Shrimad Bhagavad Gita l English l Chapter 1

Shrimad Bhagavad Gita 


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Chapter 1 - The Yoga Of the Despondency of Arjuna


1.Dhritaraashtra Uvaacha:
Dharmakshetre kurukshetre samavetaa yuyutsavah;
Maamakaah paandavaashchaiva kim akurvata sanjaya.

Dhritarashtra said:
 What did the sons of Pandu and also my people do when they had assembled together,eager for battle on the holy plain of Kurukshetra, O Sanjaya?

2.Sanjaya Uvaacha:
Drishtwaa tu paandavaaneekam vyudham duryodhanastadaa;
Aachaaryam upasamgamya raajaa vachanam abraveet.

Sanjaya said:
 Having seen the army of the Pandavas drawn up in battle array, King Duryodhana thenapproached his teacher (Drona) and spoke these words:

3.Pashyaitaam paanduputraanaam aachaarya mahateem chamoom;
Vyoodhaam drupadaputrena tava shishyena dheemataa.

 Behold, O Teacher, this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed by the son ofDrupada, thy wise disciple!

4.Atra shooraa maheshwaasaa bheemaarjunasamaa yudhi;
Yuyudhaano viraatashcha drupadashcha mahaarathah.

 Here are heroes, mighty archers, equal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna, Yuyudhana,Virata and Drupada, of the great car (mighty warriors),

5.Dhrishtaketush chekitaanah kaashiraajashcha veeryavaan;
Purujit kuntibhojashcha shaibyashcha narapungavah.

 Drishtaketu, Chekitana and the valiant king of Kasi, Purujit, and Kuntibhoja and Saibya,the best of men,

6.Yudhaamanyushcha vikraanta uttamaujaashcha veeryavaan;
Saubhadro draupadeyaashcha sarva eva mahaarathaah.

 The strong Yudhamanyu and the brave Uttamaujas, the son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu,the son of Arjuna), and the sons of Draupadi, all of great chariots (great heroes).

7.Asmaakam tu vishishtaa ye taan nibodha dwijottama;
Naayakaah mama sainyasya samjnaartham taan braveemi te.

 Know also, O best among the twice-born, the names of those who are the mostdistinguished amongst ourselves, the leaders of my army! These I name to thee for thy information.

8.Bhavaan bheeshmashcha karnashcha kripashcha samitinjayah;
Ashwatthaamaa vikarnashcha saumadattis tathaiva cha.

 Thyself and Bhishma, and Karna and Kripa, the victorious in war;
 Asvatthama, Vikarna,and Jayadratha, the son of Somadatta.

9.Anye cha bahavah shooraa madarthe tyaktajeevitaah;
Naanaashastrapraharanaah sarve yuddhavishaaradaah.

 And also many other heroes who have given up their lives for my sake, armed withvarious weapons and missiles, all well skilled in battle.

10.Aparyaaptam tad asmaakam balam bheeshmaabhirakshitam;
Paryaaptam twidam eteshaam balam bheemaabhirakshitam.

 This army of ours marshalled by Bhishma is insufficient, whereas their army,marshalled by Bhima, is sufficient.

11.Ayaneshu cha sarveshu yathaabhaagam avasthitaah;
Bheeshmam evaabhirakshantu bhavantah sarva eva hi.

 Therefore, do ye all, stationed in your respective positions in the several divisions ofthe army, protect Bhishma alone”.

12.Tasya sanjanayan harsham kuruvriddhah pitaamahah;
Simhanaadam vinadyocchaih shankham dadhmau prataapavaan.

 His glorious grandsire (Bhishma), the eldest of the Kauravas, in order to cheerDuryodhana, now roared like a lion and blew his conch.

13.Tatah shankhaashcha bheryashcha panavaanakagomukhaah;
Sahasaivaabhyahanyanta sa shabdastumulo’bhavat.

 Then (following Bhishma), conches and kettle-drums, tabors, drums and cow-hornsblared forth quite suddenly (from the side of the Kauravas);
 and the sound was tremendous.

14.Tatah shvetair hayair yukte mahati syandane sthitau;
Maadhavah paandavashchaiva divyau shankhau pradadhmatuh.

 Then also, Madhava (Krishna), and the son of Pandu (Arjuna), seated in theirmagnificent chariot yoked with white horses, blew their divine conches.

15.Paanchajanyam hrisheekesho devadattam dhananjayah;
Paundram dadhmau mahaashankham bheemakarmaa vrikodarah.

 Hrishikesa blew the “Panchajanya” and Arjuna blew the “Devadatta”, and Bhima, thedoer of terrible deeds, blew the great conch, “Paundra”.

16. Anantavijayam raajaa kunteeputro yudhishthirah;
Nakulah sahadevashcha sughoshamanipushpakau.

 Yudhisthira, the son of Kunti, blew the “Anantavijaya”;
 and Sahadeva and Nakula blewthe “Manipushpaka” and “Sughosha” conches.

17.Kaashyashcha parameshwaasah shikhandee cha mahaarathah;
Dhrishtadyumno viraatashcha saatyakishchaaparaajitah.

 The king of Kasi, an excellent archer, Sikhandi, the mighty car-warrior, Dhristadyumnaand Virata and Satyaki, the unconquered,

18.Drupado draupadeyaashcha sarvashah prithiveepate;
Saubhadrashcha mahaabaahuh shankhaan dadhmuh prithak prithak.

 Drupada and the sons of Draupadi, O Lord of the Earth, and the son of Subhadra, themighty-armed, all blew their respective conches!

19.Sa ghosho dhaartaraashtraanaam hridayaani vyadaarayat;
Nabhashcha prithiveem chaiva tumulo vyanunaadayan.

 The tumultuous sound rent the hearts of Dhritarashtra’s party, making both heaven andearth resound.

20.Atha vyavasthitaan drishtwaa dhaartaraashtraan kapidhwajah;
Pravritte shastrasampaate dhanurudyamya paandavah.Hrisheekesham tadaa vaakyamidamaaha maheepate;


 Then, seeing all the people of Dhritarashtra’s party standing arrayed and the dischargeof weapons about to begin, Arjuna, the son of Pandu, whose ensign was that of a monkey, took uphis bow and said the following to Krishna, O Lord of the Earth!

21,22. Arjuna Uvaacha:
Senayor ubhayormadhye ratham sthaapaya me’chyuta.Yaavad etaan nireekshe’ham yoddhukaamaan avasthitaan;
Kair mayaa saha yoddhavyam asmin ranasamudyame.

Arjuna said: 
 In the middle of the two armies, place my chariot, O Krishna, so that I may beholdthose who stand here, desirous to fight, and know with whom I must fight when the battle begins.

23.Yotsyamaanaan avekshe’ham ya ete’tra samaagataah;
Dhaartaraashtrasya durbuddher yuddhe priyachikeershavah.

 For I desire to observe those who are assembled here to fight, wishing to please in battleDuryodhana, the evil-minded.

24.Sanjaya Uvaacha:
Evamukto hrisheekesho gudaakeshena bhaarata;
Senayor ubhayormadhye sthaapayitwaa rathottamam.

Sanjaya said:
 Being thus addressed by Arjuna, Lord Krishna, having stationed that best of chariots, ODhritarashtra, in the midst of the two armies,

25.Bheeshmadronapramukhatah sarveshaam cha maheekshitaam;
Uvaacha paartha pashyaitaan samavetaan kuroon iti.

 In front of Bhishma and Drona and all the rulers of the earth, said: “O Arjuna, beholdnow all these Kurus gathered together!”

26.Tatraapashyat sthitaan paarthah pitrin atha pitaamahaan;
Aachaaryaan maatulaan bhraatrun putraan pautraan sakheemstathaa.

 Then Arjuna beheld there stationed, grandfathers and fathers, teachers, maternal uncles,brothers, sons, grandsons and friends, too.

27.Shvashuraan suhridashchaiva senayorubhayorapi;
Taan sameekshya sa kaunteyah sarvaan bandhoon avasthitaan.Kripayaa parayaa’vishto visheedannidam abraveet;


 (He saw) fathers-in-law and friends also in both armies. The son ofKunti—Arjuna—seeing all these kinsmen standing arrayed, spoke thus sorrowfully, filled withdeep pity.

28.Arjuna Uvaacha:
Drishtwemam swajanam krishna yuyutsum samupasthitam.

Arjuna said:
 Seeing these, my kinsmen, O Krishna, arrayed, eager to fight,

29.Seedanti mama gaatraani mukham cha parishushyati;
Vepathushcha shareere me romaharshashcha jaayate.

 My limbs fail and my mouth is parched up, my body quivers and my hairs stand on end!


30.Gaandeevam sramsate hastaat twak chaiva paridahyate;
Na cha shaknomyavasthaatum bhramateeva cha me manah.

 The (bow) “Gandiva” slips from my hand and my skin burns all over;
 I am unable evento stand, my mind is reeling, as it were.

31.Nimittaani cha pashyaami vipareetaani keshava;
Na cha shreyo’nupashyaami hatwaa swajanam aahave.

 And I see adverse omens, O Kesava! I do not see any good in killing my kinsmen inbattle.

32.Na kaangkshe vijayam krishna na cha raajyam sukhaani cha;
Kim no raajyena govinda kim bhogair jeevitena vaa.

 For I desire neither victory, O Krishna, nor pleasures nor kingdoms! Of what avail is adominion to us, O Krishna, or pleasures or even life?

33.Yeshaam arthe kaangkshitam no raajyam bhogaah sukhaani cha;
Ta ime’vasthitaa yuddhe praanaamstyaktwaa dhanaani cha.

 Those for whose sake we desire kingdoms, enjoyments and pleasures, stand here inbattle, having renounced life and wealth.

34.Aachaaryaah pitarah putraastathaiva cha pitaamahaah;
Maatulaah shwashuraah pautraah shyaalaah sambandhinas tathaa.

 Teachers, fathers, sons and also grandfathers, grandsons, fathers-in-law, maternaluncles, brothers-in-law and relatives,—

35.Etaan na hantum icchaami ghnato’pi madhusoodana;
Api trailokya raajyasya hetoh kim nu maheekrite.

 These I do not wish to kill, though they kill me, O Krishna, even for the sake of dominionover the three worlds, leave alone killing them for the sake of the earth!

36.Nihatya dhaartaraashtraan nah kaa preetih syaaj janaardana;
Paapam evaashrayed asmaan hatwaitaan aatataayinah.

 By killing these sons of Dhritarashtra, what pleasure can be ours, O Janardana? Only sinwill accrue by killing these felons.

37.Tasmaan naarhaa vayam hantum dhaartaraashtraan swabaandhavaan;
Swajanam hi katham hatwaa sukhinah syaama maadhava.

 Therefore, we should not kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our relatives;
 for, how can we behappy by killing our own people, O Madhava (Krishna)?

38.Yadyapyete na pashyanti lobhopahatachetasah;
Kulakshayakritam dosham mitradrohe cha paatakam.

 Though they, with intelligence overpowered by greed, see no evil in the destruction offamilies, and no sin in hostility to friends,

39.Katham na jneyam asmaabhih paapaad asmaan nivartitum;
Kulakshayakritam dosham prapashyadbhir janaardana.

 Why should not we, who clearly see evil in the destruction of a family, learn to turnaway from this sin, O Janardana (Krishna)?COMMENTARY: Ignorance of the law is no excuse and wanton sinful conduct is a crimeunworthy of knowledgeable people.

40.Kulakshaye pranashyanti kuladharmaah sanaatanaah;
Dharme nashte kulam kritsnam adharmo’bhibhavatyuta.

 In the destruction of a family, the immemorial religious rites of that family perish;
 on thedestruction of spirituality, impiety overcomes the whole family.COMMENTARY: Dharma pertains to the duties and ceremonies practised by the familyin accordance with scriptural injunctions.

41.Adharmaabhibhavaat krishna pradushyanti kulastriyah;
Streeshu dushtaasu vaarshneya jaayate varnasankarah.

 By prevalence of impiety, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupt and,women becoming corrupted, O Varsneya (descendant of Vrishni), there arises intermingling of castes!

42.Sankaro narakaayaiva kulaghnaanaam kulasya cha;
Patanti pitaro hyeshaam luptapindodakakriyaah.

 Confusion of castes leads to hell the slayers of the family, for their forefathers fall,deprived of the offerings of rice-ball and water.

43.Doshair etaih kulaghnaanaam varnasankarakaarakaih;
Utsaadyante jaatidharmaah kuladharmaashcha shaashwataah.

 By these evil deeds of the destroyers of the family, which cause confusion of castes, theeternal religious rites of the caste and the family are destroyed.


44.Utsannakuladharmaanaam manushyaanaam janaardana;
Narake’niyatam vaaso bhavateetyanushushruma.

 We have heard, O Janardana, that inevitable is the dwelling for an unknown period inhell for those men in whose families the religious practices have been destroyed!

45.Aho bata mahat paapam kartum vyavasitaa vayam;
Yadraajya sukhalobhena hantum swajanam udyataah.

 Alas! We are involved in a great sin in that we are prepared to kill our kinsmen throughgreed for the pleasures of a kingdom.

46.Yadi maam aprateekaaram ashastram shastrapaanayah;
Dhaartaraashtraa rane hanyus tanme kshemataram bhavet.

 If the sons of Dhritarashtra, with weapons in hand, should slay me in battle, unresistingand unarmed, that would be better for me.

47.Sanjaya Uvaacha:
Evamuktwaa’rjunah sankhye rathopastha upaavishat;
Visrijya sasharam chaapam shokasamvignamaanasah.

Sanjaya said:
 Having thus spoken in the midst of the battlefield, Arjuna, casting away his bow andarrow, sat down on the seat of the chariot with his mind overwhelmed with sorrow.

Hari Om Tat SatIti Srimad Bhagavadgeetaasoopanishatsu BrahmavidyaayaamYogashaastre Sri KrishnaarjunasamvaadeArjunavishaadayogo Naama Prathamo’dhyaayah.

Thus in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita, the science of the Eternal, thescripture of Yoga, the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, ends the first discourse entitled:“The Yoga Of the Despondency of Arjuna”

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