Arjuna Visada Yoga
47 Verses
Arjuna Visada Yoga
अर्जुनविषादयोग
The first chapter of the Bhagavad Gita - Arjuna Vishada Yoga introduces the setup, the setting, the characters and the circumstances that led to the epic battle of Mahabharata, fought between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. It outlines the reasons that led to the revelation of the of Bhagavad Gita.
As both armies stand ready for the battle, the mighty warrior Arjuna, on observing the warriors on both sides becomes increasingly sad and depressed due to the fear of losing his relatives and friends and the consequent sins attributed to killing his own relatives. So, he surrenders to Lord Krishna, seeking a solution. Thus, follows the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita.
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धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः |
मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ||१-१||
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca .
dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ .
māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāścaiva kimakurvata sañjaya ||1-1||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Dhritarashtra asks his advisor Sanjaya: on the sacred field of Kurukshetra, where my sons and the sons of Pandu have gathered eager to fight, what are they doing?
दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा |
आचार्यमुपसंगम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ||१-२||
sañjaya uvāca .
dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṃ vyūḍhaṃ duryodhanastadā .
ācāryamupasaṃgamya rājā vacanamabravīt ||1-2||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Sanjaya reports back. King Duryodhana saw the Pandava army lined up in battle formation and walked over to his teacher Drona to speak to him.
पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् |
व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ||१-३||
paśyaitāṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāmācārya mahatīṃ camūm .
vyūḍhāṃ drupadaputreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā ||1-3||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Duryodhana says to Drona: Look at this great army of the Pandavas, arranged so well by Dhrishtadyumna, your own intelligent disciple.
अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि |
युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ||१-४||
atra śūrā maheṣvāsā bhīmārjunasamā yudhi .
yuyudhāno virāṭaśca drupadaśca mahārathaḥ ||1-4||
Simple English
Primary Translation
He continues: In that army are great archers, heroes equal to Bhima and Arjuna in battle. Yuyudhana, Virata, and the mighty Drupada are among them.
धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान् |
पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुंगवः ||१-५||
dhṛṣṭaketuścekitānaḥ kāśirājaśca vīryavān .
purujitkuntibhojaśca śaibyaśca narapuṃgavaḥ ||1-5||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Also Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, the brave king of Kashi, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Shaibya, the best among men.
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् |
सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ||१-६||
yudhāmanyuśca vikrānta uttamaujāśca vīryavān .
saubhadro draupadeyāśca sarva eva mahārathāḥ ||1-6||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Yudhamanyu the valiant, Uttamauja the strong, the son of Subhadra, and the sons of Draupadi. Every one of them a great chariot warrior.
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||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Now, O best among Brahmins, let me also tell you about the commanders on our side, so you know them well.
भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः |
अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ||१-८||
bhavānbhīṣmaśca karṇaśca kṛpaśca samitiñjayaḥ .
aśvatthāmā vikarṇaśca saumadattistathaiva ca ||1-8||
Simple English
Primary Translation
There is yourself, Bhishma, Karna, the ever-victorious Kripa, Ashwatthama, Vikarna, and the son of Somadatta.
अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः |
नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ||१-९||
anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā madarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ .
nānāśastrapraharaṇāḥ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ ||1-9||
Simple English
Primary Translation
And many other heroes who are ready to lay down their lives for my sake, all armed with different weapons and skilled in battle.
अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् |
पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ||१-१०||
aparyāptaṃ tadasmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam .
paryāptaṃ tvidameteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhirakṣitam ||1-10||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Our army, protected by Bhishma, is unlimited. Their army, protected by Bhima, is limited.
अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः |
भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ||१-११||
ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu yathābhāgamavasthitāḥ .
bhīṣmamevābhirakṣantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi ||1-11||
Simple English
Primary Translation
All of you, from your assigned positions in every direction, must protect Bhishma above all.
तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः |
सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ||१-१२||
tasya sañjanayanharṣaṃ kuruvṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ .
siṃhanādaṃ vinadyoccaiḥ śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau pratāpavān ||1-12||
Simple English
Primary Translation
To lift Duryodhana's spirits, the great elder Bhishma, the eldest of the Kurus, gave a roar like a lion and blew his conch loudly.
ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः |
सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ||१-१३||
tataḥ śaṅkhāśca bheryaśca paṇavānakagomukhāḥ .
sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śabdastumulo.abhavat ||1-13||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Right after that, conches, war drums, tabors, trumpets, and horns all blared at once. The noise was tremendous.
ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ |
माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः ||१-१४||
tataḥ śvetairhayairyukte mahati syandane sthitau .
mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaścaiva divyau śaṅkhau pradadhmatuḥ ||1-14||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Then Krishna and Arjuna, seated in their great chariot drawn by white horses, blew their divine conches in reply.
पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः |
पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः ||१-१५||
pāñcajanyaṃ hṛṣīkeśo devadattaṃ dhanañjayaḥ .
pauṇḍraṃ dadhmau mahāśaṅkhaṃ bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ ||1-15||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Krishna blew his conch called Panchajanya. Arjuna blew his, called Devadatta. And Bhima, who performs great feats, blew his large conch called Paundra.
अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः |
नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ ||१-१६||
anantavijayaṃ rājā kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ .
nakulaḥ sahadevaśca sughoṣamaṇipuṣpakau ||1-16||
Simple English
Primary Translation
King Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, blew the Anantavijaya. Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughosa and Manipushpaka.
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः |
धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ||१-१७||
kāśyaśca parameṣvāsaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ .
dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaśca sātyakiścāparājitaḥ ||1-17||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The great archer, the king of Kashi, the mighty chariot warrior Shikhandi, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and the undefeated Satyaki...
द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते |
सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक् ||१-१८||
drupado draupadeyāśca sarvaśaḥ pṛthivīpate .
saubhadraśca mahābāhuḥ śaṅkhāndadhmuḥ pṛthakpṛthak ||1-18||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Drupada, the sons of Draupadi, and the mighty-armed son of Subhadra all blew their own conches, O King, each one separately.
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||
Simple English
Primary Translation
That roar, resounding through the sky and the earth, split the hearts of Dhritarashtra's sons.
अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान् कपिध्वजः |
प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः |
हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते ||१-२०||
atha vyavasthitāndṛṣṭvā dhārtarāṣṭrān kapidhvajaḥ .
pravṛtte śastrasampāte dhanurudyamya pāṇḍavaḥ ||1-20||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Then Arjuna, whose chariot flag bore the image of Hanuman, saw Dhritarashtra's sons standing ready. As weapons were about to fly, he raised his bow and spoke to Krishna.
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ||१-२१||
hṛṣīkeśaṃ tadā vākyamidamāha mahīpate .
arjuna uvāca .
senayorubhayormadhye rathaṃ sthāpaya me.acyuta ||1-21||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Arjuna said: O Krishna, please place my chariot between the two armies.
यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् |
कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन् रणसमुद्यमे ||१-२२||
yāvadetānnirikṣe.ahaṃ yoddhukāmānavasthitān .
kairmayā saha yoddhavyamasmin raṇasamudyame ||1-22||
Simple English
Primary Translation
So I can see who is standing here eager to fight, and understand who I must face in this battle.
योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः |
धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः ||१-२३||
yotsyamānānavekṣe.ahaṃ ya ete.atra samāgatāḥ .
dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddheryuddhe priyacikīrṣavaḥ ||1-23||
Simple English
Primary Translation
I want to see these men who have come here ready to fight, wishing to please the wicked son of Dhritarashtra.
एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत |
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ||१-२४||
sañjaya uvāca .
evamukto hṛṣīkeśo guḍākeśena bhārata .
senayorubhayormadhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam ||1-24||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Sanjaya said: O Dhritarashtra, Krishna, as asked by Arjuna, drove that magnificent chariot right into the middle ground between the two armies,
भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् |
उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति ||१-२५||
bhīṣmadroṇapramukhataḥ sarveṣāṃ ca mahīkṣitām .
uvāca pārtha paśyaitānsamavetānkurūniti ||1-25||
Simple English
Primary Translation
in front of Bhishma, Drona, and all the kings assembled there, and said: Arjuna, look at all these Kurus gathered here.
तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान् |
आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा ||१-२६||
tatrāpaśyatsthitānpārthaḥ pitṝnatha pitāmahān .
ācāryānmātulānbhrātṛnputrānpautrānsakhīṃstathā ||1-26||
Simple English
Primary Translation
There Arjuna saw, standing in both armies, his fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and friends.
श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि |
तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान् ||१-२७||
śvaśurānsuhṛdaścaiva senayorubhayorapi .
tānsamīkṣya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvānbandhūnavasthitān ||1-27||
Simple English
Primary Translation
And fathers-in-law and dear companions, spread across both sides. Seeing all his relatives arrayed there, Arjuna was filled with deep compassion and spoke sorrowfully.
कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् |
अर्जुन उवाच |
दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् ||१-२८||
kṛpayā parayāviṣṭo viṣīdannidamabravīt .
arjuna uvāca .
dṛṣṭvemaṃ svajanaṃ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṃ samupasthitam ||1-28||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Arjuna said: O Krishna, seeing my own people gathered here ready to fight, my limbs are giving out and my mouth is going dry.
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||
Simple English
Primary Translation
My body is trembling, my hair is standing on end, my bow Gandiva is slipping from my hand, and my skin is burning.
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||
Simple English
Primary Translation
I cannot stand steady. My mind seems to be spinning. I see only bad omens, O Krishna.
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||
Simple English
Primary Translation
I see no good coming from killing my own people in this battle. I have no desire for victory, or a kingdom, or pleasures.
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||
Simple English
Primary Translation
What use is a kingdom to us, O Krishna? What use are enjoyments, or even life itself?
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||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The very people for whose sake we would want a kingdom or pleasures are standing here on this battlefield, having given up their lives and wealth.
आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः |
मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा ||१-३४||
ācāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrāstathaiva ca pitāmahāḥ .
mātulāḥ śvaśurāḥ pautrāḥ śyālāḥ sambandhinastathā ||1-34||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other relations.
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||
Simple English
Primary Translation
I do not wish to kill them, even if they were to kill me. Not for rulership over the three worlds, let alone this earth.
निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन |
पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ||१-३६||
nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrānnaḥ kā prītiḥ syājjanārdana .
pāpamevāśrayedasmānhatvaitānātatāyinaḥ ||1-36||
Simple English
Primary Translation
What joy would come from killing the sons of Dhritarashtra? Only sin would come to us from killing these men.
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||
Simple English
Primary Translation
So it is not right for us to kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our own relatives. How could we be happy after killing our own kin?
यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः |
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ||१-३८||
yadyapyete na paśyanti lobhopahatacetasaḥ .
kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ mitradrohe ca pātakam ||1-38||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Even though their minds are clouded by greed and they cannot see the wrong in destroying their own family,
कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम् |
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ||१-३९||
kathaṃ na jñeyamasmābhiḥ pāpādasmānnivartitum .
kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ prapaśyadbhirjanārdana ||1-39||
Simple English
Primary Translation
why should we, who can clearly see this wrong, not step back from it?
कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः |
धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ||१-४०||
kulakṣaye praṇaśyanti kuladharmāḥ sanātanāḥ .
dharme naṣṭe kulaṃ kṛtsnamadharmo.abhibhavatyuta ||1-40||
Simple English
Primary Translation
When a family is destroyed, the ancient traditions of that family are lost. And when those traditions are gone, lawlessness overtakes the whole family.
अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः |
स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः ||१-४१||
adharmābhibhavātkṛṣṇa praduṣyanti kulastriyaḥ .
strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇasaṅkaraḥ ||1-41||
Simple English
Primary Translation
When lawlessness prevails, the women of the family become corrupted. And from that corruption comes the mixing of classes.
सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च |
पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः ||१-४२||
saṅkaro narakāyaiva kulaghnānāṃ kulasya ca .
patanti pitaro hyeṣāṃ luptapiṇḍodakakriyāḥ ||1-42||
Simple English
Primary Translation
This mixing leads the destroyers of the family to hell. The ancestors of these families fall too, since no one is left to perform the ritual offerings for them.
दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः |
उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ||१-४३||
doṣairetaiḥ kulaghnānāṃ varṇasaṅkarakārakaiḥ .
utsādyante jātidharmāḥ kuladharmāśca śāśvatāḥ ||1-43||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Through the misdeeds of those who destroy families and cause this mixing, the ancient traditions of class and family are wiped out.
उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन |
नरके नियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम (or नरकेऽनियतं) ||१-४४||
utsannakuladharmāṇāṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ janārdana .
narake niyataṃ vāso bhavatītyanuśuśruma ||1-44||
Simple English
Primary Translation
We have heard that those whose family traditions are destroyed are destined to dwell in hell.
अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् |
यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ||१-४५||
aho bata mahatpāpaṃ kartuṃ vyavasitā vayam .
yadrājyasukhalobhena hantuṃ svajanamudyatāḥ ||1-45||
Simple English
Primary Translation
What a great sin we have resolved to commit. Driven by greed for the pleasures of a kingdom, we are ready to kill our own people.
यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः |
धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ||१-४६||
yadi māmapratīkāramaśastraṃ śastrapāṇayaḥ .
dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyustanme kṣemataraṃ bhavet ||1-46||
Simple English
Primary Translation
It would be better for me if Dhritarashtra's sons, weapons in hand, were to kill me here in battle, unarmed and unresisting.
एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः सङ्ख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् |
विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः ||१-४७||
sañjaya uvāca .
evamuktvārjunaḥ saṅkhye rathopastha upāviśat .
visṛjya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ śokasaṃvignamānasaḥ ||1-47||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Sanjaya said: Having spoken these words on the battlefield, Arjuna put down his bow and arrows and sat down in his chariot, his heart overcome with grief.