Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 1 of 18

Arjuna Vishada Yoga

अर्जुनविषादयोग — The Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency · 47 verses

All 47 verses

Sanskrit, transliteration and English meaning for every verse.

1. 1.1 · Dhritarashtra · key verse

   धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः ।
   मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥

   dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ |
   māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāścaiva kimakurvata sañjaya ||

   Dhritarashtra said: On the field of dharma, the field of the Kurus, gathered together and eager to fight — what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do, Sanjaya?

2. 1.2 · Sanjaya

   दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा ।
   आचार्यमुपसंगम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

   dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṃ vyūḍhaṃ duryodhanastadā |
   ācāryamupasaṃgamya rājā vacanamabravīt ||

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

3. 1.3 · Sanjaya

   पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् ।
   व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ॥

   paśyaitāṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāmācārya mahatīṃ camūm |
   vyūḍhāṃ drupadaputreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā ||

   “Teacher, look at this vast army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed by the son of Drupada, your own gifted pupil.

4. 1.4 · Sanjaya

   अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि ।
   युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ॥

   atra śūrā maheṣvāsā bhīmārjunasamā yudhi |
   yuyudhāno virāṭaśca drupadaśca mahārathaḥ ||

   Here are heroes, great archers equal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna: Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada, a mighty chariot-warrior —

5. 1.5 · Sanjaya

   धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान् ।
   पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः ॥

   dhṛṣṭaketuścekitānaḥ kāśirājaśca vīryavān |
   purujitkuntibhojaśca śaibyaśca narapuṅgavaḥ ||

   — Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana and the valiant king of Kashi; Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Shaibya, a bull among men —

6. 1.6 · Sanjaya

   युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् ।
   सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ॥

   yudhāmanyuśca vikrānta uttamaujāśca vīryavān |
   saubhadro draupadeyāśca sarva eva mahārathāḥ ||

   — the bold Yudhamanyu and the valiant Uttamaujas, the son of Subhadra and the sons of Draupadi: every one of them a great chariot-warrior.

7. 1.7 · Sanjaya

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

   asmākaṃ tu viśiṣṭā ye tānnibodha dvijottama |
   nāyakā mama sainyasya saṃjñārthaṃ tānbravīmi te ||

   Now hear also, best of the twice-born, about the most distinguished on our side, the commanders of my army. I name them so that you may know them.

8. 1.8 · Sanjaya

   भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिंजयः ।
   अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ॥

   bhavānbhīṣmaśca karṇaśca kṛpaśca samitiṃjayaḥ |
   aśvatthāmā vikarṇaśca saumadattistathaiva ca ||

   There is you yourself, Bhishma, Karna and Kripa, ever victorious in battle; Ashvatthama, Vikarna, and likewise the son of Somadatta.

9. 1.9 · Sanjaya

   अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः ।
   नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ॥

   anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā madarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ |
   nānāśastrapraharaṇāḥ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ ||

   And there are many other heroes who have staked their lives for my sake, armed with many kinds of weapons, and all skilled in war.

10. 1.10 · Sanjaya

    अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् ।
    पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ॥

    aparyāptaṃ tadasmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam |
    paryāptaṃ tvidameteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhirakṣitam ||

    Our strength, guarded by Bhishma, is beyond measure, while their strength, guarded by Bhima, is limited.

11. 1.11 · Sanjaya

    अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः ।
    भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ॥

    ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu yathābhāgamavasthitāḥ |
    bhīṣmamevābhirakṣantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi ||

    So all of you, holding your assigned positions at every point of the formation, must above all protect Bhishma.”

12. 1.12 · Sanjaya

    तस्य संजनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः ।
    सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ॥

    tasya saṃjanayanharṣaṃ kuruvṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ |
    siṃhanādaṃ vinadyoccaiḥ śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau pratāpavān ||

    Then, to gladden Duryodhana’s heart, the mighty Bhishma, aged grandsire of the Kurus, gave a loud lion’s roar and blew his conch.

13. 1.13 · Sanjaya

    ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः ।
    सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥

    tataḥ śaṅkhāśca bheryaśca paṇavānakagomukhāḥ |
    sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śabdastumulo’bhavat ||

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

14. 1.14 · Sanjaya

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

    tataḥ śvetairhayairyukte mahati syandane sthitau |
    mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaścaiva divyau śaṅkhau pradadhmatuḥ ||

    Then, standing in their great chariot yoked to white horses, Madhava (Krishna) and the son of Pandu (Arjuna) blew their divine conches.

15. 1.15 · Sanjaya

    पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः ।
    पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः ॥

    pāñcajanyaṃ hṛṣīkeśo devadattaṃ dhanañjayaḥ |
    pauṇḍraṃ dadhmau mahāśaṅkhaṃ bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ ||

    Hrishikesha blew Panchajanya, Dhananjaya blew Devadatta, and Vrikodara (Bhima), the doer of fearsome deeds, blew the great conch Paundra.

16. 1.16 · Sanjaya

    अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ।
    नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ ॥

    anantavijayaṃ rājā kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ |
    nakulaḥ sahadevaśca sughoṣamaṇipuṣpakau ||

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

17. 1.17 · Sanjaya

    काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः ।
    धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ॥

    kāśyaśca parameṣvāsaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ |
    dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaśca sātyakiścāparājitaḥ ||

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

18. 1.18 · Sanjaya

    द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते ।
    सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक् ॥

    drupado draupadeyāśca sarvaśaḥ pṛthivīpate |
    saubhadraśca mahābāhuḥ śaṅkhāndadhmuḥ pṛthakpṛthak ||

    — Drupada and the sons of Draupadi, O lord of the earth, and the mighty-armed son of Subhadra: all of them blew their own conches, each in turn.

19. 1.19 · Sanjaya

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

    sa ghoṣo dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ hṛdayāni vyadārayat |
    nabhaśca pṛthivīṃ caiva tumulo vyanunādayan ||

    That tumultuous sound, resounding through sky and earth, tore apart the hearts of Dhritarashtra’s sons.

20. 1.20 · Sanjaya

    अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः ।
    प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसंपाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः ॥

    atha vyavasthitāndṛṣṭvā dhārtarāṣṭrānkapidhvajaḥ |
    pravṛtte śastrasaṃpāte dhanurudyamya pāṇḍavaḥ ||

    Then, seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra drawn up in array as the clash of weapons was about to begin, the son of Pandu, whose banner bore the monkey, raised his bow —

21. 1.21 · Arjuna

    हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते ।
    सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ॥

    hṛṣīkeśaṃ tadā vākyamidamāha mahīpate |
    senayorubhayormadhye rathaṃ sthāpaya me’cyuta ||

    — and, O lord of the earth, spoke these words to Hrishikesha. Arjuna said: Achyuta, draw up my chariot between the two armies —

22. 1.22 · Arjuna

    यावदेतान्निरिक्षेऽहं योद्‌धुकामानवस्थितान् ।
    कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन् रणसमुद्यमे ॥

    yāvadetānnirikṣe’haṃ yod‌dhukāmānavasthitān |
    kairmayā saha yoddhavyamasmin raṇasamudyame ||

    — so that I may look at these men who stand here eager for battle, and see whom I must fight in this enterprise of war.

23. 1.23 · Arjuna

    योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः ।
    धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः ॥

    yotsyamānānavekṣe’haṃ ya ete’tra samāgatāḥ |
    dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddheryuddhe priyacikīrṣavaḥ ||

    I want to see those who have gathered here ready to fight, wishing to please the wicked-minded son of Dhritarashtra in battle.

24. 1.24 · Sanjaya

    एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत ।
    सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ॥

    evamukto hṛṣīkeśo guḍākeśena bhārata |
    senayorubhayormadhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam ||

    Sanjaya said: Addressed in this way by Gudakesha (Arjuna), O Bharata, Hrishikesha brought that finest of chariots to a halt between the two armies —

25. 1.25 · Sanjaya

    भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् ।
    उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति ॥

    bhīṣmadroṇapramukhataḥ sarveṣāṃ ca mahīkṣitām |
    uvāca pārtha paśyaitānsamavetānkurūniti ||

    — facing Bhishma, Drona and all the rulers of the earth, and said, “Son of Pritha, see these Kurus gathered together.”

26. 1.26 · Sanjaya

    तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान् ।
    आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा ॥

    tatrāpaśyatsthitānpārthaḥ pitṝnatha pitāmahān |
    ācāryānmātulānbhrātṝnputrānpautrānsakhīṃstathā ||

    There the son of Pritha saw them standing: fathers and grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons and companions —

27. 1.27 · Sanjaya

    श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि ।
    तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान् ॥

    śvaśurānsuhṛdaścaiva senayorubhayorapi |
    tānsamīkṣya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvānbandhūnavasthitān ||

    — fathers-in-law and dear friends, in both armies. Seeing all these kinsmen arrayed before him, the son of Kunti —

28. 1.28 · Arjuna

    कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् ।
    दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् ॥

    kṛpayā parayāviṣṭo viṣīdannidamabravīt |
    dṛṣṭvemaṃ svajanaṃ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṃ samupasthitam ||

    — was overwhelmed by deep pity and, sinking in sorrow, said this. Arjuna said: Krishna, when I see my own people gathered here, eager to fight —

29. 1.29 · Arjuna

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

    sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṃ ca pariśuṣyati |
    vepathuśca śarīre me romaharṣaśca jāyate ||

    — my limbs give way and my mouth goes dry; my body trembles and my hair stands on end.

30. 1.30 · Arjuna

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

    gāṇḍīvaṃ sraṃsate hastāttvakcaiva paridahyate |
    na ca śaknomyavasthātuṃ bhramatīva ca me manaḥ ||

    Gandiva slips from my hand and my skin is burning. I cannot stand steady, and my mind seems to reel.

31. 1.31 · Arjuna

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

    nimittāni ca paśyāmi viparītāni keśava |
    na ca śreyo’nupaśyāmi hatvā svajanamāhave ||

    I see omens of ill, Keshava, and I can see no good in killing my own people in battle.

32. 1.32 · Arjuna

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

    na kāṅkṣe vijayaṃ kṛṣṇa na ca rājyaṃ sukhāni ca |
    kiṃ no rājyena govinda kiṃ bhogairjīvitena vā ||

    I do not want victory, Krishna, nor a kingdom, nor pleasures. What use is a kingdom to us, Govinda, or enjoyment, or even life itself?

33. 1.33 · Arjuna

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

    yeṣāmarthe kāṅkṣitaṃ no rājyaṃ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca |
    ta ime’vasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṃstyaktvā dhanāni ca ||

    The very people for whose sake we want kingdom, enjoyment and pleasure stand here in battle, having given up all claim to life and wealth —

34. 1.34 · Arjuna

    आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः ।
    मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः संबन्धिनस्तथा ॥

    ācāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrāstathaiva ca pitāmahāḥ |
    mātulāḥ śvaśurāḥ pautrāḥ śyālāḥ saṃbandhinastathā ||

    — teachers, fathers, sons and grandfathers too; maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other kinsmen.

35. 1.35 · Arjuna

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

    etānna hantumicchāmi ghnato’pi madhusūdana |
    api trailokyarājyasya hetoḥ kiṃ nu mahīkṛte ||

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

36. 1.36 · Arjuna

    निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन ।
    पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ॥

    nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrānnaḥ kā prītiḥ syājjanārdana |
    pāpamevāśrayedasmānhatvaitānātatāyinaḥ ||

    What joy could we have in killing the sons of Dhritarashtra, Janardana? Only sin would cling to us if we slew these aggressors.

37. 1.37 · Arjuna

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

    tasmānnārhā vayaṃ hantuṃ dhārtarāṣṭrānsvabāndhavān |
    svajanaṃ hi kathaṃ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava ||

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

38. 1.38 · Arjuna

    यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः ।
    कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ॥

    yadyapyete na paśyanti lobhopahatacetasaḥ |
    kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ mitradrohe ca pātakam ||

    Even if these men, their minds overcome by greed, see no wrong in destroying a family and no crime in betraying friends —

39. 1.39 · Arjuna

    कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम् ।
    कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ॥

    kathaṃ na jñeyamasmābhiḥ pāpādasmānnivartitum |
    kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ prapaśyadbhirjanārdana ||

    — why should we not have the sense to turn back from this sin, Janardana, we who see clearly the evil of destroying a family?

40. 1.40 · Arjuna

    कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः ।
    धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ॥

    kulakṣaye praṇaśyanti kuladharmāḥ sanātanāḥ |
    dharme naṣṭe kulaṃ kṛtsnamadharmo’bhibhavatyuta ||

    When a family is destroyed, its age-old family traditions perish; and when dharma (the sacred order) is lost, lawlessness overwhelms the whole family.

41. 1.41 · Arjuna

    अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः ।
    स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसंकरः ॥

    adharmābhibhavātkṛṣṇa praduṣyanti kulastriyaḥ |
    strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇasaṃkaraḥ ||

    When lawlessness prevails, Krishna, the women of the family become corrupted; and when the women are corrupted, descendant of Vrishni, the social orders become mixed.

42. 1.42 · Arjuna

    संकरो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च ।
    पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः ॥

    saṃkaro narakāyaiva kulaghnānāṃ kulasya ca |
    patanti pitaro hyeṣāṃ luptapiṇḍodakakriyāḥ ||

    This mixing drags both the family and its destroyers down to hell, for their ancestors fall too, deprived of the ritual offerings of rice and water.

43. 1.43 · Arjuna

    दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसंकरकारकैः ।
    उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ॥

    doṣairetaiḥ kulaghnānāṃ varṇasaṃkarakārakaiḥ |
    utsādyante jātidharmāḥ kuladharmāśca śāśvatāḥ ||

    By these wrongs of the family-destroyers, which bring about the mixing of social orders, the timeless duties of caste and family are swept away.

44. 1.44 · Arjuna

    उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन ।
    नरकेऽनियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥

    utsannakuladharmāṇāṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ janārdana |
    narake’niyataṃ vāso bhavatītyanuśuśruma ||

    We have heard, Janardana, that people whose family duties have been swept away must dwell in hell for an untold time.

45. 1.45 · Arjuna

    अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् ।
    यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ॥

    aho bata mahatpāpaṃ kartuṃ vyavasitā vayam |
    yadrājyasukhalobhena hantuṃ svajanamudyatāḥ ||

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

46. 1.46 · Arjuna

    यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः ।
    धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ॥

    yadi māmapratīkāramaśastraṃ śastrapāṇayaḥ |
    dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyustanme kṣemataraṃ bhavet ||

    It would be better for me if the sons of Dhritarashtra, weapons in hand, were to kill me in battle, unarmed and offering no resistance.

47. 1.47 · Sanjaya

    एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः संख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् ।
    विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः ॥

    evamuktvārjunaḥ saṃkhye rathopastha upāviśat |
    visṛjya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ śokasaṃvignamānasaḥ ||

    Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus on the battlefield, Arjuna sank down on the seat of his chariot, casting aside his bow and arrows, his mind overwhelmed with grief.