धृतराष्ट्र उवाच ।
धर्म्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः ।
मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्व्वत सञ्जय ॥१॥
dhrtarastra uvacha
dharma-ksetre kuru-ksetre samaveta yuyutsavah
mamakah pandavas chaiva kim akurvata sanjaya [1]
dhrtarastrah uvacha–Dhrtarastra said: (he) sanjaya–O Sanjaya; dharma-ksetre kuru-ksetre–at the holy land of Kuruksetra; mamakah–Duryodhan and party; pandavah cha–and Yudhisthir and party; samavetah–who assembled; yuyutsavah–desirous of battle; eva–thereafter; akurvata kim–did what? [1]
1 Dhrtarastra said: O Sanjaya, what happened when my sons and the sons of Pandu assembled for battle at the holy place of Kuruksetra?
सञ्जय उवाच ।
दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्य्योधनस्तदा ।
आचार्य्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥२॥
sanjaya uvacha
drstva tu pandavanikam vyudham duryodhanas tada
acharyam upasangamya raja vachanam abravit [2]
sanjayah uvacha–Sanjaya said: tada tu–Then; raja duryodhanah–King Duryodhan; drstva–having seen; pandava-anikam–the soldiers of the Pandavas; vyudham–arrayed in military formation; abravit–spoke; vachanam–the following words; upasangamya–approaching; acharyam–Dronacharya. [2]
2 Sanjaya said: Seeing the Pandavas’ soldiers and armies arrayed for battle, King Duryodhan approached Dronacharya and said:
पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य्य महतीं चमूम् ।
व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ॥३॥
pasyaitam pandu-putranam acharya mahatim chamum
vyudham drupada-putrena tava sisyena dhimata [3]
(he) acharya–O respected teacher; pasya–please observe; etam mahatim–this great; chamum–army of seven aksauhinis (one aksauhini is 21,870 chariots, 21,870 elephants, 65,610 horses, and 109,350 foot-soldiers); pandu-putranam–of the Pandavas; vyudham–arranged in military formation; tava dhimata sisyena–by your intelligent disciple; drupada-putrena–Dhrstadyumna, the son of Drupada. [3]
3 O my teacher, please observe the great armies of the Pandavas, arranged in military formation by your brilliant disciple, Dhrstadyumna.
अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्ज्जुनसमा युधि ।
युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ॥४॥
धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्य्यवान् ।
पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः ॥५॥
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्य्यवान् ।
सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व्व एव महारथाः ॥६॥
atra sura mahesvasa bhimarjuna-sama yudhi
yuyudhano viratas cha drupadas cha maha-rathah [4]
dhrstaketus chekitanah kasirajas cha viryavan
purujit kuntibhojas cha saibyas cha nara-pungavah [5]
yudhamanyus cha vikranta uttamaujas cha viryavan
saubhadro draupadeyas cha sarva eva maha-rathah [6]
atra–In this phalanx; (santi)–are; surah–warriors; mahesvasah–great archers; bhima-arjuna-samah–comparable to Bhima and Arjuna; yudhi–in battle; (yatha)–such as; yuyudhanah–Satyaki; cha–and; viratah–King Virata; maha-rathah drupadah cha–and the great warrior Drupada; dhrstaketuh–Dhrstaketu; chekitanah–King Chekitana; viryavan kasirajah cha–and the powerful King of Kasi; purujit–Purujit; kuntibhojah cha–and Kuntibhoja; nara-pungavah saibyah cha–and the noble King Saibya; vikrantah yudhamanyuh cha–and valiant Yudhamanyu; viryavan uttamaujah cha–heroic Uttamauja; saubhadrah–Abhimanyu; draupadeyah cha–and the sons of Draupadi; eva–indeed; sarva maha-rathah–all great warriors. [4–6]
4–6 Among these soldiers are the expert archers Bhima, Arjuna, and others equally skilled in battle, like Satyaki, King Virata, the great fighter Drupada, Dhrstaketu, Chekitana, the mighty hero Kasiraj, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, the noble King Saibya, the valiant Yudhamanyu, the herioc Uttamauja, Abhimanyu, and the sons of Draupadi. They are all great warriors, indeed.
अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम ।
नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते ॥७॥
asmakam tu visista ye tan nibodha dvijottama
nayaka mama sainyasya samjnartham tan bravimi te [7]
(he) dvija-uttama–O Dronacharya, best of the twice-born; nibodha–kindly consider; tan–those; asmakam–of us; tu ye visistah–who are the prominent; nayakah–commanders; mama sainyasya–of my armies. bravimi–I speak; te–to you; tan–of them; samjna-artham–by name. [7]
7 O best of the twice-born, please consider, too, the foremost amongst us, the commanders of my armies. I submit their names before you:
भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः ।
अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिर्जयद्रथः ॥८॥
अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः ।
नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्व्वे युद्धविशारदाः ॥९॥
bhavan bhismas cha karnas cha krpas cha samitinjayah
asvatthama vikarnas cha saumadattir jayadrathah [8]
anye cha bahavah sura mad-arthe tyakta-jivitah
nana-sastra-praharanah sarve yuddha-visaradah [9]
bhavan–Your respected self; bhismah cha–Bhisma; karnah cha–and Karna; samitinjayah krpah cha–Krpa, who is victorious in battle; asvatthama–Asvatthama; vikarnah cha–Vikarna; saumadattih–Bhurisrava; jayadrathah–Jayadratha; anye cha bahavah surah–and many other warriors; (santi)–are present; nana-sastra-praharanah–armed with various weapons; sarve–all; yuddha-visaradah–skilled in battle; tyakta-jivitah–and prepared to sacrifice their lives; mad-arthe–for my sake. [8–9]
8–9 Firstly there is your respected self, then Bhisma, Karna, the ever victorious Krpacharya, Asvatthama, Vikarna, Bhurisrava, Jayadratha, and many other heroes skilled in the art of warfare, all armed with various weapons and prepared to lay down their very lives for me.
अपर्य्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् ।
पर्य्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ॥१०॥
aparyaptam tad asmakam balam bhismabhiraksitam
paryaptam tv idam etesam balam bhimabhiraksitam [10]
asmakam tat balam–That strength of our army; bhisma-abhiraksitam–protected by Bhisma; (bhati)–appears; aparyaptam–unlimited (or insufficient); tu–but; idam balam–the strength of this army; etesam–of theirs; bhima-abhiraksitam–protected by Bhima; (bhati)–appears; paryaptam–limited (or sufficient) [both interpretations are possible]. [10]
10 The strength of our army, headed by Bhisma, seems inestimable, yet the strength of the Pandavas’ army, protected by Bhima, is estimable.
अयनेषु च सर्व्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः ।
भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व्व एव हि ॥११॥
ayanesu cha sarvesu yatha-bhagam avasthitah
bhismam evabhiraksantu bhavantah sarva eva hi [11]
bhavantah–You; sarve eva hi–all indeed; abhiraksantu–may support; bhismam eva–Bhisma; sarvesu ayanesu cha–at all points of entrance into the formation; avasthitah (santah)–being situated; yatha-bhagam–at your posts. [11]
11 Now take up your posts at the strategic points of the formation in support of Bhisma.
तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः ।
सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ॥१२॥
tasya sanjanayan harsam kuru-vrddhah pitamahah
simha-nadam vinadyochchaih sankham dadhmau pratapavan [12]
pratapavan–The hero; kuru-vrddhah-pitamahah–the venerable ‘grandfather’ Bhisma; simha-nadam vinadya–roaring like the lion; sankham dadhmau–then blew his conchshell; uchchaih–very loudly; tasya harsam sanjanayan–for the pleasure of Duryodhan. [12]
12 Then, with a war-cry like the roar of a lion, the venerable elder, Bhisma, loudly blew his conchshell to encourage Duryodhan.
ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्य्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः ।
सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥१३॥
tatah sankhas cha bheryas cha panavanaka-gomukhah
sahasaivabhyahanyanta sa sabdas tumulo ’bhavat [13]
tatah–Thereafter; sankhah cha bheryah cha panava-anaka gomukhah–conchshells, kettledrums, hand-drums, bugles, and other instruments; sahasa eva abhyahanyanta–were immediately sounded. sah sabdah–That sound; tumulah abhavat–was tumultuous. [13]
13 At once there arose a tumultuous vibration of conchshells, kettledrums, hand-drums, bugles, and the resounding of many instruments.
ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ ।
माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः ॥१४॥
tatah svetair hayair yukte mahati syandane sthitau
madhavah pandavas chaiva divyau sankhau pradadhmatuh [14]
tatah–Thereafter; madhavah pandavah cha eva–both Sri Krishna and Arjuna; sthitau–situated; mahati syandane–in a magnificent chariot; svetaih hayaih yukte–yoked with white horses; pradadhmatuh–sounded; divyau sankhau–divine conchshells. [14]
14 Then Lord Sri Krishna and Arjuna, in a magnificent chariot drawn by white horses, blew their divine conchshells.
पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः ।
पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्म्मा वृकोदरः ॥१५॥
panchajanyam hrsikeso devadattam dhananjayah
paundram dadhmau maha-sankham bhima-karma vrkodarah [15]
hrsikesah–Sri Krishna; dadhmau–sounded; panchajanyam–the Panchajanya; dhananjayah–Arjuna (sounded); devadattam–the Devadatta; (cha)–and; bhimakarma vrkodarah–the performer of mighty tasks, Bhimasen (sounded); maha-sankham–the great conchshell; paundram–named Paundra. [15]
15 Hrsikes blew His conchshell Panchajanya; Dhananjaya sounded his, the Devadatta; and Bhimasen, the performer of mighty tasks, blew the conchshell Paundra.
अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ।
नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ ॥१६॥
anantavijayam raja kunti-putro yudhisthirah
nakulah sahadevas cha sughosa-manipuspakau [16]
kunti-putrah raja yudhisthirah–King Yudhisthir, the son of Kunti; (dadhmau)–sounded; anantavijayam–the Anantavijay; nakulah sahadevah cha–and Nakula and Sahadeva (sounded); sughosa-manipuspakau–the conchshells named Sughosa and Manipuspaka. [16]
16 King Yudhisthir, the son of Kunti, blew the Anantavijay, while Nakul and Sahadev blew the conchshells Sughosa and Manipuspaka.
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः ।
धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ॥१७॥
द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व्वशः पृथिवीपते ।
सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक् ॥१८॥
kasyas cha paramesv-asah sikhandi cha maha-rathah
dhrstadyumno viratas cha satyakis chaparajitah [17]
drupado draupadeyas cha sarvasah prthivi-pate
saubhadras cha maha-bahuh sankhan dadhmuh prthak prthak [18]
(he) prthivi-pate–O lord of the earth, Dhrtarastra; kasyah cha–the King of Kasi; parama-isu-asah–skilled in bowmanship; maha-rathah sikhandi cha–and the great warrior, Sikhandi; dhrstadyumnah viratah cha–Dhrstadyumna and King Virata; cha–and; aparajitah–the unconquerable; satyakih–Satyaki; drupadah–King Drupada; draupadeyah cha–the sons of Draupadi; maha-bahuh saubhadrah cha–and the mighty Abhimanyu; sarvasah–all; dadhmuh–sounded; prthak prthak sankhan–their respective conchshells. [17–18]
17–18 O lord of the earth, the skilled archer Kasiraj, the great warrior Sikhandi, Dhrstadyumna, King Virata, the unconquerable Satyaki, King Drupada, the sons of Draupadi, and the mighty son of Subhadra, Abhimanyu — all blew their conchshells.
स घोषो धार्त्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत् ।
नभश्च पृथिवीञ्चैव तुमुलोऽभ्यनुनादयन् ॥१९॥
sa ghoso dhartarastranam hrdayani vyadarayat
nabhas cha prthivin chaiva tumulo ’bhyanunadayan [19]
sah tumulah ghosah–That tumultuous sound; abhyanunadayan–echoing; prthivim cha nabhah cha eva–throughout the land and heavens; vyadarayat–rent, pierced; hrdayani–the hearts; dhartarastranam–of the sons of Dhrtarastra. [19]
19 Resounding throughout the land and heavens, the tremendous vibration of those conchshells pierced the hearts of the sons of Dhrtarastra.
अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्त्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः ।
प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः ।
हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते ॥२०॥
atha vyavasthitan drstva dhartarastran kapi-dhvajah
pravrtte sastra-sampate dhanur udyamya pandavah
hrsikesam tada vakyam idam aha mahi-pate [20]
(he) mahi-pate–O King; atha–thereafter; pravrtte (sati)–at the time for commencing; sastra-sampate–the casting of weapons; kapi-dhvajah pandavah–Arjuna of the Hanuman flag; dhartarastran vyavasthitan drstva–having seen the sons of Dhrtarastra arrayed before him ready for battle; tada–at that time; dhanuh udyamya–taking up his bow; aha–spoke; idam vakyam–these words; hrsikesam–to Sri Krishna. [20]
20 O King, as the battle was about to commence, Arjuna, whose chariot was adorned with the flag of Hanuman, seeing Duryodhan and his army poised for battle, took up his bow and said to Sri Krishna:
अर्ज्जुन उवाच ।
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ॥२१॥
यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् ।
कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन्रणसमुद्यमे ॥२२॥
योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः ।
धार्त्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः ॥२३॥
arjuna uvacha
senayor ubhayor madhye ratham sthapaya me ’chyuta [21]
yavad etan nirikse ’ham yoddhu-kaman avasthitan
kair maya saha yoddhavyam asmin rana-samudyame [22]
yotsyamanan avekse ’ham ya ete ’tra samagatah
dhartarastrasya durbuddher yuddhe priya-chikirsavah [23]
arjunah uvacha–Arjuna said: (he) achyuta–O Achyuta; sthapaya–please place; me ratham–my chariot; madhye–between; ubhayoh senayoh–both armies; yavat–so that; aham–I; nirikse–can observe; yoddhu-kaman avasthitan etan–these warriors desirous of battle; kaih saha–with whom; maya yoddhavyam–I have to fight; asmin rana-samudyame–on this battlefield; aham–and I; avekse–may see; (tan) yotsyamanan–the warriors; atra yuddhe–in this battle; ete ye samagatah–who have come; priya-chikirsavah–as well-wishers; durbuddheh dhartarastrasya–of wicked Duryodhan. [21–23]
21–23 O Krishna, please place my chariot between the two armies so I may observe the warriors with whom I must contend on this battlefield, and who have come to fight for the satisfaction of the wicked Duryodhan.
सञ्जय उवाच ।
एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत ।
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ॥२४॥
भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्व्वेषाञ्च महीक्षिताम् ।
उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति ॥२५।
sanjaya uvacha
evam ukto hrsikeso gudakesena bharata
senayor ubhayor madhye sthapayitva rathottamam [24]
bhisma-drona-pramukhatah sarvesan cha mahiksitam
uvacha partha pasyaitan samavetan kurun iti [25]
sanjayah uvacha–Sanjaya said: (he) bharata–O Dhrtarastra; evam uktah (san)–this being spoken; gudakesena–by Arjuna, the conqueror of sleep; hrsikesah–Sri Krishna; sthapayitva–placing; ratha-uttamam–the grand chariot; ubhayoh senayoh madhye–between both armies; (puratah)–before; bhisma-drona-pramukhatah–Bhisma, Drona, and company; sarvesam cha mahi-ksitam–and all the chieftains; uvacha iti–spoke thus: (he) partha–O Arjuna; pasya–behold; samavetan etan kurun–these assembled Kurus. [24–25]
24–25 Sanjaya said: O descendant of Bharat, after the vigilant Arjuna spoke these words, Sri Krishna, the Lord of the perceptions of all living beings, drew the grand chariot between both armies, before Bhisma, Drona, and all the chieftains of the earth. The Lord then said: O Partha, behold the Kauravas assembled here for battle!
तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान् ।
आचार्य्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा ।
श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि ॥२६॥
tatrapasyat sthitan parthah pitrn atha pitamahan
acharyan matulan bhratrn putran pautran sakhims tatha
svasuran suhrdas chaiva senayor ubhayor api [26]
atha–Thereafter; eva–certainly; parthah–Arjuna; api apasyat–could also see; sthitan–situated; tatra–there; (madhye)–within; ubhayoh senayoh–both armies; pitrn–paternal elders; pitamahan–grandfathers; acharyan–teachers; matulan–maternal elders; bhratrn–brothers; putran–sons; pautran–grandsons; sakhin–friends; tatha svasuran–fathers-in-law; suhrdah cha–and well-wishers. [26]
26 There, within both armies, Arjuna saw paternal and maternal elders, grandfathers, teachers, brothers, sons, grandsons, fathers-in-law, friends, and other well-wishers.
तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्व्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान् ।
कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्नदमब्रवीत् ॥२७॥
tan samiksya sa kaunteyah sarvan bandhun avasthitan
krpaya parayavisto visidann idam abravit [27]
samiksya–Seeing; tan sarvan bandhun–all these kinsmen; avasthitan–present; (tatra)–on the battlefield; sah kaunteyah–that son of Kunti; paraya krpaya avistah–overwhelmed with great compassion; visidan (san)–and being grief-stricken; idam abravit–spoke thus. [27]
27 Seeing his kinsmen present on the battlefield, Arjuna, the son of Kunti, was grief-stricken and overcome with pity. He said:
अर्ज्जुन उवाच
दृष्ट्वेमान्स्वजनान्कृष्ण युयुत्सून्समवस्थितान् ।
सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखञ्च परिशुष्यति ॥२८॥
arjuna uvacha
drstveman svajanan krsna yuyutsun samavasthitan
sidanti mama gatrani mukhan cha parisusyati [28]
arjunah uvacha–Arjuna said: (he) krsna–O Krishna; drstva–seeing; iman svajanan–all these friends and relatives; samavasthitan–assembled; yuyutsun–and desirous of battle; mama gatrani–my body; sidanti–feels exhausted; mukham cha parisusyati–and my mouth is becoming dry. [28]
28 O Krishna, seeing all these relatives and friends assembled and eager for battle, the strength is draining from my limbs and my mouth feels parched.
वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते ।
गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते ॥२९॥
vepathus cha sarire me roma-harsas cha jayate
gandivam sramsate hastat tvak chaiva paridahyate [29]
me sarire–In my body; vepathuh–are tremors; cha–and; romaharsah–bodily hairs standing on end; cha jayate–is also occuring. gandivam–The bow Gandiva; sramsate–is slipping; hastat–from my hand; tvak cha–and my skin; paridahyate eva–burns too. [29]
29 I am trembling and the hairs on my body are standing on end, my skin is burning, and I am losing grip of my Gandiva bow.
न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ।
निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव ॥३०॥
na cha saknomy avasthatum bhramativa cha me manah
nimittani cha pasyami viparitani kesava [30]
(he) kesava–O Sri Krishna; cha–and; (aham)–I; na saknomi–am unable to; avasthatum cha–compose myself any longer; iva–as; me manah–my mind; bhramati–is flickering; pasyami cha–and I see; viparitani nimittani–bad omens. [30]
30 O Kesava, I cannot maintain my composure any longer. My mind is disturbed, and I see bad omens.
न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे ।
न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च ॥३१॥
na cha sreyo ’nupasyami hatva svajanam ahave
na kankse vijayam krsna na cha rajyam sukhani cha [31]
(he) krsna–O Krishna; na anupasyami cha–nor do I see; sreyah–any good; svajanam hatva–in killing my kinsmen; ahave–in battle. (aham)–I; vijayam na kankse–desire neither victory; na cha rajyam cha sukhani–nor the enjoyment of a kingdom. [31]
31 I do not see any good in killing my kinsmen in this battle. O Krishna, I have no wish for victory or to enjoy a kingdom.
किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा ।
येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च ॥३२॥
त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ।
आचार्य्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः ॥३३॥
मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः संबन्धिनस्तथा ।
एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन ॥३४॥
kim no rajyena govinda kim bhogair jivitena va
yesam arthe kanksitam no rajyam bhogah sukhani cha [32]
ta ime ’vasthita yuddhe pranams tyaktva dhanani cha
acharyah pitarah putras tathaiva cha pitamahah [33]
matulah svasurah pautrah syalah sambandhinas tatha
etan na hantum ichchhami ghnato ’pi madhusudana [34]
(he) govinda–O Sri Krishna; kim nah rajyena–of what value is our kingdom; kim va bhogaih jivitena–and what is the need of its royal pleasures, or life itself; yesam arthe–if those for whom; nah–our; rajyam bhogah sukhani cha–kingdom with its pleasures and enjoyable objects; kanksitam–is desirable; te ime–all these; acharyah–teachers; pitarah–fatherly elders; putrah–sons; tatha eva cha–and also even; pitamahah–grandfathers; matulah–maternal uncles; svasurah–fathers-in-law; pautrah–grandsons; syalah–brothers-in-law; tatha sambandhinah–and other relatives; yuddhe avasthitah–are present on the battlefield; tyaktva–risking; dhanani pranan cha–their wealth and lives? (he) madhusudana–(Therefore,) O Madhusudan; ghnatah api–though I may be killed by them; na ichchhami–I do not wish; etan hantum–to kill them. [32–34]
32–34 O Govinda, if those for whom we desire all this — teachers, paternal and maternal elders, sons, grandfathers, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other relatives — are about to risk their wealth and lives in battle, of what value is our kingdom and its royal pleasures, or even life itself? O Madhusudan, I do not wish to kill them even though I, myself, may be killed.
अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते ।
निहत्य धार्त्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्द्दन ॥३५॥
api trailokya-rajyasya hetoh kim nu mahi-krte
nihatya dhartarastran nah ka pritih syaj janardana [35]
(he) janardana–O Sri Krishna; ka pritih syat–what happiness can be possible; nah–for us; nihatya–by killing; dhartarastran–the sons of Dhrtarastra; trailokya rajyasya hetoh api–for the sovereignty of even the three worlds; mahi-krte kim nu–not to speak of ruling the earth? [35]
35 O Janardan, even if we gain sovereignty over the three worlds, not to speak of ruling the earth, how can we be happy if we kill the sons of Dhrtarastra?
पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ।
तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्त्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान् ।
स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ॥३६॥
papam evasrayed asman hatvaitan atatayinah
tasman narha vayam hantum dhartarastran svabandhavan
svajanam hi katham hatva sukhinah syama madhava [36]
(he) madhava–O Madhava; papam eva–only sin; asrayet–will enter; asman–us; hatva–by killing; etan atatayinah–these adversaries. tasmat–Therefore; vayam–we; na arhah–are wrong; hantum–to kill; svabandhavan–our own family members; dhartarastran–the sons of Dhrtarastra. svajanam hatva hi–By killing our kinsmen; katham–how; (vayam) syama–can we be; sukhinah–happy? [36]
36 Only sin will befall us if we slay our teachers and guardians, though they be our adversaries. We cannot take the lives of our own relatives, the sons of Dhrtarastra. O Madhava, how can we be happy by killing our kinsmen?
यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः ।
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ॥३७॥
कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्त्तितुम् ।
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्द्दन ॥३८॥
yadyapy ete na pasyanti lobhopahata-chetasah
kula-ksaya-krtam dosam mitra-drohe cha patakam [37]
katham na jneyam asmabhih papad asman nivartitum
kula-ksaya-krtam dosam prapasyadbhir janardana [38]
(he) janardana–O Janardan, Krishna; yadyapi ete–although these persons; lobha-upahata-chetasah (santah)–their hearts being afflicted with greed; patakam na pasyanti–do not see the sin; mitra-drohe–of betraying one’s friends; cha–and; kula-ksaya-krtam dosam–the sin of destroying the dynasty; (tathapi)–nonetheless; katham–how; na jneyam–should it not be known; asmabhih–by us; nivartitum–to refrain; asmat papat–from this sinful act; prapasyadbhih–clearly seeing; kula-ksaya-krtam dosam–the evil of destroying the dynasty? [37–38]
37–38 Although they, overwhelmed with greed, cannot see the sin of betraying one’s friends and destroying the dynasty, O Janardan, how can we not refrain from this heinous act, being in full knowledge of the consequences?
कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्म्माः सनातनाः ।
धर्म्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्म्मोऽभिभवत्युत ॥३९॥
kula-ksaye pranasyanti kula-dharmah sanatanah
dharme naste kulam krtsnam adharmo ’bhibhavaty uta [39]
kula-ksaye–With the decline of the dynasty; sanatanah–the traditional; kula-dharmah–religious practices of the dynasty; pranasyanti–are destroyed. dharme naste (sati)–When religious practices are lost; adharmah–irreligion; abhibhavati–overcomes; krtsnam uta kulam–the entire dynasty. [39]
39 With the decline of the dynasty, its religious traditions are lost. When religious practices are lost, irreligion overcomes the entire dynasty.
अधर्म्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः ।
स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः ॥४०॥
adharmabhibhavat krsna pradusyanti kula-striyah
strisu dustasu varsneya jayate varna-sankarah [40]
(he) krsna–O Krishna; adharma-abhibhavat–when the family is overcome by irreligion; kula-striyah–the women of the family; pradusyanti–are polluted. (he) varsneya–O descendant of the Vrsni dynasty; strisu dustasu (satsu)–when the women of the family become corrupt; jayate–the result is; varna-sankarah–adulterated progeny. [40]
40 O Krishna, descendant of the Vrsni dynasty, when the dynasty is thus overcome by irreligion, the women of the family become corrupt and adulterated progeny is the result.
सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च ।
पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः ॥४१॥
sankaro narakayaiva kula-ghnanam kulasya cha
patanti pitaro hy esam lupta-pindodaka-kriyah [41]
sankarah–Adulterated progeny; narakaya eva (bhavati)–causes a hellish condition; kulasya kula-ghnanam cha–for both the dynasty and its destroyers. esam–Their; pitarah–forefathers; patanti hi–surely fall; lupta-pinda-udaka-kriyah–due to the cessation of obsequial offerings of food and water. [41]
41 Adulterated progeny forces both the family and its aggressors into a hellish existence. The same fate befalls their ancestors, because regular offerings of food and water to them cease.
दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः ।
उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्म्माः कुलधर्म्माश्च शाश्वताः ॥४२॥
dosair etaih kula-ghnanam varna-sankara-karakaih
utsadyante jati-dharmah kula-dharmas cha sasvatah [42]
etaih dosaih–By such heinous acts; kula-ghnanam–of the destroyers of the dynasty; varna-sankara-karakaih–causing varna-sankara, adulterated progeny; sasvatah–traditional; kula-dharmah jati-dharmah cha–familial and socio-religious functions; utsadyante–are ruined. [42]
42 Such heinous acts by the destroyers of the dynasty are the cause of adulterated progeny, ruining the culture of a civilized society and noble lineage.
उत्सन्नकुलधर्म्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्द्दन ।
नरके नियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥४३॥
utsanna-kula-dharmanam manusyanam janardana
narake niyatam vaso bhavatity anususruma [43]
(he) janardana–O Janardan; (vayam) anususruma–We have heard; iti–that; manusyanam–for those persons; utsanna-kula-dharmanam–whose family traditions have been destroyed; niyatam–constant; narake vasah–residence in hell; bhavati–occurs. [43]
43 O Janardan, we have heard that persons whose familial, social and religious traditions are disrupted dwell always in hell.
अहो बत महत्पापं कर्त्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् ।
यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ॥४४॥
aho bata mahat-papam kartum vyavasita vayam
yad rajya-sukha-lobhena hantum svajanam udyatah [44]
aho bata–Alas, what a tragedy! vayam–We; vyavasitah–have resolved; kartum–to commit; mahat-papam–a most heinous sin. yat rajya-sukha-lobhena–Out of greed for royal pleasures; udyatah–we are prepared; svajanam hantum–to slay our relatives. [44]
44 Alas, what a grave sin we have resolved to commit! Driven by greed for trifling royal happiness, we are about to slay our own kinsmen.
यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः ।
धार्त्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ॥४५॥
yadi mam apratikaram asastram sastra-panayah
dhartarastra rane hanyus tan me ksemataram bhavet [45]
yadi–If; dhartarastrah–the sons of Dhrtarastra; sastra-panayah–equipped with weapons; hanyuh–kill; mam–me; asastram–unarmed; apratikaram–and unresisting; rane–in battle; tat–that; bhavet–will be; ksemataram–more auspicious; me–for me. [45]
45 If, unarmed and unresisting, I am killed on this battlefield by the armed sons of Dhrtarastra, that will be more auspicious for me.
सञ्जय उवाच ।
एवमुक्त्वार्ज्जुनः सङ्ख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् ।
विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः ॥४६॥
sanjaya uvacha
evam uktvarjunah sankhye rathopastha upavisat
visrjya sa-saram chapam soka-samvigna-manasah [46]
sanjayah uvacha–Sanjaya said: arjunah–Arjuna; evam uktva–having thus spoken; sankhye–on the battlefield; visrjya–casting aside; chapam–bow; sa-saram–and arrows; upavisat–sat down; ratha-upasthah–on the chariot; soka-samvigna-manasah–his heart heavy with sorrow. [46]
46 Sanjaya said: There, on the battlefield, speaking these words, Arjuna cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the chariot, his heart filled with sadness.
इति श्रीमहाभारते शतसाहस्र्यां संहितायां वैयासिक्यां
भीष्मपर्व्वणि श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासूपनिषत्सु ब्रह्मविद्यायां योगशास्त्रे
श्रीकृष्णार्ज्जुनसंवादे सैन्यदर्शनं नाम प्रथमोऽध्यायः ॥१॥
iti sri-mahabharate sata-sahasryam samhitayam vaiyasikyam
bhisma-parvani srimad-bhagavad-gitasupanisatsu brahma-
vidyayam yoga-sastre sri-krsnarjuna-samvade sainya-
darsanam nama prathamo ’dhyayah [1]Translation:
End of Chapter One
Observing the Armies
from the conversation
of Sri Krishna and Arjuna
in Srimad Bhagavad-gita Upanisad
the yoga scripture of transcendental knowledge
in Bhisma Parva of Sri Mahabharata, the holy scripture
revealed by Srila Vyasadev in a hundred thousand verses.