Chapter 1 · Arjuna's Dilemma

1.1

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

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca . dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ . māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāścaiva kimakurvata sañjaya ||1-1||

Dhritarashtra asked Sanjaya, what were my men and the Pandavas doing when they gathered, ready to fight, on the sacred field of Kurukshetra.

1.2

सञ्जय उवाच | दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा | आचार्यमुपसंगम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ||१-२||

sañjaya uvāca . dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṃ vyūḍhaṃ duryodhanastadā . ācāryamupasaṃgamya rājā vacanamabravīt ||1-2||

Sanjaya said: When Duryodhana saw the Pandavas' army formed up and ready for battle, he went to his teacher and said:

1.3

पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् | व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ||१-३||

paśyaitāṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāmācārya mahatīṃ camūm . vyūḍhāṃ drupadaputreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā ||1-3||

Look at this massive army of the Pandu sons, arranged by Drupada's son, your brilliant and devoted student.

1.4

अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि | युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ||१-४||

atra śūrā maheṣvāsā bhīmārjunasamā yudhi . yuyudhāno virāṭaśca drupadaśca mahārathaḥ ||1-4||

In this army are courageous warriors and skilled archers who are as formidable in battle as Bhima and Arjuna, along with Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada, all of whom are highly accomplished fighters.

1.5

धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान् | पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुंगवः ||१-५||

dhṛṣṭaketuścekitānaḥ kāśirājaśca vīryavān . purujitkuntibhojaśca śaibyaśca narapuṃgavaḥ ||1-5||

Dhrishtaketu, Chekitan, the brave king of Kasi, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and the distinguished Saibya are all present, each a formidable figure in their own right.

1.6

युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् | सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ||१-६||

yudhāmanyuśca vikrānta uttamaujāśca vīryavān . saubhadro draupadeyāśca sarva eva mahārathāḥ ||1-6||

Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas are powerful warriors, and Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadra, and the sons of Draupadi are all highly skilled fighters, each a great hero in their own right.

1.7

अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम | नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते ||१-७||

asmākaṃ tu viśiṣṭā ye tānnibodha dvijottama . nāyakā mama sainyasya saṃjñārthaṃ tānbravīmi te ||1-7||

Let me tell you about the prominent warriors on our side, the leaders of my army, so you'll know who they are, Arjuna. I'll name them for your benefit.

1.8

भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः | अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ||१-८||

bhavānbhīṣmaśca karṇaśca kṛpaśca samitiñjayaḥ . aśvatthāmā vikarṇaśca saumadattistathaiva ca ||1-8||

You're at the top of the list, followed by Bhishma, Karna, and Kripa, all of whom are renowned warriors, as well as Asvatthama, Vikarna, and Saumadatti, a formidable group of skilled fighters.

1.9

अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः | नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ||१-९||

anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā madarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ . nānāśastrapraharaṇāḥ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ ||1-9||

Many other brave warriors are also ready to lay down their lives for me, equipped with an array of weapons and skilled in the art of warfare.

1.10

अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् | पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ||१-१०||

aparyāptaṃ tadasmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam . paryāptaṃ tvidameteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhirakṣitam ||1-10||

Our army, led by Bhishma, seems inadequate, while their army, led by Bhima, appears to have sufficient strength.

1.11

अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः | भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ||१-११||

ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu yathābhāgamavasthitāḥ . bhīṣmamevābhirakṣantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi ||1-11||

Take your positions in the army, each in your own division, and focus on protecting Bhishma, all of you working together to keep him safe.

1.12

तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः | सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ||१-१२||

tasya sañjanayanharṣaṃ kuruvṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ . siṃhanādaṃ vinadyoccaiḥ śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau pratāpavān ||1-12||

To boost Duryodhana's morale, the respected elder Bhishma, a seasoned Kuru warrior, let out a thunderous roar like a lion and blasted his conch shell, making its sound echo loudly.

1.13

ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः | सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ||१-१३||

tataḥ śaṅkhāśca bheryaśca paṇavānakagomukhāḥ . sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śabdastumulo.abhavat ||1-13||

As the signal was given, conches, kettledrums, and trumpets suddenly blasted out a deafening sound from the Kaurava side, creating a tumultuous uproar.

1.14

ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ | माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः ||१-१४||

tataḥ śvetairhayairyukte mahati syandane sthitau . mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaścaiva divyau śaṅkhau pradadhmatuḥ ||1-14||

Krishna and Arjuna sat in a magnificent chariot pulled by white horses and blew their divine conches, signaling the start of battle. With its spacious and sturdy design, the chariot was a fitting vehicle for the two warriors. As they prepared for combat, the sound of their conches filled the air.

1.15

पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः | पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः ||१-१५||

pāñcajanyaṃ hṛṣīkeśo devadattaṃ dhanañjayaḥ . pauṇḍraṃ dadhmau mahāśaṅkhaṃ bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ ||1-15||

Krishna sounded the Panchajanya, Arjuna blew the Devadatta, and Bhima, known for his formidable deeds, blasted the mighty conch shell Paundra.

1.16

अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः | नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ ||१-१६||

anantavijayaṃ rājā kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ . nakulaḥ sahadevaśca sughoṣamaṇipuṣpakau ||1-16||

King Yudhishthira, Kunti's son, sounded the Anantavijaya conch, while his brothers Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughosha and Manipushpaka conches.

1.17

काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः | धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ||१-१७||

kāśyaśca parameṣvāsaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ . dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaśca sātyakiścāparājitaḥ ||1-17||

The king of Kasi is a skilled archer, and there's also Shikhandi, a powerful warrior, along with Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and the unstoppable Satyaki.

1.18

द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते | सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक् ||१-१८||

drupado draupadeyāśca sarvaśaḥ pṛthivīpate . saubhadraśca mahābāhuḥ śaṅkhāndadhmuḥ pṛthakpṛthak ||1-18||

Drupada, the sons of Draupadi, and Subhadra's son, the powerful warrior, each blew their conches, one by one, to sound the call to battle.

1.19

स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत् | नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलोऽभ्यनुनादयन् (or लोव्यनु) ||१-१९||

sa ghoṣo dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ hṛdayāni vyadārayat . nabhaśca pṛthivīṃ caiva tumulo.abhyanunādayan (lo vyanu)||1-19||

The deafening sound shattered the morale of Dhritarashtra's army, and its echo violently shook the earth and the heavens, causing a massive commotion.

1.20

अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान् कपिध्वजः | प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः | हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते ||१-२०||

atha vyavasthitāndṛṣṭvā dhārtarāṣṭrān kapidhvajaḥ . pravṛtte śastrasampāte dhanurudyamya pāṇḍavaḥ ||1-20||

As Arjuna saw the Dhritarashtra side lined up and ready to fight, he took up his bow and spoke to Krishna, saying, with the battle about to erupt, Arjuna, with his monkey emblem, turned to his charioteer, the Lord of the earth, and began to speak.

1.21

अर्जुन उवाच | सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ||१-२१||

hṛṣīkeśaṃ tadā vākyamidamāha mahīpate . arjuna uvāca . senayorubhayormadhye rathaṃ sthāpaya me.acyuta ||1-21||

Arjuna said, Place my chariot between the two armies, Krishna, so I can see those who are gathered here, eager to fight, and know who I'll be up against when the battle begins.

1.22

यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् | कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन् रणसमुद्यमे ||१-२२||

yāvadetānnirikṣe.ahaṃ yoddhukāmānavasthitān . kairmayā saha yoddhavyamasmin raṇasamudyame ||1-22||

Arjuna wants Krishna to position his chariot between the two armies so he can see the warriors gathered to fight and know who he'll be up against when the battle begins.

1.23

योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः | धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः ||१-२३||

yotsyamānānavekṣe.ahaṃ ya ete.atra samāgatāḥ . dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddheryuddhe priyacikīrṣavaḥ ||1-23||

I want to see those who have gathered here, ready to fight, and are eager to do battle to satisfy the wicked desires of Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra.

1.24

सञ्जय उवाच | एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत | सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ||१-२४||

sañjaya uvāca . evamukto hṛṣīkeśo guḍākeśena bhārata . senayorubhayormadhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam ||1-24||

Sanjaya said: After hearing Arjuna's words, Krishna positioned their finest chariot between the two armies.

1.25

भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् | उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति ||१-२५||

bhīṣmadroṇapramukhataḥ sarveṣāṃ ca mahīkṣitām . uvāca pārtha paśyaitānsamavetānkurūniti ||1-25||

In the presence of Bhishma and Drona, and all the kings of the land, Krishna said to Arjuna, look at the Kurus assembled before you.

1.26

तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान् | आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा ||१-२६||

tatrāpaśyatsthitānpārthaḥ pitṝnatha pitāmahān . ācāryānmātulānbhrātṛnputrānpautrānsakhīṃstathā ||1-26||

Arjuna saw his fathers, grandfathers, teachers, and uncles, as well as his brothers, sons, grandsons, and friends, all standing there.

1.27

श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि | तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान् ||१-२७||

śvaśurānsuhṛdaścaiva senayorubhayorapi . tānsamīkṣya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvānbandhūnavasthitān ||1-27||

Arjuna saw fathers-in-law and friends on both sides of the battlefield, and as he gazed at all his kinsmen gathered there, he was overcome with sorrow and compassion. He felt a deep pang of sadness as he took in the sight of his loved ones, all of them ready to fight.

1.28

कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् | अर्जुन उवाच | दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् ||१-२८||

kṛpayā parayāviṣṭo viṣīdannidamabravīt . arjuna uvāca . dṛṣṭvemaṃ svajanaṃ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṃ samupasthitam ||1-28||

Overcome with compassion, Arjuna's heart sank as he gazed out at his own people, eager for battle, and he said to Krishna, seeing them gathered and ready to fight.

1.29

सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति | वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते ||१-२९||

sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṃ ca pariśuṣyati . vepathuśca śarīre me romaharṣaśca jāyate ||1-29||

My body is weakening, my mouth has gone dry, and I'm shaking all over - even the hairs on my skin are standing up.

1.30

गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते | न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ||१-३०||

gāṇḍīvaṃ sraṃsate hastāttvakcaiva paridahyate . na ca śaknomyavasthātuṃ bhramatīva ca me manaḥ ||1-30||

My bow, Gandiva, is slipping from my grip, and my skin is burning all over. I'm losing my footing and my mind is spinning out of control, unable to focus or stay still.

1.31

निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव | न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे ||१-३१||

nimittāni ca paśyāmi viparītāni keśava . na ca śreyo.anupaśyāmi hatvā svajanamāhave ||1-31||

I see bad signs, Krishna, and I don't think it's right to kill my own family members in this war, I just don't see any good coming from it.

1.32

न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च | किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा ||१-३२||

na kāṅkṣe vijayaṃ kṛṣṇa na ca rājyaṃ sukhāni ca . kiṃ no rājyena govinda kiṃ bhogairjīvitena vā ||1-32||

I don't care about winning, Krishna, or ruling a kingdom, or enjoying its pleasures. What's the point of having power, or luxuries, or even life itself, if we have to pay such a heavy price, Govinda?

1.33

येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च | त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ||१-३३||

yeṣāmarthe kāṅkṣitaṃ no rājyaṃ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca . ta ime.avasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṃstyaktvā dhanāni ca ||1-33||

The people we're fighting for, whose sake we wanted to enjoy kingdom, pleasures, and happiness, are now standing here, ready to give up their lives and wealth in this battle.

1.34

आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः | मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा ||१-३४||

ācāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrāstathaiva ca pitāmahāḥ . mātulāḥ śvaśurāḥ pautrāḥ śyālāḥ sambandhinastathā ||1-34||

Teachers, fathers, sons, and grandfathers, as well as maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, and brothers-in-law, and also grandsons and other family members.

1.35

एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन | अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते ||१-३५||

etānna hantumicchāmi ghnato.api madhusūdana . api trailokyarājyasya hetoḥ kiṃ nu mahīkṛte ||1-35||

I have no desire to kill them, Krishna, even if it means they'll kill me, and I certainly wouldn't do it just to rule the entire universe, let alone for something as insignificant as earthly territory.

1.36

निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन | पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ||१-३६||

nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrānnaḥ kā prītiḥ syājjanārdana . pāpamevāśrayedasmānhatvaitānātatāyinaḥ ||1-36||

By killing the sons of Dhritarashtra, what joy or satisfaction could we possibly gain, Krishna? It would only lead to our own spiritual downfall, as taking the lives of these aggressors would weigh heavily on our conscience.

1.37

तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान् | स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ||१-३७||

tasmānnārhā vayaṃ hantuṃ dhārtarāṣṭrānsvabāndhavān . svajanaṃ hi kathaṃ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava ||1-37||

We don't deserve to kill our own kin, the sons of Dhritarashtra, so how can we expect to find happiness if we destroy our own family, Krishna?

1.38

यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः | कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ||१-३८||

yadyapyete na paśyanti lobhopahatacetasaḥ . kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ mitradrohe ca pātakam ||1-38||

Blinded by their own greed, they fail to see the harm in destroying their family or betraying their friends, even though these actions are clearly wrong. Their selfish desires have clouded their judgment, leading them to ignore the serious consequences of their behavior.

1.39

कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम् | कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ||१-३९||

kathaṃ na jñeyamasmābhiḥ pāpādasmānnivartitum . kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ prapaśyadbhirjanārdana ||1-39||

With our eyes wide open to the harm caused by destroying families, shouldn't we turn away from this wrongdoing, Krishna, and choose a different path?

1.40

कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः | धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ||१-४०||

kulakṣaye praṇaśyanti kuladharmāḥ sanātanāḥ . dharme naṣṭe kulaṃ kṛtsnamadharmo.abhibhavatyuta ||1-40||

When a family is destroyed, its timeless traditions and spiritual practices are lost. If spirituality is destroyed, the entire family is overrun by immorality, leading to its downfall. This is the inevitable consequence of a family's decline.

1.41

अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः | स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः ||१-४१||

adharmābhibhavātkṛṣṇa praduṣyanti kulastriyaḥ . strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇasaṅkaraḥ ||1-41||

When wrongdoing dominates, Krishna, the women of the family lose their virtue, and as they stray, the family's heritage becomes tainted, leading to a mixing of social classes, Varshneya.

1.42

सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च | पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः ||१-४२||

saṅkaro narakāyaiva kulaghnānāṃ kulasya ca . patanti pitaro hyeṣāṃ luptapiṇḍodakakriyāḥ ||1-42||

When family lines are mixed and blurred, it leads to a kind of hell for those who destroy their own family, because their ancestors are no longer honored with the traditional offerings of food and water, and as a result, they suffer. The ancestors, who relied on these rituals for their well-being, are now neglected and left to decline. This breakdown of family traditions has severe consequences for both the living and the dead.

1.43

दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः | उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ||१-४३||

doṣairetaiḥ kulaghnānāṃ varṇasaṅkarakārakaiḥ . utsādyante jātidharmāḥ kuladharmāśca śāśvatāḥ ||1-43||

These destructive actions, which lead to the mixing of social classes, will undermine the timeless traditions and family values that have been passed down through generations, causing irreparable harm to the family and its heritage.

1.44

उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन | नरके नियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम (or नरकेऽनियतं) ||१-४४||

utsannakuladharmāṇāṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ janārdana . narake niyataṃ vāso bhavatītyanuśuśruma ||1-44||

We've been told, Janardana, that when a family's time-honored values and traditions are lost, its members are destined for a prolonged and miserable existence, effectively a living hell.

1.45

अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् | यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ||१-४५||

aho bata mahatpāpaṃ kartuṃ vyavasitā vayam . yadrājyasukhalobhena hantuṃ svajanamudyatāḥ ||1-45||

It's shocking that we're willing to commit a terrible wrong by killing our own family members, all because we're driven by a desire for the comforts and power of a kingdom.

1.46

यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः | धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ||१-४६||

yadi māmapratīkāramaśastraṃ śastrapāṇayaḥ . dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyustanme kṣemataraṃ bhavet ||1-46||

If the Dhartarashtras were to kill me in battle, unarmed and without putting up a fight, I would consider that a more desirable outcome for myself.

1.47

सञ्जय उवाच | एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः सङ्ख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् | विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः ||१-४७||

sañjaya uvāca . evamuktvārjunaḥ saṅkhye rathopastha upāviśat . visṛjya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ śokasaṃvignamānasaḥ ||1-47||

Sanjaya said: After saying this, Arjuna, overcome with sorrow, dropped his bow and arrow and sat down in his chariot, his mind reeling with grief.