अर्जुनविषादयोग

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच | धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः | मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ||१||

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca dharma-kṣhetre kuru-kṣhetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāśh chaiva kim akurvata sañjaya

Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, after my sons and the sons of Pandu assembled in the place of pilgrimage at Kurukshetra, desiring to fight, what did they do?

सञ्जय उवाच | दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा | आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ||२||

sañjaya uvāca dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṁ vyūḍhaṁ duryodhanas tadā āchāryam upasaṅgamya rājā vachanam abravīt

Sanjaya said: O King, after looking at the army of the Pandavas drawn up in military array, King Duryodhana approached his teacher Dronacharya and spoke these words.

पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् | व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ||३||

paśhyaitāṁ pāṇḍu-putrāṇām āchārya mahatīṁ chamūm vyūḍhāṁ drupada-putreṇa tava śhiṣhyeṇa dhīmatā

Duryodhana said: O Teacher, behold this great army of the sons of Pandu, so expertly arranged by your intelligent disciple, the son of Drupada.

अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि | युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ||४||

atra śhūrā maheṣhvāsā bhīmārjuna-samā yudhi yuyudhāno virāṭaśh cha drupadaśh cha mahā-rathaḥ

Here are great heroic bowmen equal in fighting to Bhima and Arjuna — Yuyudhana (Satyaki), Virata, and Drupada, a great chariot warrior.

धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान् | पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः ||५||

dhṛṣṭaketuśh chekitānaḥ kāśhirājaśh cha vīryavān purujit kuntibhojaśh cha śhaibyaśh cha nara-puṅgavaḥ

There are also great fighters like Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, the valiant King of Kashi, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Shaibya — the foremost among men.

युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् | सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ||६||

yudhāmanyuśh cha vikrānta uttamaujāśh cha vīryavān saubhadro draupadeyāśh cha sarva eva mahā-rathāḥ

The mighty Yudhamanyu, the valiant Uttamauja, the son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu), and the sons of Draupadi — all of them are great chariot warriors.

अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम | नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते ||७||

asmākaṁ tu viśhiṣṭā ye tān nibodha dvijottama nāyakā mama sainyasya saṁjñārthaṁ tān bravīmi te

O best of the twice-born, let me also tell you about the distinguished leaders on our side who are especially qualified to lead my military forces.

भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः | अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ||८||

bhavān bhīṣhmaśh cha karṇaśh cha kṛpaśh cha samitiñjayaḥ aśhvatthāmā vikarṇaśh cha saumadattis tathaiva cha

There are warriors like yourself (Drona), Bhishma, Karna, Kripa (who is always victorious), Ashvatthama, Vikarna, and the son of Somadatta (Bhurishrava).

अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः | नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ||९||

anye cha bahavaḥ śhūrā mad-arthe tyakta-jīvitāḥ nānā-śhastra-praharaṇāḥ sarve yuddha-viśhāradāḥ

And there are many other heroes who are prepared to lay down their lives for my sake. All are armed with various weapons and are experienced in military science.

अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् | पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ||१०||

aparyāptaṁ tad asmākaṁ balaṁ bhīṣhmābhirakṣhitam paryāptaṁ tv idam eteṣhāṁ balaṁ bhīmābhirakṣhitam

Our strength is immeasurable and we are perfectly protected by Grandfather Bhishma, whereas the strength of the Pandavas, carefully protected by Bhima, is limited.

अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः | भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ||११||

ayaneṣhu cha sarveṣhu yathā-bhāgam avasthitāḥ bhīṣhmam evābhirakṣhantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi

All of you must now give full support to Grandfather Bhishma, while standing at your respective strategic points of entrance into the phalanx of the army.

तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः | सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ||१२||

tasya sañjanayan harṣhaṁ kuru-vṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ siṁha-nādaṁ vinadyochchaiḥ śhaṅkhaṁ dadhmau pratāpavān

Then the mighty Bhishma, the great grandsire of the Kuru dynasty, blew his conchshell very loudly, making a sound like the roar of a lion, giving Duryodhana joy.

ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः | सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स च शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ||१३||

tataḥ śhaṅkhāśh cha bheryaśh cha paṇavānaka-gomukhāḥ sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa cha śhabdas tumulo'bhavat

After that, the conchshells, drums, bugles, trumpets, and horns were all simultaneously sounded, and the combined sound was tumultuous.

ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ | माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः ||१४||

tataḥ śhvetair hayair yukte mahati syandane sthitau mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaśh chaiva divyau śhaṅkhau pradadhmatuḥ

On the other side, both Lord Krishna and Arjuna, stationed in a great chariot drawn by white horses, sounded their transcendental conchshells.

पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः | पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः ||१५||

pāñchajanyaṁ hṛṣīkeśho devadattaṁ dhanaṁjayaḥ pauṇḍraṁ dadhmau mahā-śhaṅkhaṁ bhīma-karmā vṛkodaraḥ

Lord Krishna blew His conchshell called Panchajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhima, the voracious eater and doer of herculean tasks, blew his terrific conchshell called Paundra.

अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः | नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ ||१६||

anantavijayaṁ rājā kuntī-putro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ nakulaḥ sahadevaśh cha sughoṣa-maṇipuṣhpakau

King Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, blew his conchshell Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva blew their conchshells, Sughosa and Manipushpaka.

काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः | धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ||१७||

kāśhyaśh cha parameṣhvāsaḥ śhikhaṇḍī cha mahā-rathaḥ dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaśh cha sātyakiśh chāparājitaḥ

The King of Kashi (an expert archer), the great chariot warrior Shikhandi, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and the unconquerable Satyaki —

द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते | सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक् ||१८||

drupado draupadeyāśh cha sarvaśhaḥ pṛthivī-pate saubhadraśh cha mahā-bāhuḥ śhaṅkhān dadhmuḥ pṛthak pṛthak

Drupada, the sons of Draupadi, and also the mighty-armed son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu), O Lord of the earth, all blew their respective conchshells separately.

स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत् | नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन् ||१९||

sa ghoṣo dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṁ hṛdayāni vyadārayat nabhaśh cha pṛthivīṁ chaiva tumulo vyanunādayan

The blowing of these different conchshells became uproarious, reverberating throughout the sky and the earth, and shattering the hearts of the sons of Dhritarashtra.

अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः | प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः ||२०||

atha vyavasthitān dṛṣṭvā dhārtarāṣṭrān kapi-dhvajaḥ pravṛtte śhastra-sampāte dhanur udyamya pāṇḍavaḥ

At that time Arjuna, the son of Pandu, who had the flag marked with Hanuman on his chariot, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows. O King, after looking at the sons of Dhritarashtra drawn in military array, Arjuna then spoke to Lord Krishna these words.

हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते | अर्जुन उवाच | सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ||२१||

hṛṣīkeśhaṁ tadā vākyam idam āha mahī-pate arjuna uvāca senayos ubhayor madhye rathaṁ sthāpaya me'chyuta

Arjuna said: O infallible one (Achyuta), please draw my chariot between the two armies so that I may see those present here who desire to fight.

यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् | कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन्रणसमुद्यमे ||२२||

yāvad etān nirīkṣhe'haṁ yoddhu-kāmān avasthitān kair mayā saha yoddhavyam asmin raṇa-samudyame

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

सञ्जय उवाच | एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत | सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ||२३||

sañjaya uvāca evam ukto hṛṣīkeśho guḍākeśhena bhārata senayos ubhayor madhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam

Sanjaya said: O descendant of Bharata, being thus addressed by Arjuna, Lord Krishna drew up the fine chariot in the midst of the armies of both parties.

भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् | उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति ||२४||

bhīṣhma-droṇa-pramukhtaḥ sarveṣhāṁ cha mahī-kṣhitām uvācha pārtha paśhyaitān samavetān kurūn iti

In the presence of Bhishma, Drona, and all the other chieftains of the world, Lord Krishna said: Just behold, O Partha, all the Kurus assembled here.

तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान् | आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा ||२५||

tatrāpaśhyat sthitān pārthaḥ pitṝn atha pitāmahān āchāryān mātulān bhrātṝn putrān pautrān sakhīṁs tathā

There, Arjuna could see stationed in both armies, his fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and comrades.

श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि | तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान् ||२६||

śhvaśhurān suhṛdaśh chaiva senayor ubhayor api tān samīkṣhya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvān bandhūn avasthitān

He also saw his fathers-in-law, well-wishers, and friends in both armies. When the son of Kunti, Arjuna, saw all these different grades of friends and relatives —

कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् | अर्जुन उवाच | dṛṣṭvemaṁ sva-janaṁ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṁ samupasthitam ||२७||

kṛpayā parayāviṣṭo viṣīdann idam abravīt arjuna uvāca dṛṣṭvemaṁ sva-janaṁ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṁ samupasthitam

He was filled with deep compassion and spoke thus in grief: Arjuna said: My dear Krishna, seeing my own kinsmen present before me in such a fighting spirit —

सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति | वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते ||२८||

sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṁ cha pariśhuṣhyati vepathuśh cha śharīre me roma-harṣhaśh cha jāyate

My limbs fail and my mouth is parched; my body quivers and my hair stands on end.

गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते | न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ||२९||

gāṇḍīvaṁ sraṁsate hastāt tvak chaiva paridahyate na cha śhaknomy avasthātuṁ bhramatīva cha me manaḥ

My bow slips from my hand, and my skin is burning; I am unable to stand here any longer, and my mind seems to whirl.

निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव | न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे ||३०||

nimittāni cha paśhyāmi viparītāni keśhava na cha śhreyo'nupaśhyāmi hatvā sva-janam āhave

I see only evil omens, O Keshava, and I foresee no good from slaying my own kinsmen in battle.

न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च | किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा ||३१||

na kāṅkṣhe vijayaṁ kṛṣhṇa na cha rājyaṁ sukhāni cha kiṁ no rājyena govinda kiṁ bhogair jīvitena vā

I do not long for victory, O Krishna, nor kingdom, nor pleasures. O Govinda, of what avail is kingdom, enjoyment, or even life itself?

येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च | त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ||३२||

yeṣhām arthe kāṅkṣhitaṁ no rājyaṁ bhogāḥ sukhāni cha ta ime'vasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṁs tyaktvā dhanāni cha

Those for whom we desire kingdom, enjoyments, and pleasures are standing here ready to fight, having given up life and wealth.

आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः | मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा ||३३||

āchāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrās tathaiva cha pitāmahāḥ mātulāḥ śhvaśhurāḥ pautrāḥ śhyālāḥ sambandhi nas tathā

Teachers, fathers, sons, and also grandfathers; maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other relatives —

एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन | अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते ||३४||

etān na hantum ichchhāmi ghnato'pi madhusūdana api trailokya-rājyasya hetoḥ kiṁ nu mahī-kṛte

I am not prepared to fight with them even in exchange for the three worlds, let alone this earth. O Madhusudana, what pleasure will we derive from killing the sons of Dhritarashtra?

निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन | पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ||३५||

nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrān naḥ kā prītiḥ syāj janārdana pāpam evāśhrayed asmān hatvaitān ātatāyinaḥ

What happiness can we derive from killing the sons of Dhritarashtra, O Janardana? Sin alone will accrue to us from slaying these aggressors.

तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान् | स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ||३६||

tasmān nārhā vayaṁ hantuṁ dhārtarāṣṭrān sva-bāndhavān sva-janaṁ hi kathaṁ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava

Therefore we should not kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, who are our own kinsmen. How can we be happy by killing our own relatives, O Madhava?

यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः | कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ||३७||

yady apy ete na paśhyanti lobhopahata-chetasaḥ kula-kṣhaya-kṛtaṁ doṣhaṁ mitra-drohe cha pātakam

Although these men, their hearts overtaken by greed, see no fault in destroying their family or quarreling with friends —

कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम् | कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ||३८||

kathaṁ na jñeyam asmābhiḥ pāpād asmān nivartitum kula-kṣhaya-kṛtaṁ doṣhaṁ prapaśhyadbhir janārdana

Why should we, who can clearly see the sin of destroying a family, not turn away from this terrible deed, O Janardana?

कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः | धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ||३९||

kula-kṣhaye praṇaśhyanti kula-dharmāḥ sanātanāḥ dharme naṣṭe kulaṁ kṛtsnam adharmo'bhibhavaty uta

With the destruction of the dynasty, the eternal family traditions are vanquished, and thus the rest of the family becomes involved in irreligion.

अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः | स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः ||४०||

adharmābhibhavāt kṛṣhṇa praduṣhyanti kula-striyaḥ strīṣhu duṣṭāsu vārṣhṇeya jāyate varṇa-saṅkaraḥ

When irreligion is predominant in the family, O Krishna, the women of the family become degraded, and from the degradation of women, O descendant of Vrishni, comes the mixing of castes.

सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च | पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः ||४१||

saṅkaro narakāyaiva kula-ghnānāṁ kulasya cha patanti pitaro hy eṣhāṁ lupta-piṇḍodaka-kriyāḥ

Such social disharmony leads to hell both the destroyers of the family and the family itself. The ancestors of such fallen families also fall, being deprived of the offerings of food and water.

दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः | उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ||४२||

doṣhair etaiḥ kula-ghnānāṁ varṇa-saṅkara-kārakaiḥ utsādyante jāti-dharmāḥ kula-dharmāśh cha śhāśhvatāḥ

By the evil deeds of those who destroy the family tradition and thus give rise to unwanted progeny, a variety of community projects and family welfare activities are ruined.

उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन | नरके नियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम ||४३||

utsanna-kula-dharmāṇāṁ manuṣhyāṇāṁ janārdana nrake niyataṁ vāso bhavatīty anuśhuśhruma

O Janardana, I have heard by disciplic succession that those who destroy family traditions must dwell in hell for an indefinite time.

अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् | यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ||४४||

aho bata mahat pāpaṁ kartuṁ vyavasitā vayam yad rājya-sukha-lobhena hantuṁ sva-janam udyatāḥ

Alas, how strange it is that we are preparing to commit greatly sinful acts, driven by the desire to enjoy royal happiness!

यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः | धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ||४५||

yadi mām apratīkāram aśhastraṁ śhastra-pāṇayaḥ dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyus tan me kṣhemataraṁ bhavet

It would be better for me if the sons of Dhritarashtra, weapons in hand, were to slay me unarmed and unresisting on the battlefield.

सञ्जय उवाच | एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः सङ्ख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् | विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः ||४६||

sañjaya uvāca evam uktvārjunaḥ saṅkhye rathopastha upāviśhat visṛjya sa-śharaṁ chāpaṁ śhoka-saṁvigna-mānasaḥ

Sanjaya said: Having thus spoken on the battlefield, Arjuna cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the chariot, his mind overwhelmed with grief.

इति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासूपनिषत्सु ब्रह्मविद्यायां योगशास्त्रे श्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे अर्जुनविषादयोगो नाम प्रथमोऽध्यायः ||

iti śrīmad-bhagavad-gītāsūpaniṣatsu brahma-vidyāyāṁ yoga-śāstre śrī-kṛṣṇārjuna-saṁvāde arjuna-viṣāda-yogo nāma prathamo'dhyāyaḥ

Thus ends the first chapter, titled 'Arjuna Vishada Yoga — The Yoga of Arjuna's Lamentation,' in the Upanishad known as the Bhagavad Gita, the scripture of yoga, in the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna.