Chapter 1

Arjuna's Dilemma

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Gita 1.1
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच। धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः। मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय।।

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca dharma-kṣetre kuru-kṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva kim akurvata sañjaya

"Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, assembled on the sacred field of Kurukshetra, eager to fight, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do?"

All 47 verses of Chapter 1

  1. 1.1Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, assembled on the sacred field of Kurukshetra, eager to fight, what did my...
  2. 1.2Sanjaya said: Seeing the Pandava army arranged in military formation, King Duryodhana approached his...
  3. 1.3Behold, O teacher, this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arranged by your intelligent disciple, the son...
  4. 1.4Here are heroes, mighty archers equal to Bhima and Arjuna in battle, Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada, the...
  5. 1.5Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, the valiant king of Kashi, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Shaibya, all great warriors.
  6. 1.6The courageous Yudhamanyu, the valiant Uttamauja, the son of Subhadra, and the sons of Draupadi, all great...
  7. 1.7But know also, O best of Brahmins, the distinguished commanders of my army. I shall name them for your...
  8. 1.8Yourself, Bhishma, Karna, Kripa the victorious in battle, Ashvatthama, Vikarna, and Somadatta's son.
  9. 1.9And many other heroes, ready to give up their lives for my sake, armed with various weapons, all skilled...
  10. 1.10Our army, protected by Bhishma, is unlimited, while their army, protected by Bhima, is limited.
  11. 1.11Therefore, all of you, stationed in your respective positions, must protect Bhishma from all sides.
  12. 1.12Then Bhishma, the grand old man of the Kuru dynasty, the valiant grandsire, blew his conch very loudly...
  13. 1.13After that, conches, drums, tabors, trumpets, and horns suddenly sounded together, creating a tumultuous...
  14. 1.14Then, seated in their magnificent chariot yoked with white horses, Krishna and Arjuna blew their divine...
  15. 1.15Krishna blew his conch Panchajanya; Arjuna blew Devadatta; and Bhima of terrible deeds blew his great...
  16. 1.16King Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, blew Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva blew Sughosha and Manipushpaka.
  17. 1.17The king of Kashi, the great archer; Shikhandi, the mighty warrior; Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and the...
  18. 1.18Drupada, the sons of Draupadi, and the mighty-armed son of Subhadra, all blew their respective conches, O...
  19. 1.19That tumultuous sound pierced the hearts of Dhritarashtra's sons, resounding through earth and sky.
  20. 1.20Then, seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra arrayed for battle, as weapons were about to be discharged, Arjuna...
  21. 1.21Arjuna then spoke these words to Krishna: O Infallible One, please place my chariot between the two armies.
  22. 1.22So that I may observe those who stand here eager to fight, and know with whom I must contend in this great...
  23. 1.23Let me see those who have come here to fight, wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra.
  24. 1.24Sanjaya said: O Dhritarashtra, thus addressed by Arjuna, Krishna drove the magnificent chariot between the...
  25. 1.25In front of Bhishma, Drona, and all the rulers of the earth, Krishna said: Behold, O Arjuna, all the Kurus...
  26. 1.26There Arjuna saw standing: fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons...
  27. 1.27He also saw fathers-in-law and well-wishers in both armies. Seeing all these relatives present there, the...
  28. 1.28Overcome with deep compassion, despondent, Arjuna spoke: O Krishna, seeing my own people gathered here...
  29. 1.29My limbs are failing, my mouth is drying up, my body is trembling, and my hair is standing on end.
  30. 1.30My bow Gandiva is slipping from my hand, my skin is burning, I am unable to stand, and my mind is reeling.
  31. 1.31I see bad omens, O Krishna. I cannot see any good coming from killing my own relatives in battle.
  32. 1.32I do not desire victory, O Krishna, nor kingdom, nor pleasures. Of what use is kingdom to us, O Govinda...
  33. 1.33Those for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyments, and pleasures, they stand here in battle, ready to...
  34. 1.34Teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and...
  35. 1.35I do not wish to kill them, O Krishna, even if they kill me, not for the sovereignty of the three worlds...
  36. 1.36What pleasure could we have from killing the sons of Dhritarashtra, O Krishna? Sin alone would take hold...
  37. 1.37Therefore, we should not kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our own relatives. For how could we be happy...
  38. 1.38Even if they, with intelligence overcome by greed, see no wrong in destroying family or betraying friends...
  39. 1.39...why should we, who can see the evil in destroying family, not know enough to turn away from this sin, O...
  40. 1.40With the destruction of a family, its eternal traditions perish. When dharma is lost, the whole family...
  41. 1.41When adharma prevails, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupted. When women are corrupted, O...
  42. 1.42Such disorder brings the family and its destroyers to hell, for their ancestors fall, deprived of...
  43. 1.43By these sins of the destroyers of family, causing mixing of social orders, community traditions and...
  44. 1.44O Krishna, we have heard that those whose family traditions are destroyed must dwell indefinitely in hell.
  45. 1.45Alas! We are resolved to commit a great sin, for we are prepared to kill our own relatives out of greed...
  46. 1.46It would be better for me if the sons of Dhritarashtra, weapons in hand, were to kill me unarmed and...
  47. 1.47Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus on the battlefield, Arjuna cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down on...