥ २७ ॥
Translation
Kaunteya, viewed his kinsmen standing in an arrayed formation - his fathers-in-law, his friends, in both armies, ready to fight
Original
कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् ।अर्जुन उवाच ।दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् ॥ २८ ॥
Translation
With a feeling of pity in his heart, he spoke in sorrowArjuna said -O’ Krishna, having seen all my kinsmen, arrayed in formation & eager to fight
Original
सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति ।वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते ॥ २९ ॥
Translation
I’ve lost all strength in my limbs, my mouth is dry & parched, my body shudders, I get bumps on my skin & my body hair stand on their end
Original
गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात् त्वक् चैव परिदह्यते ।न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ॥ ३० ॥
Translation
The Gandiva bow slips from my hand down, my skin burns all over, I am not able to stand, my mind is unsteady & is whirling round & round
Original
निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव ।न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे ॥ ३१ ॥
Translation
O’ Keshava, also, I see omens signalling adverse conditions coming ahead - I do not see any good coming out of killing our own kinsmen
Original
न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च ।किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा ॥ ३२ ॥
Translation
O’ Krishna, I do not desire victory in the battle; nor do I seek a kingdom or its pleasures. Of what use are those or even life itself?
Original
येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च ।त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ॥ ३३ ॥
Translation
All our loved ones, for whose sake we desire a kingdom, wealth & pleasures - are all here, to fight, renouncing their lives & wealth
Original
आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः ।मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा ॥ ३४ ॥
Translation
Teachers, fathers, sons, grandsons & grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, brothers-in-law & all other relatives
Original
तान् न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन ।अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते ॥ ३५ ॥
Translation
O’ Madhusudana, I do not wish to kill them even if they will - not even for the sake of dominion over all 3 worlds, let alone just earth
Original
निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान् नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन ।पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान् हत्वैतानाततायिनः ॥ ३६ ॥
Translation
O’ Janardana, what merit can be gained by killing the sons of Dhritarashtra? We wil only acquire sin by killing these wrong-doers
Original
तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान् स्वबान्धवान् ।स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ॥ ३७ ॥
Translation
O’ Madhava, we cannot justify the killing of the sons of Dhritarashtra, our own brothers. How can we be happy to kill our own people
Original
यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः ।कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ॥ ३८ ॥
Translation
Even though they, whose mind & intelligence has been clouded by greed see no malice in destruction of clans & in cruelty to friends
Original
कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम् ।कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ॥ ३९ ॥
Translation
Why should we, whose minds & intelligence are clear - not lead ourselves away from this sin of destruction of clans, O’ Janardana?
Original
कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः ।धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ॥ ४० ॥
Translation
When a clan perishes, along with it also perishes its ancient unbroken religious codes - righteousness perishes & sin overcomes
Original
अधर्माभिभवात् कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः ।स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः ॥ ४१ ॥
Translation
O’ Krishna, when Adharma prevails, the women of the clan get corrupted & then, O’ Varshneya, there is the intermingling of castes
Original
सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च ।पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः ॥ ४२ ॥
Translation
Therefore, both the clan members & the slayer of the clan go to hell as the departed souls are deprived of the offerings & libations
Original
दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः ।उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ॥ ४३ ॥
Translation
The ancient & eternal religious codes of the clans get destroyed when clans are eliminated - leading to a dilution of caste purity
Original
उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन ।नरकेऽनियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥ ४४ ॥
Translation
O’ Janardana, we have heard that men whose family religious codes have been destroyed, dwell in hell for an unknown period of time
Original
अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् ।यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ॥ ४५ ॥
Translation
Alas! What great sin have we all resolved to commit here - to kill our own people - out of greed to gain a kingdom & enjoy its pleasures
Original
यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः ।धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ॥ ४६ ॥
Translation
It would be far better if I enter the battlefield - unarmed & unresisting - and the sons of Dhritarashtra slay me with their weapons
Original
सञ्जय उवाच ।एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः सङ्ख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् ।विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः ॥ ४७ ॥
Translation
Sanjaya said -Arjuna spoke thus, in the midst of the battlefield; overwhelmed by sorrow, cast away his bow & arrows & slumped down in his chariot
Original
इति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासूपनिषत्सु ब्रह्मविद्यायां योगशास्त्रे श्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे अर्जुनविषादयोगो नाम प्रथमोऽध्यायः ॥ १ ॥
Translation
Thus ends the First Section of the auspicious Bhagavad Gita; named Arjuna’s Grief from the Upanishads, The Knowledge of Supreme Consciousness, The Knowledge of Yoga - A Conversation between Krishna & Arjuna
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