अर्जुनविषादयोग

धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः |

Dhrtarastra said O Sanjaya, what did my sons (and others) and Pandu's sons (and others) actually do when, eager for battle, they assembled on the sacred field, the Kuruksetra (Field of the Kurus)?

दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा |

Sanjaya said But then, seeing the army of the Pandavas in battle array, King Duryodhana approached the teacher (Drona) and uttered a speech:

व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ||१-३||

O teacher, (please) see this vast army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed for battle by the son of Drupada, your intelligent disciple.

युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ||१-४||

Here are the heroes wielding great bows, who in battle are compeers of Bhima and Arjuna: Yuyudhana (Satyaki) and Virata, and the maharatha (great chariot-rider) Drupada;

पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुंगवः ||१-५||

Dhrstaketu, Cekitana, and the valiant king of Kasi (Varanasi); Purujit and Kuntibhoja, and Saibya, the choicest among men;

सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ||१-६||

And the chivalrous Yudhamanyu, and the valiant Uttamaujas; son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu) and the sons of Draupadi all (of whom) are, verily, maharathas.

नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते ||१-७||

But, O best among the Brahmanas, please be appraised of those who are foremost among us, the ?nders of my army. I speak of them to you by way of example.

अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ||१-८||

(They are:) Your venerable self, Bhisma and Karna, and Krpa who is ever victorious in battle; Asvatthama, Vikarna, Saumadatti and Jayadratha.

नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ||१-९||

There are many heroes who have dedicated their lives for my sake, who possess various kinds of weapons and missiles, (and) all of whom are skilled in battle.

पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ||१-१०||

Therefore, our army under the complete protection of Bhisma and others is unlimited. But this army of these (enemies), under the protection of Bhima and others is limited.

भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ||१-११||

However, venerable sirs, all of you without exception, while occupying all the positions in the different directions as alloted (to you respectively), please fully protect Bhisma in particular.

सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ||१-१२||

The valiant grandfather, the eldest of the Kurus, loudly sounding a lion-roar, blew the conch to raise his (Duryodhana's) spirits.

सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ||१-१३||

Just immediately after that conchs and kettledrums, and tabors, trumpets and cow-horns blared forth. That sound became tumultuous.

माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः ||१-१४||

Then, Madhava (Krsna) and the son of Pandu (Arjuna), stationed in their magnificent chariot with white horses yoked to it, loudly blew their divine conchs.

पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः ||१-१५||

Hrsikesa (Krsna) (blew the conch) Pancajanya; Dhananjaya (Arjuna) (the conch) Devadatta; and Vrkodara (Bhima) of terrible deeds blew the great conch Paundra;

नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ ||१-१६||

King Yudhisthira, son of Kunti, (blew) the Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva, the Sughosa and the Manipuspaka (respectively).

धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ||१-१७||

And the King of Kasi, wielding a great bow, and the great chariot-rider Sikhandi, Dhrstadyumna and Virata, and Satyaki the unconered;

सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक् ||१-१८||

Drupada and the sons of Draupadi, and the son of Subhadra, (Abhimanyu) the mighty-armed all (of them) together, O king, blew their respective conchs.

नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलोऽभ्यनुनादयन् (or लोव्यनु) ||१-१९||

That tremendous sound pierced the hearts of the sons of Dhrtarastra as it reverberated through the sky and the earth.

प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः |

O king, thereafter, seeing Dhrtarastra's men standing in their positions, when all the weapons were ready for action, the son of Pandu (Arjuna) who had the insignia of Hanuman of his chariot-flag, raising up his bow, said the following to Hrsikesa.

सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ||१-२१||

Arjuna said O Acyuta, please place my chariot between both the armies .

कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन् रणसमुद्यमे ||१-२२||

until I survey these who stand intent on fighting, and those who are going to engage in battle with me in this impending war.

धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः ||१-२३||

These who have assembled here and want to accomplish in the war what is dear to the perverted son of Dhrtarastra, I find them to be intent on fighting.

एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत |

1.25 Sanjay said O scion of the line of Bharata (Dhrtararastra), Hrsikesa, being told so by Gudakesa (Arjuna), placed the excellent chariot between the two armies, in front of Bhisma and Drona as also all the rulers of the earth, and said, 'O Partha (Arjuna), see these assempled people of the Kuru dynasty.'

उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति ||१-२५||

1.25 Sanjay said O scion of the line of Bharata (Dhrtararastra), Hrsikesa, being told so by Gudakesa (Arjuna), placed the excellent chariot between the two armies, in front of Bhisma and Drona as also all the rulers of the earth, and said, 'O Partha (Arjuna), see these assempled people of the Kuru dynasty.'

आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा ||१-२६||

Then Partha (Arjuna) saw, marshalled among both the armies, (his) uncles as also grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers (and (cousins), sons, grandsons, as well as comrades and fathers-in-law and friends.

तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान् ||१-२७||

The son of Kunti (Ajuna), seeing all those rlatives arrayed (there), became overwhelmed by supreme compassion and said this sorrowfully:

अर्जुन उवाच |

Arjuna said O Krsna, seeing these relatives and friends who have assembled here with the intention of fighting, my limbs become languid and my mouth becomes completely dry.

वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते ||१-२९||

And there is trembling in my body, and there is horripillation; the Gandiva (bow) slips from the hand and even the skin burns intensely.

न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ||१-३०||

Moreover, O Kesava (Krsna), I am not able to stand firmly, and my mind seems to be whirling. And I notice the omens to be adverse.

न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे ||१-३१||

Besides, I do not see any good (to be derived) from killing my own people in battle. O Krsna, I do not hanker after victory, nor even a kingdom nor pleasures.

किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा ||१-३२||

1.34 O Govinda! What need do we have of a kingdom, or what (need) of enjoyments and livelihood? Those for whom kingdom, enjoyments and pleasures ae desired by us, viz teachers, uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law as also relatives-those very ones stand arrayed for battle risking their lives and wealth.

त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ||१-३३||

1.34 O Govinda! What need do we have of a kingdom, or what (need) of enjoyments and livelihood? Those for whom kingdom, enjoyments and pleasures ae desired by us, viz teachers, uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law as also relatives-those very ones stand arrayed for battle risking their lives and wealth.

मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा ||१-३४||

1.34 O Govinda! What need do we have of a kingdom, or what (need) of enjoyments and livelihood? Those for whom kingdom, enjoyments and pleasures ae desired by us, viz teachers, uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law as also relatives-those very ones stand arrayed for battle risking their lives and wealth.

अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते ||१-३५||

O Madhusudana, even if I am killed, I do not want to kill these even for the sake of a kingdom extending over the three worlds; what to speak of doing so for the earth!

पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ||१-३६||

O Janardana, what happiness shall we derive by killing the sons of Dhrtarastra? Sin alone will accrue to us by killing these felons.

स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ||१-३७||

Therefore, it is not proper for us to kill the sons of Dhrtarastra who are our own relatives. For, O Madhava, how can we be happy by killing our kinsmen?

कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ||१-३८||

1.39 O Janardana, although these people, whose hearts have become perverted by greed, do not see the evil arising from destroying the family and sin in hostility towards, friends, yet how can we who clearly see the evil arising from destroying the family remain unaware of (the need of) abstaining from this sin?

कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ||१-३९||

1.39 O Janardana, although these people, whose hearts have become perverted by greed, do not see the evil arising from destroying the family and sin in hostility towards, friends, yet how can we who clearly see the evil arising from destroying the family remain unaware of (the need of) abstaining from this sin?

धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ||१-४०||

From the ruin of the family are totally destroyed the traditional rites and duties of the family. When rites and duties are destroyed, vice overpowers the entire family also.

स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः ||१-४१||

O Krsna, when vice predominates, the women of the family become corrupt. O descendent of the Vrsnis, when women become corrupted, it results in the intermingling of castes.

पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः ||१-४२||

And the intermingling in the family leads the ruiners of the family verily into hell. The forefathers of these fall down (into hell) because of being deprived of the offerings of rice-balls and water.

उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ||१-४३||

Due to these misdeeds of the ruiners of the family, which cause intermingling of castes, the traditional rites and duties of the castes and families become destroyed.

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

O Janardana, we have heard that living in hell becomes inevitable for those persons whose family duties get destroyed.

यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ||१-४५||

What a pity that we have resolved to commit a great sin by being eager to kill our own kith and kin, out of greed for the pleasures of a kingdom!

धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ||१-४६||

If, in this battle, the sons of Dhrtarastra armed with weapons kill me who am non-resistant and unarmed, that will be more beneficial to me.

एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः सङ्ख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् |

Sanjaya narrated: Having said so, Arjuna, with a mind afflicted with sorrow, sat down on the chariot in the midst of the battle, casting aside the bow along with the arrows.