Bhagwad Gita (English) | Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra

Arjuna stands on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, ready to fight. However, as he sees his family, teachers, and friends among both the opposing Kaurava and his own Pandava armies, he is overcome with sorrow, compassion, and doubt. Questioning the righteousness of killing his kin for the sake of victory, Arjuna expresses his anguish to Lord Krishna, laying down his weapons and declaring that he cannot proceed with the battle. This chapter sets the scene for the spiritual teachings that Krishna will impart in response to Arjuna's inner conflict.

Verse 1

Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, after assembling in the place of pilgrimage at Kuruksetra, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do, being desirous to fight?

Verse 2

Sanjaya said: O King, after looking over the army gathered by the sons of Pandu, King Duryodhana went to his teacher and began to speak the following words:

Verse 3

O my teacher, behold the great army of the sons of Pandu, so expertly arranged by your intelligent disciple, the son of Drupada.

Verse 4

Here in this army there are many heroic bowmen equal in fighting to Bhima and Arjuna; there are also great fighters like Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada.

Verse 5

There are also great, heroic, powerful fighters like Dhrstaketu, Cekitana, Kasiraja, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Saibya.

Verse 6

There are the mighty Yudhamanyu, the very powerful Uttamauja, the son of Subhadra and the sons of Draupadi. All these warriors are great chariot fighters.

Verse 7

O best of the brahmanas, for your information, let me tell you about the captains who are especially qualified to lead my military force.

Verse 8

There are personalities like yourself, Bhisma, Karna, Krpa, Asvatthama, Vikarna and the son of Somadatta called Bhurisrava, who are always victorious in battle.

Verse 9

There are many other heroes who are prepared to lay down their lives for my sake. All of them are well equipped with different kinds of weapons, and all are experienced in military science.

Verse 10

Our strength is immeasurable, and we are perfectly protected by Grandfather Bhisma, whereas the strength of the Pandavas, carefully protected by Bhima, is limited.

Verse 11

Now all of you must give full support to Grandfather Bhisma, standing at your respective strategic points in the phalanx of the army.

Verse 12

Then Bhisma, the great valiant grandsire of the Kuru dynasty, the grandfather of the fighters, blew his conchshell very loudly like the sound of a lion, giving Duryodhana joy.

Verse 13

After that, the conchshells, bugles, trumpets, drums, and horns were all suddenly sounded, and the combined sound was tumultuous.

Verse 14

On the other side, both Lord Krishna and Arjuna, stationed on a great chariot drawn by white horses, sounded their transcendental conchshells.

Verse 15

Then, Lord Krsna blew His conchshell, called Pancajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhima, the voracious eater and performer of Herculean tasks, blew his terrific conchshell called Paundram.

Verse 16

King Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, blew the conch called Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughosha and Manipushpaka conch shells.

Verse 17

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

Verse 18

Drupada and the sons of Draupadi, O Lord of the Earth, and the son of Subhadra, the mighty-armed, blew their conches each separately.

Verse 19

The blowing of these different conchshells became uproarious, and thus, vibrating both in the sky and on the earth, it shattered the hearts of the sons of Dhrtarastra.

Verse 20

O King, at that time Arjuna, the son of Pandu, who was seated in his chariot, his flag marked with Hanuman, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows, looking at the sons of Dhrtarastra. O King, Arjuna then spoke to Hrsikesa [Krsna] these words:

Verse 21

Arjuna said, "O Krishna, place my chariot in the middle between the two armies,"

Verse 22

So that I may behold those who stand here, desirous to fight, and know with whom I must fight when the battle is about to commence.

Verse 23

Let me see those who have come here to fight, wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhrtarastra.

Verse 24

Sanjaya said: O descendant of Bharata, being thus addressed by Arjuna, Lord Krsna drew up the fine chariot in the midst of the armies of both parties.

Verse 25

In the presence of Bheeshma, Dronacharya, and all other great leaders, Krishna said to Arjuna, 'Look at all the Kurus who are gathered here.'

Verse 26

There Arjuna could see, within the midst of the armies of both parties, his fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, friends, and also his father-in-law and well-wishers—all present there.

Verse 27

When the son of Kunti, Arjuna, saw all these different grades of friends and relatives, he became overwhelmed with compassion and spoke thus:

Verse 28

Arjuna said: My dear Krishna, seeing my friends and relatives present before me in such a fighting spirit, I feel the limbs of my body quivering and my mouth drying up.

Verse 29

My whole body is trembling, and my hair is standing on end. My bow Gandiva is slipping from my hand, and my skin is burning.

Verse 30

I am now unable to stand here any longer. I am forgetting myself, and my mind is reeling. I foresee only evil, O killer of the Kesi demon.

Verse 31

I do not see how any good can come from killing my own kinsmen in this battle, nor can I, my dear Krsna, desire any subsequent victory, kingdom, or happiness.

Verse 32

I desire not victory, O Krishna, nor kingdom, nor pleasures. What use is dominion to us, O Krishna, or pleasures or even life?

Verse 33

Those for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyments, and pleasures stand here in battle, having renounced life and wealth.

Verse 34

Teachers, fathers, sons, and grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other relatives.

Verse 35

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

Verse 36

Sin will overcome us if we slay such aggressors. Therefore it is not proper for us to kill the sons of Dhrtarastra and our friends. What should we gain, O Krsna, husband of the goddess of fortune, and how could we be happy by killing our own kinsmen?

Verse 37

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

Verse 38

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

Verse 39

With the destruction of dynasty, the eternal family tradition is vanquished, and thus the rest of the family becomes involved in irreligious practice.

Verse 40

When there is a breakdown of family values, O Krishna, the women in the family become immoral, leading to the birth of unwanted children.

Verse 41

When there is an increase of unwanted population, a bad situation arises for both the family and those who disrupt family traditions. In such fallen families, people stop honoring their ancestors through rituals like offering food and water.

Verse 42

Due to the evil deeds of the destroyers of family tradition, all kinds of community projects and family welfare activities are devastated.

Verse 43

O Krishna, maintainer of the people, I have heard by disciplic succession that those who destroy family traditions dwell always in hell.

Verse 44

Alas, how strange it is that we are preparing to commit greatly sinful acts, driven by the desire to enjoy royal happiness.

Verse 45

I would consider it better for the sons of Dhrtarastra to kill me unarmed and unresisting, rather than fight with them.

Verse 46

Sanjaya said: Arjuna, having thus spoken on the battlefield, cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the chariot, his mind overwhelmed with grief.

Verse 47

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

Chapter 1 Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra