Bhagavad Gita

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच...

The King Dhritarashtra asked, "O Sanjaya! What happened on the sacred battlefield of Kurukshetra when my people and the Pandavas gathered?"

सञ्जय उवाच...

Sanjaya replied: "When Prince Duryodhana saw the Pandavas' army paraded, he approached his preceptor Guru Drona and spoke these words:

पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम्।...

Revered Father! Behold this mighty host of the Pandavas, paraded by the son of King Drupada, your wise disciple.

अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि।...

In it are heroes and great bowmen; the equals in battle of Arjuna, Bheema, Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada—all great soldiers.

धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान्।...

Dhrishtaketu, Chekitan, the valiant king of Benares, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Shaibya—a master of many.

युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान्।...

Yudhamanyu, Uttamouja, Soubhadra, and the sons of Droupadi—all famous men.

अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम।...

No changes needed.

भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः।...

You come first; then Bheeshma, Karna, Kripa, great warriors; Ashwaththama, Vikarna, and the son of Somadhatta;

अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः।...

And many others, all ready to die for My sake; all armed, all skilled in warfare.

अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम्।...

Yet our army seems weaker, though commanded by Bhishma; their army seems stronger, though commanded by Bhima.

अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः।...

Therefore, let the rank and file stand firm in their posts according to battalions, and all you generals around Bheeshma.

तस्य संजनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः।...

Then, to enliven his spirits, the brave Grandfather Bheeshma, the eldest of the Kuru clan, blew his conch, its sound resembling that of a lion's roar.

ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः।...

And immediately, all the conches, drums, trumpets, and horns blared forth in a tumultuous uproar.

ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ।...

Then, seated in their spacious war chariot, yoked with white horses, Lord Shri Krishna and Arjuna sounded their divine conch shells.

पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनंजयः।...

Lord Shri Krishna blew his Panchajanya, and Arjuna blew his Devadatta; brave Bheema blew his renowned shell, Poundra.

अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः।...

The King Dharmaraja, the son of Kunti, blew the Anantavijaya, Nakula, and Sahadeva, the Sughosa and Manipushpaka, respectively.

काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः।...

And the Maharaja of Benares, the great archer, Shikhandi, the great soldier, Dhrishtayumna, Virata, and Satyaki, the invincible one,

द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते।...

And, O King! Drupada's sons, Droupadi's sons, and the great soldier Soubhadra blew their conches.

स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत्।...

The tumult rent the hearts of the sons of Dhritarashtra, shaking heaven and earth with its echoing violence.

अथ व्यवस्थितान् दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः।...

Then, upon beholding the sons of Dhritarashtra, drawn up on the battlefield, ready to fight, Arjuna, whose flag bore the image of Hanuman,

अर्जुन उवाच...

Raising his bow, he spoke this to the Lord Shri Krishna: O Infallible Lord of the earth! Please draw up my chariot between the two armies.

यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान्।...

So that I may observe those who must fight on my side and those who must fight against me.

योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः।...

And gaze upon this array of soldiers, eager to please the sons of Dhritarashtra who are sinful.

संजय उवाच...

Sanjaya said: "Having listened to Arjuna's request, Lord Shri Krishna drew up His bright chariot in the midst between the two armies.

भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम्।...

Where Bheeshma and Drona had led all the rulers of the earth, they spoke thus: O Arjuna! Behold, these members of the family of Kuru are assembled.

तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितृ़नथ पितामहान्।...

There, Arjuna noticed fathers, grandfathers, uncles, cousins, sons, grandsons, teachers, and friends.

श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि।...

Fathers-in-law and benefactors were arrayed on both sides, and Arjuna then gazed at all those kinsmen before him.

अर्जुन उवाच...

And his heart melted with pity, and sadly he spoke: "O my Lord! When I see all these, my own people, thirsting for battle,

सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति।...

My limbs are failing me, my throat is parched, my body is trembling, and my hair is standing on end.

गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते।...

The bow Gandiva slips from my hand, and my skin burns. I cannot remain still, for my mind is in tumult.

निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव।...

The omens are unfavorable; what good can come from the slaughter of my people on this battlefield?

न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च।...

Ah, my Lord! I do not crave victory, nor a kingdom, nor any pleasure. What would a kingdom, happiness, or life be to me?

येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च।...

When those for whose sake I desire these things stand here, about to sacrifice their property and lives:

आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः।...

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

एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन।...

I would not kill them, even for three worlds; why then for this earth alone? It matters not if I myself am killed.

निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन।...

My Lord! What happiness can come from the death of these sons of Dhritarashtra? We shall be committing a sin if we kill these desperate men.

तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान्।...

We are worthy of a nobler feat than slaughtering our relatives—the sons of Dhritarashtra; for, my Lord, how can we be happy if we kill our kinsmen?

यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः।...

Although these men, blinded by greed, see no guilt in destroying their kin or fighting against their friends,

कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम्।...

Should we not, whose eyes are open and who consider it wrong to annihilate our family, turn away from such a great crime?

कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः।...

The destruction of our kindred means the destruction of the traditions of our ancient lineage, and when these are lost, irreligion will overrun our homes.

अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः।...

When irreligion spreads, the women of the house start to stray; when they lose their purity, adulteration of the lineage follows.

सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च।...

Promiscuity ruins both the family and those who defile it; while the souls of our ancestors droop, due to the lack of funeral cakes and ablutions.

दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः।...

By the destruction of our lineage and the pollution of our blood, ancient class traditions and family purity alike perish.

उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन।...

The wise say, my Lord, that they are forever lost whose ancient traditions have been lost.

अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम्।...

Alas, it is strange that we should be willing to kill our own countrymen and commit a great sin, in order to enjoy the pleasures of kingdom.

यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः।...

If, on the contrary, the sons of Dhritarashtra, with weapons in hand, should slay me, unarmed and unresisting, surely that would be better for my welfare!

सञ्जय उवाच...

Sanjaya said: "Having spoken thus, Arjuna sank into the seat of his chariot, discarding his bow and arrow, overwhelmed with grief in the midst of the armies."