Chapter 1 : Arjuna's deilemma
This chapter starts with Sanjaya giving the details of two Armies, The Pandavas' and Kauravas' assembled in the fields of Kurukshetra(present Haryana, India) to decide upon the dispute over the throne of Hastinapur (Present delhi, India).Shlokas 1-19 gives the details of two Armies and their generals.
Just before war was about to start, Arjuna wanted to have a final observation of two armies and so he requested Bhagvan Shri Krishna who agreed to be Arjuna's Chariot driver being happy with the devotion of Arjuna and his adherence to the Dharma.(Sh 20-23) Bhagvan Shri Krishna, placed the chariot in between the two armies (Sh25). Arjuna when he looked at the opposition army, finds his own grandfather, teachers, relatives, cousins filled with the great grief. His senses and intelligence got bewildered and he could not able to decide what is good and what is bad. Down with the grief and confusion he refused to fight(Sh 26-46). Ch 01 : Sh 01
dhrtarastra uvaca dharma-ksetre kuru-ksetre samaveta yuyutsavah mamakah pandavas caiva kim akurvata sanjaya Translation Dhristarashtra said: O Sanjaya, gathered together on the holy field of Kurukshetra, raring to fight, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do? Ch 01 : Sh 02 sanjaya uvaca drstva tu pandavanikam vyudham duryodhanas tada acaryam upasangamya raja vacanam abravit Sanjaya said: O King! Duryodhana, having a look over the army gathered by Pandavas(sons of pandu) in battle array, approached his teacher (Dronacharya) and said these words: Ch 01 : Sh 03 pasyaitam pandu-putranam acarya mahatim camum vyudham drupada-putrena tava sisyena dhimata Behold, O Master, this great army of the sons of Pāndu, arrayed for battle by your gifted disciple, the son of Drupada.(Dhrishtdumna) Ch 01 : Sh 04-06 atra sura mahesvasa bhimarjuna-sama yudhi yuyudhano viratas ca drupadas ca maha-rathah dhrstaketus cekitanah kasirajas ca viryavan purujit kuntibhojas ca saibyas ca nara-pungavah yudhamanyus ca vikranta uttamaujas ca viryavan saubhadro draupadeyas ca sarva eva maha-rathah In the army of Pandavas are many mighty bowmen skilled in warfare alike Bhima and Arjuna such as great chariot warrior Satyaki, Virata and Drupada.Dhrstketu, Cekitana, the powerful king of Kasi, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Saiba, the Best of men, are there.There are extremely powerful Yudhamanyu, vigorous Uttamauja, Abhimanyu, the Son of Subhadra and the sons of Draupadi. All these are great chariot warriors and commanders of large armies. Ch 01 : Sh 07 asmakam tu visista ye tan nibodha dvijottama nayaka mama sainyasya samjnartham tan bravimi te O Best of Bramhanas! Know the main commanders and warriors of my army. For your information, I tell you the their names. Ch 01 : Sh 08 bhavan bhismas ca karnas ca krpas ca samitim-jayah asvatthama vikarnas ca saumadattis tathaiva ca It has personalities like Bhisma, Karna, Krpa, Asvatthama, Vikarna and the son of Soumadatti(Bhurisarva) are always victorious in battle. Ch 01 : Sh 09 anye ca bahavah sura mad-arthe tyakta-jivitah nana-sastra-praharanah sarve yuddha-visaradah There are many other heroes in my army who are ready to sacrifice their lives for my sake, who are well equipped with varied weapons and missiles and all are skilled in warfare. Ch 01 : Sh 10 aparyaptam tad asmakam balam bhismabhiraksitam paryaptam tv idam etesambalam bhimabhiraksitam Now all of you stand in your respective points on all fronts and must guard Bhisma from all sides, throughout the battle. Ch 01 : Sh 11 ayanesu ca sarvesu yatha-bhagam avasthitah bhismam evabhiraksantu bhavantah sarva eva hi Now all of you stand in your respective points on all fronts and must guard Bhisma from all sides, throughout the battle. Ch 01 : Sh 12 tasya sanjanayan harsam kuru-vrddhah pitamahah simha-nadam vinadyoccaih sankham dadhmau pratapavan Then Bhisma, the great old and glorious man of the Kuru dynasty and the grandfather of the army, cheering Duryodhna, blew his conch very loudly, sounding like the roar of a lion. Ch 01 : Sh 13 tataḥ śaṅkhāśca bheryaśca paṇavānaka-gomukhāḥ | sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śabdas-tumulo’bhavat || 13 || Then suddenly conches and kettle drums, trumpets, tabors and horns blared forth; and the sound was terrific. Ch 01 : Sh 14 tataḥ śvetair-hayair-yukte mahati syandane sthitau | mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaścaiva divyau śaṅkhau pradadhmatuḥ || 14 || Then Sri Krishna and Arjuna, stationed in their great chariot yoked with white horses, blew their divine conches. Ch 01 : Sh 15 pāñcajanyaṁ hṛṣīkeśo devadattaṁ dhanañjayaḥ | pauṇḍraṁ dadhmau mahā-śaṅkhaṁ bhīma-karmā vṛkodaraḥ || 15 || Sri Krishna blew his conch, Pañcajanya, Arjuna his, named Devadatta and Bhima of terrible deeds the great conch Paundra. Ch 01 : Sh 16 ananta-vijayaṁ rājā kuntī-putro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | nakulaḥ sahadevaśca sughoṣa maṇi-puṣpakau || 16 || King Yudhishtira the son of Kunti blew his conch Ananta-vijaya and Nakula and Sahadeva blew their conches Sughosha and Mani-pushpaka. Ch 01 : Sh 17-18 kāśyaśca parameṣ-vasaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ | dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaśca sātyakiś-cāparājitaḥ || 17 || drupado draupadeyāśca sarvaśaḥ pṛthivī-pate | saubhadraśca mahā-bāhuḥ śaṅkhān dadhmuḥ pṛthak pṛthak || 18 || And the King of Kashi the supreme archer, Shikhandi the mighty warrior, Dhrshtadyumna and Virata; and Satyaki the invincible; ||17|| Drupada and the sons of Draupadi, and the strong-armed son of Subhadra22 — all, O King, blew their various conches again and again ||18|| Ch 01 : Sh 19 sa ghoṣo dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṁ hṛdayāni vyadārayat | nabhaśca pṛthivīṁ caiva tumulo’bhyanunādayan || 19 || And that tumultuous uproar, resounding through heaven and earth, rent the hearts of Dhrtarashtra’s sons Ch 01 : Sh 20-21 atha vyavasthitan drstva dhartarastran kapi-dhvajah pravrtte sastra-sampate dhanur udyamya pandavah hrsikesam tada vakyam idam aha mahi-pate Now at that time Arjuna, the son of Pandu, who was seated in chariot bearing the flag marked with Hanuman took up his bow and prepared to shoot. O king looking at the Dhristarashtras's sons placed in their position in front of him, Arjuna then spoke to Hrsikesha(Shri Krishna) these words. Ch 01 : Sh 21-22 arjuna uvaca senayor ubhayor madhye ratham sthapaya me 'cyuta yavad etan nirikse 'ham yoddhu-kaman avasthitan kair maya saha yoddhavyam asmin rana-samudyame Arjuna said: Station my chariot, O Krishna, between the two armies, so that I may have a good look at those who are standing eager to fight and know with whom I have to fight in this enterprise of war; Ch 01 : Sh 23 yotsyamanan avekse 'ham ya ete 'tra samagatah dhartarastrasya durbuddher yuddhe priya-cikirsavah I wish to see those gathered here ready to fight in this battle in order to please the evil-minded [Duryodhana] son of Dhrtarashtra. Ch 01 : Sh 24-25 sañjaya uvāca evam ukto hṛṣīkeśo guḍākeśena bhārata | senayor-ubhayor madhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam || 24 || bhisma-drona-pramukhatah sarvesam ca mahi-ksitam uvaca partha pasyaitan samavetan kurun iti|| 25 || O Dhrtarashtra, thus addressed by Arjuna, Sri Krishna stationed that best of chariots between the two armies. Placing the chariot in front of Bhisma, Drona and all the other chieftains, Lord Krishna said “O Partha! Behold all the Kurus assembled here” Ch 01 : Sh 26 tatrapasyat sthitan parthah pitrn atha pitamahan acaryan matulan bhratrn putran pautran sakhims tatha svasuran suhrdas caiva senayor ubhayor api ||26|| Standing in the middle of the two Armies laced with weapons, Arjuna saw his elders, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, cousins, sons, grandsons, friends and fathers-in-law and well-wishers. Ch 01 : Sh 27 tān samīkṣya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvān bandhūn avasthitān || 27 || kṛpayā parayā’viṣṭho viṣīdann idam abravīt | When Arjuna saw all these kinsmen in array, 28. he was filled with deep compassion and said these words in despair. Ch 01 : Sh 28 arjuna uvāca dṛṣṭvemaṁ svajanaṁ kṛṣṇa yuyutsaṁ samupasthitam sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṁ ca pariśuṣyati || 28 || Arjuna said: O Krishna, seeing my kinsmen present here, eager for battle, 29. my limbs go weak, my mouth dries up. Ch 01 : Sh 29 vepathus ca sarire me roma-harsas ca jayate | gandivam sramsate hastat tvak caiva paridahyate ||29|| My body is Trembling and my hairs are standing on end. The bow(Gandiva) is falling off my hands. My skin becoming torrid. Ch 01 : Sh 30 na ca saknomy avasthatum bhramativa ca me manah | nimittani ca pasyami viparitani kesava||30|| I am now unable to keep composed, my mind is reeling. I see inauspicious omens, O Keshava,(Destroyer of the Keshi demon). Ch 01 : Sh 31 na ca sreyo 'nupasyami hatva sva-janam ahave | na kankse vijayam krsnana ca rajyam sukhani ca||31|| I do not, see any good in killing my own kinsmen in battle, nor can I , my dear Krishna, covet not victory, nor kindom, nor pleasure. Ch 01 : Sh 32-35 kim no rajyena govinda kim bhogair jivitena va yesam arthe kanksitam no rajyam bhogah sukhani ca||32|| ta ime 'vasthita yuddhe pranams tyaktva dhanani ca acaryah pitarah putras tathaiva ca pitamahah||33|| matulah svasurah pautrah syalah sambandhinas tatha etan na hantum icchami ghnato 'pi madhusudana||34|| api trailokya-rajyasya hetoh kim nu mahi-krte nihatya dhartarastran nah ka pritih syaj janardana||35|| O Govinda! Of what use to us is kingdom, what is the value of happiness, pleasure of even life itself when those for whose sake we seek kingdom, prosperity and pleasure are arrayed her on battlefield. Teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives are present in this battlefield staking their lives and kingdoms, O Krishna! Though they may kill me why should I wish to kill them? I would not seek to slay them, even for the rule of ship for the three worlds, let alone this earth. O Janardhanaa(Lord Krishna)!What delight will we derive from killing the sons of Dhristarastra? Ch 01 : Sh 36 pāpam evāśrayed asmān hatvaitān ātatāyinaḥ || tasmān nārhā vayaṁ hantuṁ dhārtarāṣṭrān svabandhavān | svajanaṁ hi kathaṁ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava || 36 || Sin alone will hold us fast, after killing these felons58 (usurpers though they be). Therefore, it will not befit us to kill our own kinsmen, the sons of Dhrtarāstra; for, surely, after killing our own kinsfolk, how can we be happy, O Mādhava ? Ch 01 : Sh 37-38 yady apy ete na pasyanti lobhopahata-cetasah kula-ksaya-krtam dosam mitra-drohe ca patakam||37| katham na jneyam asmabhih papad asman nivartitum kula-ksaya-krtam dosam prapasyadbhir janardana||38|| O Janardana! Although these men, their understanding afflicted by greed do not see evil in destroying one’s own family or quarrelling with friends , why should, who can clearly see the sin involved in destroying family members, not think to refrain from such a sin? Ch 01 : Sh 39 kula-ksaye pranasyanti kula-dharmah sanatanah | dharme naste kulam krtsnam adharmo 'bhibhavaty uta ||39|| With the destruction of dynasty, all its family spiritual traditions vanquish, and due to absence of traditions, impiety comes in the whole society. Ch 01 : Sh 40 adharmabhibhavat krsna pradusyanti kula-striyah | strisu dustasu varsneya jayate varna-sankarah ||40|| When impiety prevails, O Krishna! The women of the family get polluted, and then the corruption of womanhood produces unwanted, unworthy children. Ch 01 : Sh 41 sankaro narakayaiva kula-ghnanam kulasya ca | patanti pitaro hy esam lupta-pindodaka-kriyah ||41|| Increase of unwanted population leads to hellish life for the family and the destruction of family tradition. The ancestors of such corrupt families fall down, because the performances for tarpan(Pinda daan) is entirely stopped. Ch 01 : Sh 42 dosair etaih kula-ghnanam varna-sankara-karakaih | utsadyante jati-dharmah kula-dharmas ca sasvatah ||42|| The family traditions and family welfare activities of the destroyer of a family are exterminated because of the population of the unwanted offspring created by the bad deeds of these destroyer of kins. Ch 01 : Sh 43 utsanna-kula-dharmanam manusyanam janardana | narake niyatam vaso bhavatity anususruma ||43|| O Krishna! I have heard from erudite that men who have lost their family traditions always dwell in hell indefinitely. Ch 01 : Sh 44 aho bata mahat papam kartum vyavasita vayam yad rajya-sukha-lobhena hantum sva-janam udyatah ||46|| Unfortunately! Strange it is that aggravated by desire of regal happiness and pleasure, we are prepared to commit great sins by killing our own family Ch 01 : Sh 45 yadi mam apratikaram asastram sastra-panayah | dhartarastra rane hanyus tan me ksemataram bhavet ||45|| Indeed it would consider better for me if the sons of Dhristarashtra with weapons in hand were kill me unarmed and unresisting on the battlefield. Ch 01 : Sh 46 sanjaya uvaca evam uktvarjunah sankhye rathopastha upavisat | visrjya sa-saram capam soka-samvigna-manasah ||46|| Sanjay said: Greif stricken Arjuna having thus spoken on the battlefield, cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the central part of the chariot. |
Chapter 2
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
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