Chapter 1
अर्जुनविषादयोग
Arjuna Visada Yoga
The first chapter of the Bhagavad Gita - "Arjuna Vishada Yoga" introduces the setup, the setting, the characters and the circumstances that led to the epic battle of Mahabharata, fought between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. It outlines the reasons that led to the revelation of the of Bhagavad Gita. As both armies stand ready for the battle, the mighty warrior Arjuna, on observing the warriors on both sides becomes increasingly sad and depressed due to the fear of losing his relatives and friends and the consequent sins attributed to killing his own relatives. So, he surrenders to Lord Krishna, seeking a solution. Thus, follows the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच |...
1.1 Dhritarashtra said What did my people and the sons of Pandu do when they had assembled together...
सञ्जय उवाच |...
1.2. Sanjaya said Having seen the army of the Pandavas drawn up in battle-array, King Duryodhana th...
पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् |...
1.3. "Behold, O Teacher! this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed by the son of Drupada, thy w...
अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि |...
1.4. Here are heroes, mighty archers, eal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna, Yoyudhana (Satyaki), Virata...
धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान् |...
1.5. "Dhrishtaketu, chekitana and the valiant king of Kasi, Purujit and Kuntibhoja and Saibya, the b...
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् |...
1.6. "The strong Yodhamanyu and the brave Uttamaujas, the son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu, the son of Sub...
अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम |...
1.7. "Know also, O best among the twice-born! the names of those who are the most distinguished amon...
भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः |...
1.8. "Thyself and Bhishma, and Karna and also Kripa, the victorious in war, Asvatthama, Vikarna, and...
अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः |...
1.9. "And also many other heroes who are ready to give up their lives for my sake, armed with variou...
अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् |...
1.10. "This army of ours marshalled by Bhishma is insufficient, whereas that army of theirs marshell...
अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः |...
1.11. "Therefore do ye all, stationed in your respective positions, in the several divisions of the ...
तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः |...
1.12. His glorious grandsire (Bhishma), the oldest of the Kauravas, in order to cheer Duryodhana, no...
ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः |...
1.13. Then (following Bhishma), conches and kettledrums, tabors, drums and cow horns blared forth it...
ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ |...
1.14. Then, also, Madhava (Krishna) and the son of Pandu (Arjuna), seated in the magnificent chariot...
पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः |...
1.15. Hrishikesha blew the Panchajanya and Arjuna blew the Devadatta and Bhima (the wolf-bellied), t...
अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः |...
1.16. The king Yodhishthira, the son of Kunti, blew the Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva blew the S...
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः |...
1.17. The king of Kasi, an exellent archer, Sikhandi, the mighty car-warrior, Dhrishtadyumna and Vir...
द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते |...
1.18. Drupada and the sons of Draupadi, O Lord of the earth, and the son of Subhadra, the mighty-arm...
स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत् |...
1.19. That tumultuous sound rent the hearts of (the members of) Dhritarashtra's party, making both t...
अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान् कपिध्वजः |...
1.20. Then, seeing the people of Dhritarashtra’s party standing arrayed and the discharge of weapons...
अर्जुन उवाच |...
1.21 Arjuna said In the middle between the two armies, place my chariot, O krishna, so that I may b...
यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् |...
1.22. Arjuna said In the middle between the two armies, place my chariot, O krishna, so that I may ...
योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः |...
1.23. For I desire to observe those who are assembled here to fight, wishing to please in battle the...
सञ्जय उवाच |...
1.24. Sanjaya said Thus addressed by Arjuna, Krishna, having stationed that best of chariots, O Dhr...
भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् |...
1.25. In front of Bhishma and Drona, and all the rulers of the earth, said: "O Arjuna (son of Pritha...
तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान् |...
1.26. Then, Arjuna (son of Pritha) saw there (in the armies) stationed, fathers and grandfathers, te...
श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि |...
1.27. (He saw) fathers-in-law and friends also in both the armies. The son of Kunti, Arjuna, seeing ...
कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् |...
1.28. Arjuna said Seeing these, my kinsmen, O krishna, arrayed, eager to fight....
सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति |...
1.29. My limbs fail and my mouth is parched, my body ivers and my hair stands on end....
गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते |...
1.30. The (bow) Gandiva slips from my hand, and also my skins burns all over; I am unable even to st...
निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव |...
1.31. And I see adverse omens, O Kesava. I do not see any good in killing my kinsmen in battle....
न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च |...
1.32. I desire not victory, O Krishna, nor kingdom, nor pleasures. Of what avail is dominion to us, ...
येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च |...
1.33. Those for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyments and pleasures, stand here in battle, having...
आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः |...
1.34. Teachers, fathers, sons and also grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, bro...
एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन |...
1.35. These I do not wish to kill, though they kill me, O Krishna, even for the sake of dominion ove...
निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन |...
1.36. By killing these sons of Dhritarashtra, what pleasure can be ours, O Janardana? Only sin will ...
तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान् |...
1.37. Therefore, we should not kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our relatives; for how can we be happ...
यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः |...
1.38. Though they, with intelligence overpowered by greed, see no evil in the destruction of familie...
कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम् |...
1.39. Why should not we who clearly see evil in the destruction of families, learn to turn away from...
कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः |...
1.40. In the destruction of a family, the immemorial religious rites of that family perish; on the d...
अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः |...
1.41. By the prevalence of impiety, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupt; and , women b...
सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च |...
1.42. Confusion of castes leads to hell the slayers of the family, for their forefathers fall, depri...
दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः |...
1.43. By these evil deeds of the destroyers of the family, which cause confusion of castes, the eter...
उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन |...
1.44. We have heard, O Janardana, that inevitable is the dwelling for an unknown period in hell for ...
अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् |...
1.45. Alas! We are involved in a great sin, in that we are prepared to kill our kinsmen, through gre...
यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः |...
1.46. If the sons of Dhritarashtra with weapons in hand should slay me in battle, unresisting and un...
सञ्जय उवाच |...
1.47. Sanjaya said Having thus spoken in the midst of the battlefield, Arjuna, casting away his bow...