CHAPTER NO 1

The great discourse given by the Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra is not meant for him alone. It is for the entire humanity. In the first chapter, the names of the main warriors and generals of both sides are given. However, the main event is the despondency of Arjuna. In the battlefield, Arjuna saw that all teachers, relatives, members of his family had gathered together eager for battle. This caused great anguish to Arjuna and temporarily forgetting his duty as a warrior, he became depressed. And this faint-heartedness caused him to renounce his duty (dharma), He became reluctant to fight. Hence this chapter is entitled. "The Despondency of Arjuna"

Dhritarastra uvacha

1. dharmakshetre kurukshetre samvetah yuyut savah
   mamakah pandavas'sca' ve kim akurvata samjaya
   
    
   Dhritarastra said- O. Sanjaya- In the area of righteousness, the area of Kurus, where my sons and the sons of Pandu had gathered together, what did they do.
   
   Sanajaya uvacha -
2. dristava tu pandavarikam vyudham duryodhanas tada
   acharyam up samgamya raja vachanam abravit
   
    
   Sanjaya Said - Having observed the arrangment of the army of the Pandavas, king Duryodhana went to his teacher (Drona) and said these words.
3. acharya mahatim chamum vyudham drupad putrena
   tava sishayene dhimata

See (O, Teacher) this vast army of the sons of Pandu organised into the battle array by your wise pupil, the son of Drupada (Dhristadhyumna).

4. atra shura maheshvasa bhimarjunasama yudhi
   yuyudhano viratashchai dhrupadascha maharathah.

Here is a great bowman, who is equal of Bhima and Arjuna in the art of warfare - Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada are (great) warrior(s).

5. Dhristaketu Chekitanah
   Kashiraijas cha viryavana
   Purijit Kuntibhojascha
   Saibyas cha narpungavah

Dhristaketu, Chekitan and the brave king of Kashi, besides, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Shaibya - the finest among men.

6. Yudhamanyuscha vikranta
   Uttamaujascha viryavana
   Saubhadro draupadeyascha
   Sarva eva maharathah

The mighty Yudhamanya, the brave Uttamauja and also the son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu - son of Arjuna and a nephew of Krishna) and the (five) sons of Draupadi are all mighty warriors (Maharathis).

7. Asmakam tu vishista ye
   tam nibodha dvijottama
   nayaka mama sainasya
   Sangyanartham tan bravimi te

O, the best among the twice-born (Brahmins) - know the leaders of our side, who are very distinguished. I give you the names of our generals for your information.

8. bhavan bhishmascha, karnascha
   kripascha samitanjayah
   ashvathama vikarnascha
   somdattis tathaiva cha

You (Drona) and Bhishma and Karna and Kripa, the invincible, Ashvatthama, Vikarna and also the son of Somdatta (Bhurishrava).

9. anye cha bahavah shuru
   madarthe tyaktajivitah
   nanashastra praharnah
   savve yuddhavishardah.

There are many other brave men who risk their lives for my sake. Armed with various kinds of weapons, all of them are experts in the art of warfare.

10. aparyaptam tad asmakam
    balam bhishmabhirakshitam
    paryaptam tvi idam etcsham
    balam bhimabhirakshitam

Our army, which is guarded by Bhishma is more than sufficient (too large to be defeated) whereas their army protected by Bhima is limited (can be defeated without much difficulty.)

11. ayaneshu cha sarveshu
    yathabhagam avasthitah
    Bhishmam eva abhirakshantu
    bhavantah sarva eva hi

Therefore, standing firmly in your respective positions, all of you should protect (support) Bhishma.

12. tasya sanjanayam harsham
    kuruvriddhah pitamahah
    simhanadam vindyo occhaih
    shankham dadhamau pratapvana

His (Duryodhana's) brave grandfather, the aged Kuru, (Bhishma) roared like a lion and blew his conch, thus cheering him up.

13. Tatah shankascha bheryascha
    Panavanama gomukhah
    Sahasaiva bhyahanyanta
    Sa shabdas tumulo abhavat

 

Then conches and kettledrums, tabors and drums and horns were sounded suddenly and a tumultuous sound was made.

14. Tatah shvetair nayair yukte
    mahati syandane sthitau
    Madhavah pandavascha eva
    divyau shankhau pradadhmatuh.

Thereafter, sitting in their grand chariot. Which was having white horses, Krishna and Arjuna sounded their divine conches.

15. Panchajanyam hrishikeso
    Devaduttam dhananjayah
    Paundram dadhmau mahashankham
    Bhimakarma vrikodarah

Krishna sounded his panchajanya and Arjuna his Devadatta and Bhima the doer of terrific deeds, sounded his great conch Paundra.

16. anantavijayam raja
    kuntiputra yudhisthirah
    nakulah sahdevascha
    sughosmanipushpakam.
    
     
    The sons of Kunti, king Yudhisthir, sounded his Anantavijaya and Nakul and Sahadev blew their Sughosha and Manipushapak.
17. Kashyascha parameshvasah
    Shikhandi cha, maharathah
    Dhristhadymno viratascha
    Satyakis cha parajitah
    
     And the greatest archer, the king of Kashi, the great fighter Shikhandi, Dhristadyumna and Virata and the unconquerable Satyaki.
18. Drupado draupadeyascha
    Sarvasah prithvipate
    Saubhadrascha mahabahuh
    Shankham dadhmau prithak-prithak
    
     
    O, Lord of the Earth, Drupad and sons of Draupadi and the mighty-armed son of Subhadra sounded their respective conches.
19. Sa ghosho dhartarastranam,
    hridayani uyadaryat
    Nabhascha prithvim chaive
    tumulo uyanumadayan.
    
     
    The terrific uproar, echoing through the sky and the earth, rent the hearts of the sons of Dhritarashtra.
20. atha vuavasthitan dristava
    dhartarastran kapidhwajah
    pravvitte shastra sampate
    dhanurdhamya pandavah
    
     
    hrishikesham tada vakyam
    idam aha mahipate

Arjuna Uvacha

Senayor ubhayor madhye
Ratham sthapaya me achyuta

Then Arjuna, who had a flag, with the emblem of Hanuman, on his chariot, observed the sons of Dhritarastra standing in the battle-array and as the use of weapons was about to commence, he took up his bow.And, O king, he spoke the following words to Krishna, place my chariot between both the armies.

21. yavadetan nirikshe aham
    yoddhukaman avasthitam
    kair maya saha yoddhavyam
    asmin ranasamudyame

Then I shall see the men who are standing, keen for battle, with whom I shall have to fight.

22. Yotsyamanan aveksheaham
    Ya ete atra samagatah
    Dhartarastrasys cherbuddher
    Yuddhe priyachi kirsavah

I wish to see those, who are assembled here to fight for the evil of the sons of Dhritarashtra.

Sanjay uvacha

23. Evam ukto hrishikesho
    Gudakeshena bharata
    Senayor ubharyor madhe
    Sthapyitva rathottamam.

O' king - thus spoken by Arjuna, Shri Krishna brought the noble chariot between the two armies.

24. Bhishma drona pramukhatah,
    Sarveshameha mahikshitam
    Uvacha partha pashyai tam
    Samavetan kurun iti

In the presence of Bhishma, Drona and all the kings, he said, O Arjuna look at these Kauravas gathered here.

25. Tatra pashyat sthitan parthah
    Pitran atha pitamahan
    Achavyan matulan bhratrin
    Putran pautran sakhims tatha

Arjuna observes fathers and grandfathers, teachers, uncles, brothers, sons and grandsons as also friends.

26. sashuran suhridaschaive
    senayor ubhayor api
    tan samikshaya sa kaunteyah
    sarvam bandhun avasthitan

And also (he saw) fathers-in-law and friends in both the armies. When he saw these relatives standing there.

Arjuna Uvacha

27. Kripaya paraya visto
    Visidanu idam abravit
    Dristave mamam svajanam Krishna
    Yuyutsamam samupasthitam

battle formations eager for fighting, (O, Krishna)

28. sidanti mama gatrani
    mukham cha parisushyati
    vepath uscha sharire me
    romaharshascha jayate.
    
     My limbs shiver, my mouth becomes dry, my body shakes and my hair stand on end.
29. gandivam sramamsate hastat
    tvachaiva paridahyate
    na cha shaknomy avasthatham
    bramati eva cha me manah.

The Gandiva (Bow) is slipping through my hands and my skin is also on fire. I am unable to even stand properly. My mind is unsettled.

30. nimittani cha pashyami
    viparitani keshava
    na cha shreyo anupashyami
    hatva swajanam ahave.

I see bad omens, O Krishna (Keshava) no good can come of the killing of our relatives in the battle.

31. na kanchhe vijayam Krishna
    na cha rajyam sukhani cha
    kim no rajyene govinda
    kim bhogair jivitena va

Neither I crave for victory, O Krishna, nor kingdom, nor lust for pleasures. What can be the use of kingdom or even life? O, Govinda (Krishna)

32. yesham arthe kanchhitam no
    rajyam bhogah sukhanis cha
    taime avasthita yuddhe
    pronams tyaktva dhanani cha
    
    
    For whom we desire these kingdom, enjoyments and pleasures, they are ready for battle unmindful of their lives and wealth.
33. acharyah pitarah putras
    tathaiva cha pitamahah
    matulah shvashurah pautrah
    shyalah sambandhinas tathah

Teacher, father, sons and grandfathers too, uncles and fathers-in-law, grandsons and brother-in-law and relatives.

34. etan na hantum icchami
    ghnato api madhusudana
    api trailokya rajasya
    hetoh kim nu mahikrite

Even if they kill me, I can not kill them, O Madhusudana (Krishna) even for the kingdom of the three worlds; what to speak of the earth.

35. nihatya dhartarastran nah
    ka prithvih syaj janardana
    papam eva shreyad asman
    hatvai tan atatayinah

What satisfaction can we derive, O Krishna by slaying the sons of Dhritarastra? Only sin will be committed if we kill these evil doers.

36. tasmana na arha nayam hantumam
    dhristarastram svabandhavan
    svajanam hi katham hatva
    sukhina syam madhava
    
    

So, it shall not be right for us to kill our kinsmen, the sons of Dhritarashtra. O Madhava, we can never be happy by killing our own relatives.

37. yady api ete na pashyanti
    lobhopahatchetasah
    kulakshyayakritam dosham
    mitra dohe cha patakam.

Even if these, whose minds are corrupted by greed are not able to see the sin in the destruction of the family and find no wrong in betraying the trust of their friends.

38. katham no gyeyam asmabhih
    papad asman nivartitum
    kulashayakritam dosham
    prapashyadbhir janardana
    
     kulkshaye pranashyanti
    kuldharma sanatanah
    dharme nashte kulam Krishnam
    dharmo abhibhavati uta

If a family is destroyed its ancient laws are destroyed, and when the laws are absent, the whole family becomes lawless.

39. adharmabhibhavat krishna
    pradushyanti kulstriyah
    strishu dustashu varshneya
    jayate varnashankarah

And when lawlessness prevails, O Krishna, the women of the family become polluted and they give births of the mixed-castes.

40. Samkaro narkayaiva
    Kulghnanam kulashya cha
    Patanti pita ro hi esham
    lupta pindodak kriya

Such mixed-breeds cause the family as well as it destroyers to live in the hell. Their ancestors suffer (fall) as the offerings of rice and water is stopped.

41. doshaiv etaih kulghnanam
    varnashankar karkaih
    utsadyante jatirdharmah
    kuldharmascha shashvatah

By the misdeeds of these mixed-breeds and the destroyers of the family the ancient laws of the caste and the family are destroyed.

42. utasnnakuladharmanam manushyanam janardana
    narakeniyatam naso bhavati, ty anushushram

We have heard it, O Krishna, that the men of the families, whose laws are destroyed live in hell forever.

43. aho bat mahatpapam
    kartum vyavasita vayam
    yad rajya sukha lobhena
    hantum svajanam udhyatah

Alas, what a great sin we are ready to commit, we agree to kill our kinsmen for the greed of kingdom and for the lust of plearures.

44. yadi mam apratikaram
    ashastram shastrapanayah
    dhritarastra rane hanyus
    tanme kshemataram bhavet

If the sons of Dhritarashtra kill me in battle, while I am unarmed and not fighthing, it would be far better.

Sanjay Uvacha

45. evam uktva arjunah samkhye
    rathopastha upavishat
    vishrijya sashram chapam
    shokasamvigna manasah
    
     
    After speaking this, Arjuna put aside his bow and arrows and sat down in the back of the chariot with his mind full of sorrow.
46. iti shrimad bhagawadgitastu
    brahmvidyayam yogashastre shrikrishna-
    arjuna, samvade arjuna vishadyogo nama
    prathamo adhyayah.

 

In the Upanishad of the Bhagawadgita, the science of the ultimate, the scripture of yoga and the dialogue between ShriKrishna and Arjuna, this is the first chapter titled" The Despondency of Arjuna."