Dhritarashtra said:
Dhritarashtra said:
Assembled there on dharma’s field–Kurukshetra–desiring war, what did my sons and the Pandavas, O Sanjaya? (1:1)
Sanjaya said:
King Duryodhana, seeing the Pandava forces ranged ready for battle, approaching his teacher, Drona, spoke these words: (1:2)
Behold, O Teacher, this great army of Pandu’s sons, assembled by Arjuna your brilliant pupil. (1:3)
Here are heroes, mighty archers, Bhima and Arjuna’s equals, Yuyudhana and Virata, and Drupada the great car warrior, (1:4)
Drishtaketu, Chekitana, and the valiant King of Kashi, Purujit and Kuntibhoja, and Shaibya: the mightiest among men, (1:5)
And courageous Yudhamanyu, and valorous Uttamaujas; the son of Shubhadra and the sons of Draupadi: all great car warriors. (1:6)
Those of ours who are indeed distinguished now know. O highest of the twice-born, the leaders of my army I now I recount unto you by name. (1:7)
Your Lordship and Bhishma and Karna and Kripa, victorious in war, Ashwattama and Vikarna, and the son of Somadatta also. (1:8)
And many other heroes, whose lives are risked for my sake, ready to discharge various weapons, all very skilled in battle. (1:9)
Sufficient is that force of ours guarded by Bhishma; insufficient, though, is that force guarded by Bhima. (1:10)
Stationed in your proper places, whatever be your positions, certainly all of you: protect Bhishma. (1:11)
To make Duryodhana happy, the aged Kuru grandsire, Bhishma, bellowing with a tremendous sound of a lion’s roar, then blew his conch with great power, making a tremendous sound. (1:12)
Thereupon the Kurus’ conches and kettledrums and cymbals and trumpets were sounded all at once, producing a tumultuous uproar. (1:13)
Then Krishna and Arjuna, standing in the great chariot that was yoked with the white horses, sounded forth their divine conches. (1:14)
Krishna blew Panchajanya, Arjuna blew Devadatta, and Bhima of ferocious deeds blew the great conch, Paundra. (1:15)
King Yudhishthira, Kunti’s son, blew on Anantavijaya, Nakula and Sahadeva blew on Sughosha and Manipushpaka. (1:16)
And Kashi’s king, the supreme bowman, and the great warrior Shikhandi, and Dhristadyumna and Virata, and the invincible Satyaki, (1:17)
And Drupada and the sons of Draupadi, O Lord of the Earth, and Shubhadra’s son, the mighty-armed, each blew upon his conch. (1:18)
Throughout the sky and the earth resounded the terrific noise which rent asunder the hearts of those in Dhritarashtra’s ranks. (1:19)
Then seeing Dhritarashtra’s ranks drawn up in battle array for the forthcoming clash of weapons, Arjuna took up his bow, (1:20)
And said unto Krishna: O Lord of the earth, drive my chariot to stand in the midst between the two armies, (1:21)
Until I can behold these battle-hungry men arrayed here with whom I must fight in this conflict. (1:22)
I would behold those who are about to give battle, having assembled here wishing to do service in warfare for the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra. (1:23)
Thus addressed by Arjuna, Krishna brought the chief chariot to stand in the midst of the two armies. (1:24)
Thus facing Bhishma, Drona, and all the rulers of the earth, Krishna said: Behold, Arjuna, these Kurus assembled here. (1:25)
Arjuna saw standing there fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons as well as friends, (1:26)
Fathers-in-law and companions in the two armies. In both of them he saw all who were relatives arrayed. (1:27)
Then filled with profound pity, desponding, he said: O Krishna, seeing my own people standing near, desiring to fight, (1:28)
My limbs sink down, my mouth dries up, my body trembles, and my hair stands on end. (1:29)
My bow drops from my hand, my skin is burning, I am unable to stand; my mind is reeling. (1:30)
Inauspicious omens I mark, and not good fortune do I foresee, if I should kill my own kinsmen in war. (1:31)
I do not desire victory, nor kingship and pleasures. What is kingship to us? What are enjoyments or even life? (1:32)
Those for whose sake we should desire kingship, enjoyments and pleasures, are arrayed in battle, abandoning their lives and riches: (1:33)
Teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other kinsmen, too. (1:34)
I do not desire to kill them who are about to kill–not even for the sovereignty of the three worlds; how then for the earth? (1:35)
What pleasure could the striking down of Dhritarashtra’s sons be to us? Having killed these aggressors, evil would thus cling to us. (1:36)
Therefore we are not justified to kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our own kinsmen. Indeed, having killed our own people, how could we be happy? (1:37)
Even if those whose thoughts are overpowered by greed do not see the wrong caused by the destruction of the family, and the crime of treachery to friends, (1:38)
Why should we not know to turn back from this evil through discernment of the evil caused by the destruction of the family? (1:39)
In the destruction of the family, the long-established family dharmas perish. When dharma perishes, adharma predominates in the entire family. (1:40)
From overpowering by adharma the women of the family are corrupted. When the women are corrupted, the intermixture of caste is born. (1:41)
Intermixture brings to hell the family destroyers and the family, too. Indeed their ancestors fall from heaven back to earthly rebirth, deprived of offerings of rice and water. (1:42)
By these wrongs of the family’s destroyers, producing intermixture of caste, caste dharmas and long-established family dharmas are obliterated. (1:43)
Those whose family dharmas have been obliterated dwell indefinitely in hell–thus have we heard repeatedly. (1:44)
Ah! Alas! we are resolved to do great evil with our greed for royal pleasures, intent on killing our own people. (1:45)
If the armed sons of Dhritarashtra should kill me in battle, unresisting and unarmed, this would be a greater happiness for me. (1:46)
Thus having spoken, Arjuna, in the battle which had already begun, sat down upon the chariot seat, throwing down both arrow and bow, with a heart overcome by sorrow. (1:47)
Om Tat Sat
Thus in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita, the science of the Eternal, the scripture of Yoga, the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, ends the first discourse entitled: The Yoga of the Despondency of Arjuna.
Read Chapter Two: Sankhya Yoga