1.1 धर्मक्षेत्रे on the holy plain? कुरुक्षेत्रे in Kurukshetra? समवेताः assembled together? युयुत्सवः desirous to fight? मामकाः my people? पाण्डवाः the sons of Pandu? च and? एव also? किम् what? अकुर्वत did do? सञ्जय O Sanjaya.Commentary Dharmakshetra -- that place which protects Dharma is Dharmakshetra. Because it was in the land of the Kurus? it was called Kurukshetra.Sanjaya is one who has conered likes and dislikes and who is impartial.
Translation · English
1.1 Dhritarashtra said What did my people and the sons of Pandu do when they had assembled
together eager for battle on the holy plain of Kurukshetra, O Sanjaya.
1.2 दृष्ट्वा having seen? तु indeed? पाण्डवानीकम् the army of the Pandavas? व्यूढम् drawn up in battlearray? दुर्योधनः Duryodhana? तदा then? आचार्यम् the teacher? उपसङ्गम्य having approached? राजा the king? वचनम् speech? अब्रवीत् said.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.2. Sanjaya said Having seen the army of the Pandavas drawn up in battle-array,
King Duryodhana then approached his teacher (Drona) and spoke these words.
1.3 पश्य behold? एताम् this? पाण्डुपुत्राणाम् of the sons of Pandu? आचार्य O Teacher? महतीम् great? चमूम् army? व्यूढाम् arrayed? द्रुपदपुत्रेण son of Drupada? तव शिष्येण by your disciple? धीमता wise.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.3. "Behold, O Teacher! this mighty army of the sons of Pandu,
arrayed by the son of Drupada, thy wise disciple.
1.4 अत्र here? शूराः heroes? महेष्वासाः mighty archers? भीमार्जुनसमाः eal to Bhima and Arjuna? युधि in battle? युयुधानः Yuyudhana? विराटः Virata? च and? द्रुपदः Drupada? च and? महारथः of the great car.Commentary Technically? maharatha means a warrior who is proficient in the science of war and who is able to fight alone with ten thousand archers.
Translation · English
1.4. Here are heroes, mighty archers, eal in battle to Bhima
and Arjuna, Yoyudhana (Satyaki), Virata and Drupada, of the great car (mighty
warriors).
1.5 धृष्टकेतुः Dhrishtaketu? चेकितानः Chekitana? काशिराजः king of Kasi? च and? वीर्यवान् valiant? पुरुजित् Purujit? कुन्तिभोजः Kuntibhoja? च and? शैब्यः son of Sibi? च and? नरपुङ्गवः the best of men.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.5. "Dhrishtaketu, chekitana and the valiant king of Kasi, Purujit
and Kuntibhoja and Saibya, the best men.
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान्।
सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ॥
Commentary · English
1.6 युधामन्युः Yudhamanyu? च and? विक्रान्तः the strong? उत्तमौजाः Uttamaujas? च and? वीर्यवान् the brave? सौभद्रः the son of Subhadra? द्रौपदेयाः the sons of Draupadi? च and? सर्वे all? एव even? महारथाः great carwarriors.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.6. "The strong Yodhamanyu and the brave Uttamaujas, the son
of Subhadra (Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadra and Arjuna), and the sons of
Draupadi, all of great chariots (great heroes).
अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम।
नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते ॥
Commentary · English
1.7 अस्माकम् ours? तु also? विशिष्टाः the best? ये who (those)? तान् those? निबोध know (thou)? द्विजोत्तम (O) best among the twicorn ones? नायकाः the leaders? मम my? सैन्यस्य of the army? संज्ञार्थम् for information? तान् them? ब्रवीमि speak? ते to thee.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.7. "Know also, O best among the twice-born! the names of those
who are the most distinguished amongst ourselves, the leaders of my army;
these I name to thee for thy information.
भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः।
अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ॥
Commentary · English
1.8 भवान् yourself? भीष्मः Bhishma? च and? कर्णः Karna? च and? कृपः Kripa? च and? समितिञ्जयः victorious in war? अश्वत्थामा Asvatthama? the son of Dronacharya? विकर्णः Vikarna? च and? सौमदत्तिः the son of Somadatta? तथा thus? एव even? च and.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.8. "Thyself and Bhishma, and Karna and also Kripa, the victorious
in war, Asvatthama, Vikarna, and also Bhurisrava, the son of Somadatta.
अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः।
नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ॥
Commentary · English
1.9 अन्ये others? च and? बहवः many? शूराः heroes? मदर्थे for my sake? त्यक्तजीविताः who are ready to give up their lives? नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः armed with various weapons and missiles? सर्वे all? युद्धविशारदाः wellskilled in battle.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.9. "And also many other heroes who are ready to give up their
lives for my sake, armed with various weapons and missiles, all well-skilled
in battle.
1.10 अपर्याप्तम् insufficient? तत् that? अस्माकम् ours? बलम् army? भीष्माभिरक्षितम् marshalled by Bhishma? पर्याप्तम् sufficient? तु while? इदम् this? एतेषाम् their? बलम् army? भीमाभिरक्षितम् marshalled by Bhima.Commentary The verse is differently interpreted by different commentators. Sridhara Swami takes the word aparyaptam to mean insufficient. Ananda Giri takes it to mean unlimited.
Translation · English
1.10. "This army of ours marshalled by Bhishma is insufficient,
whereas that army of theirs marshelled by Bhima is sufficient.
अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः।
भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ॥
Commentary · English
1.11 अयनेषु in the arrays (of the army)? च and? सर्वेषु in all? यथाभागम् according to division? अवस्थिताः being stationed? भीष्मम् Bhishma? एव alone? अभिरक्षन्तु protect? भवन्तः ye? सर्वे all? एव even? हि indeed.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.11. "Therefore do ye all, stationed in your respective positions,
in the several divisions of the army, protect Bhishma alone."
ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः।
सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥
Commentary · English
1.13 ततः then शङ्खाः conches? च and? भेर्यः kettledrums? च and? पणवानकगोमुखाः tabors? drums and cowhorns? सहसा एव ite suddenly? अभ्यहन्यन्त blared forth? सः that? शब्दः sound? तुमुलः tremendous? अभवत् was.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.13. Then (following Bhishma), conches and kettledrums, tabors,
drums and cow horns blared forth ite suddenly (from the Kaurava side)
and the sound was tremendous.
1.15 पाञ्चजन्यम् (the conch named) Panchajanya? हृषीकेशः (the Lord of the senses) Krishna? देवदत्तम् (the conch named) Devadatta? धनञ्जयः (the victor of wealth) Arjuna? पौण्ड्रम् (the conch named) Poundra? दध्मौ blew? महाशङ्खम् great conch? भीमकर्मा doer of terrible dees? वृकोदरः (having the belly of a wolf) Bhima.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.15. Hrishikesha blew the Panchajanya and Arjuna blew the Devadatta
and Bhima (the wolf-bellied), the doer of terrible deeds, blew the great
conch Paundra.
अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः।
नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ ॥
Commentary · English
1.16 अनन्तविजयम् (the conch named) Anantavijayam? राजा the king? कुन्तीपुत्रः son of Kunti? युधिष्ठिरः Yudhishthira? नकुलः Nakula? सहदेवः Sahadeva? च and? सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ (the conches named) Sughosha and Manipushpaka.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.16. The king Yodhishthira, the son of Kunti, blew the Anantavijaya;
Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughosha and the Manipushpaka.
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः।
धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ॥
Commentary · English
1.17 काश्यः Kasya? the king of Kasi? च and? परमेष्वासः an excellent archer? शिखण्डी Sikhandi? च and? महारथः mighty carwarrior? धृष्टद्युम्नः Dhrishtadyumna? विराटः Virata? च and? सात्यकिः Satyaki? च and? अपराजितः unconered.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.17. The king of Kasi, an exellent archer, Sikhandi, the mighty
car-warrior, Dhrishtadyumna and Virata and Satyaki, the unconered.
1.18 द्रुपदः Drupada? द्रौपदेयाः the sons of Draupadi? च and? सर्वशः all? पृथिवीपते O Lord of the earth? सौभद्रः the son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu)? च and महाबाहुः the mightyarmed? शङ्खान् conches? दध्मुः blew? पृथक् पृथक् separately.Commentary This blowing of conches announced the commencement of the battle.
Translation · English
1.18. Drupada and the sons of Draupadi, O Lord of the earth, and
the son of Subhadra, the mighty-armed, blew their conches separately.
1.20 अथ now? व्यवस्थितान् standing arrayed? दृष्ट्वा seeing? धार्तराष्ट्रान् Dhritarashtras party? कपिध्वजः monkeyensigned? प्रवृत्ते about to begin? शस्त्रसंपाते discharge of weapons? धनुः bow? उद्यम्य having taken up? पाण्डवः the son of Pandu? हृषीकेशम् to Hrishikesha? तदा then? वाक्यम् word? इदम् this? आह said? महीपते O Lord of the earth.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.20. Then, seeing the people of Dhritarashtra’s party standing
arrayed and the discharge of weapons about to begin, Arjuna, the son of
Pandu, whose ensign was a monkey, took up his bow and said the following
to Krishna, O Lord of the earth.
1.21 -- 1.22 सेनयोः of the armies? उभयोः of both? मध्ये in the middle? रथम् car? स्थापय place? मे my? अच्युत O Achyuta (O changeless? Krishna)? यावत् while? एतान् these? निरीक्षे behold? अहम् I? योद्धुकामान् desirous to fight? अवस्थितान् standing? कैः with whom? मया by me? सह together? योद्धव्यम् must be fought? अस्मिन् in this? रणसमुद्यमे eve of battle.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.21 Arjuna said In the middle between the two armies, place my chariot,
O krishna, 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.
1.21 -- 1.22 सेनयोः of the armies? उभयोः of both? मध्ये in the middle? रथम् car? स्थापय place? मे my? अच्युत O Achyuta (O changeless? Krishna)? यावत् while? एतान् these? निरीक्षे behold? अहम् I? योद्धुकामान् desirous to fight? अवस्थितान् standing? कैः with whom? मया by me? सह together? योद्धव्यम् must be fought? अस्मिन् in this? रणसमुद्यमे eve of battle.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.22. Arjuna said In the middle between the two armies, place my chariot,
O krishna, 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.
1.23 योत्स्यमानान् with the object of fighting? अवेक्षे observe? अहम् I? ये who? एते those? अत्र here (in this Kurukshetra)? समागताः assembled? धार्तराष्ट्रस्य of the son of Dhritarashtra? दुर्बुद्धेः of the evilminded? युद्धे in battle? प्रियचिकीर्षवः wishing to please.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.23. For I desire to observe those who are assembled here to fight,
wishing to please in battle the evil-minded Duryodhana (the son of Dhritarashtra).
1.24 एवम् thus? उक्तः addressed? हृषीकेशः Hrishikesha? गुडाकेशेन by Gudakesha (the coneror of sleep? Arjuna)? भारत O Bharata (descendant of king Bharata? Dhritarashtra)? सेनयोः of the armies? उभयोः of both? मध्ये in the middle? स्थापयित्वा having stationed? रथोत्तमम् best of chariots.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.24. Sanjaya said Thus addressed by Arjuna, Krishna, having stationed that
best of chariots, O Dhritarashtra, in the midst of the two armies.
भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम्।
उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति ॥
Commentary · English
1.25 भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः in front of Bhishma and Drona? सर्वेषाम् of all? च and? महीक्षिताम् rulers of the earth? उवाच said? पार्थ O Partha? पश्य behold? एतान् these? समवेतान् gathered? कुरून् Kurus? इति thus.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.25. In front of Bhishma and Drona, and all the rulers of the
earth, said: "O Arjuna (son of Pritha), behold these Kurus gathered together."
1.26. Then, Arjuna (son of Pritha) saw there (in the armies) stationed,
fathers and grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons
and friends too.
1.27. (He saw) fathers-in-law and friends also in both the armies.
The son of Kunti, Arjuna, seeing all those kinsmen thus standing arrayed,
spoke this, sorrowfully filled with deep pity.
1.28 दृष्ट्वा having seen? इमम् these? स्वजनम् kinsmen? कृष्ण O Krishna (the dark one? He who attracts)? युयुत्सुम् eager to fight? समुपस्थितम् arrayed.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.28. Arjuna said Seeing these, my kinsmen, O krishna, arrayed, eager to fight.
सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति।
वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते ॥
Commentary · English
1.29 सीदन्ति fail? मम my? गात्राणि limbs? मुखम् mouth? च and? परिशुष्यति is parching? वेपथुः shivering? च and? शरीरे in body? मे my? रोमहर्षः horripilation? च and? जायते arises.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.29. My limbs fail and my mouth is parched, my body ivers and
my hair stands on end.
गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते।
न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ॥
Commentary · English
1.30 गाण्डीवम् Gandiva? स्रंसते slips? हस्तात् from (my) hand? त्वक् (my) skin? च and? एव also? परिदह्यते burns all over? न not? च and? शक्नोमि (I) am able? अवस्थातुम्? to stand? भ्रमति इव seems whirling? च and? मे my? मनः mind.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.30. The (bow) Gandiva slips from my hand, and also my skins burns
all over; I am unable even to stand and my mind is reeling, as it were.
निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव।
न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे ॥
Commentary · English
1.31 निमित्तानि omens? च and? पश्यामि I see? विपरीतानि adverse? केशव O Kesava? न not? च and? श्रेयः good? अनुपश्यामि (I) see? हत्वा killing? स्वजनम् our peope? आहवे in battle.Commentary Kesava means he who has fine or luxuriant hair.
Translation · English
1.31. And I see adverse omens, O Kesava. I do not see any good
in killing my kinsmen in battle.
न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च।
किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा ॥
Commentary · English
1.32 न not? काङ्क्षे (I) desire? विजयम् victory? कृष्ण O Krishna? न not? च and? राज्यम् kingdom? सुखानि pleasures? च and? किम् what? नः to us? राज्येन by kindom? गोविन्द O Govinda? किम् what? भोगैः by pleasures? जीवितेन life? वा or.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.32. I desire not victory, O Krishna, nor kingdom, nor pleasures.
Of what avail is dominion to us, O Krishna, or pleasures or even life?
1.35 एतान् these? न not? हन्तुम् to kill? इच्छामि (I) wish? घ्नतःअपि even if they kill me? मधुसूदन O Madhusudana (the slayer of Madhu? a demon)? अपि even? त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य dominion over the three worlds? हेतोः for the sake of? किम् how? नु then? महीकृते for the sake of the earth.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.35. These I do not wish to kill, though they kill me, O Krishna,
even for the sake of dominion over the three worlds; leave alone killing
them for the sake of the earth.
निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन।
पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ॥
Commentary · English
1.36 निहत्य having slain? धार्तराष्ट्रान् sons of Dhritarashtra? नः to us? का what? प्रीतिः pleasure? स्यात् may be? जनार्दन O Janardana? पापम् sin? एव only? आश्रयेत् would take hold? अस्मान् to us? हत्वा having killed? एतान् these? आततायिनः felons.Commentary Janardana means one who is worshipped by all for prosperity and salvation -- Krishna.He who sets fire to the house of another? who gives poision? who runs with sword to kill? who has plundered wealth and lands? and who has taken hold of the wife of somody else is an atatayi. Duryodhana had done all these evil actions.
Translation · English
1.36. By killing these sons of Dhritarashtra, what pleasure can
be ours, O Janardana? Only sin will accrue to us from killing these felons.
तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान्।
स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ॥
Commentary · English
1.37 तस्मात् therefore? न (are) not? अर्हाः justified? वयम् we? हन्तुम् to kill? धार्तराष्ट्रान् the sons of Dhritarashtra? स्वबान्धवान् our relatives? स्वजनम् kinsmen? हि indeed? कथम् how? हत्वा having killed? सुखिनः happy? स्याम may (we) be? माधव O Madhava.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.37. Therefore, we should not kill the sons of Dhritarashtra,
our relatives; for how can we be happy by killing our own people, O Madhava
(Krishna)?
यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः।
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ॥
Commentary · English
1.38 यद्यपि though? एते these? न not? पश्यन्ति see? लोभोपहतचेतसः with intelligence overpowered by greed? कुलक्षयकृतम् in the destruction of families? दोषम् evil? मित्रद्रोहे in hostility to friends? च and? पातकम् sin.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.38. Though they, with intelligence overpowered by greed, see
no evil in the destruction of families, and no sin in hostility to friends,
कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम्।
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ॥
Commentary · English
1.39 कथम् why? न not? ज्ञेयम् should be learnt? अस्माभिः by us? पापात् from sin? अस्मात् this? निवर्तितुम् to turn away? कुलक्षयकृतम् in the destruction of families? दोषम् evil? प्रपश्यद्भिः clearly seeing? जनार्दन O Janardana.Commentary Ignorance of law is no excuse but wanton sinful conduct is a grave crime? unworthy of us? who are wiser.
Translation · English
1.39. Why should not we who clearly see evil in the destruction
of families, learn to turn away from this sin, O Janardana (Krishna)?
1.40 कुलक्षये in the destruction of a family? प्रणश्यन्ति perish? कुलधर्माः family religious rites? सनातनाः immemorial? धर्मे spirituality? नष्टे being destroyed? कुलम् कृत्स्नम् the whole family? अधर्मः impiety? अभिभवति overcomes? उत indeed.Commentary Dharma -- the duties and ceremonies practised by the family in accordance with the injunctions of the scriptures.
Translation · English
1.40. In the destruction of a family, the immemorial religious
rites of that family perish; on the destruction of spirituality, impiety,
indeed, overcomes the whole family.
1.41 अधर्माभिभवात् from the prevalence of impiety? कृष्ण O Krishna? प्रदुष्यन्ति become corrupt? कुलस्त्रियः the women of the family? स्त्रीषु in women? दुष्टासु (being) corrupt? वार्ष्णेय O Varshneya? जायते arises? वर्णसङ्करः casteadmixture.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.41. By the prevalence of impiety, O Krishna, the women of
the family become corrupt; and , women being corrupted, O Varshenya (descendant
of Vrishni), there arises intermingling of castes.
1.42 सङ्करः confusion of castes? नरकाय for the hell? एव also? कुलघ्नानाम् of the slayers of the family?कुलस्य of the family? च and? पतन्ति fall? पितरः the forefathers? हि verily? एषां their? लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः deprived of the offerings of ricall and water.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.42. Confusion of castes leads to hell the slayers of the family,
for their forefathers fall, deprived of the offerings of rice-ball and
water (libations).
1.43 दोषैः by evil deeds? एतैः (by) these? कुलघ्नानाम् of the family destroyers? वर्णसङ्करकारकैः causing intermingling of castes? उत्साद्यन्ते are destroyed? जातिधर्माः religious rites of the caste? कुलधर्माः family religious rites? च and? शाश्वताः eternal.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.43. By these evil deeds of the destroyers of the family, which
cause confusion of castes, the eternal religious rites of the caste and
the family are destroyed.
1.44 उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणाम् whose family religious practices are destroyed? मनुष्याणाम् of the men? जनार्दन O Janardana? नरके in hell? अनियतं for unknown period? वासः dwelling? भवति is? इति thus? अनुशुश्रुम we have heard.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.44. We have heard, O Janardana, that inevitable is the dwelling
for an unknown period in hell for those men in whose families the religious
practices have been destroyed.
यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः।
धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ॥
Commentary · English
1.46 यदि if? माम् me? अप्रतीकारम् unresisting? अशस्त्रम् unarmed? शस्त्रपाणयः with weapons in hand? धार्तराष्ट्राः the sons of Dhritarashtra? रणे in the battle हन्युः should slay? तत् that? मे of me? क्षेमतरम् better? भवेत् would be.No Commentary.
Translation · English
1.46. If the sons of Dhritarashtra with weapons in hand should
slay me in battle, unresisting and unarmed, that would be better for me.
1.47 एवम् thus? उक्त्वा having said? अर्जुनः Arjuna? संख्ये in the battle? रथोपस्थे on the seat of the chariot? उपाविशत् sat down? विसृज्य having cast away? सशरम् with arrow? चापम् bow? शोकसंविग्नमानसः with a mind distressed with sorrow.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 entitledThe Yoga of the Despondency of Arjuna.
Translation · English
1.47. Sanjaya said Having thus spoken in the midst of the battlefield, Arjuna,
casting away his bow and arrow, sat down on the seat of the chariot with
his mind overwhelmed with sorrow.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच। धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः। मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥
1.1 धर्मक्षेत्रे on the holy plain? कुरुक्षेत्रे in Kurukshetra? समवेताः assembled together? युयुत्सवः desirous to fight? मामकाः my people? पाण्डवाः the sons of Pandu? च and? एव also? किम् what? अकुर्वत did do? सञ्जय O Sanjaya.Commentary Dharmakshetra -- that place which protects Dharma is Dharmakshetra. Because it was in the land of the Kurus? it was called Kurukshetra.Sanjaya is one who has conered likes and dislikes and who is impartial.
1.1 Dhritarashtra said What did my people and the sons of Pandu do when they had assembled together eager for battle on the holy plain of Kurukshetra, O Sanjaya.
सञ्जय उवाच। दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा। आचार्यमुपसंगम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥
1.2 दृष्ट्वा having seen? तु indeed? पाण्डवानीकम् the army of the Pandavas? व्यूढम् drawn up in battlearray? दुर्योधनः Duryodhana? तदा then? आचार्यम् the teacher? उपसङ्गम्य having approached? राजा the king? वचनम् speech? अब्रवीत् said.No Commentary.
1.2. Sanjaya said Having seen the army of the Pandavas drawn up in battle-array, King Duryodhana then approached his teacher (Drona) and spoke these words.
पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम्। व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ॥
1.3 पश्य behold? एताम् this? पाण्डुपुत्राणाम् of the sons of Pandu? आचार्य O Teacher? महतीम् great? चमूम् army? व्यूढाम् arrayed? द्रुपदपुत्रेण son of Drupada? तव शिष्येण by your disciple? धीमता wise.No Commentary.
1.3. "Behold, O Teacher! this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed by the son of Drupada, thy wise disciple.
अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि। युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ॥
1.4 अत्र here? शूराः heroes? महेष्वासाः mighty archers? भीमार्जुनसमाः eal to Bhima and Arjuna? युधि in battle? युयुधानः Yuyudhana? विराटः Virata? च and? द्रुपदः Drupada? च and? महारथः of the great car.Commentary Technically? maharatha means a warrior who is proficient in the science of war and who is able to fight alone with ten thousand archers.
1.4. Here are heroes, mighty archers, eal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna, Yoyudhana (Satyaki), Virata and Drupada, of the great car (mighty warriors).
धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान्। पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुंगवः ॥
1.5 धृष्टकेतुः Dhrishtaketu? चेकितानः Chekitana? काशिराजः king of Kasi? च and? वीर्यवान् valiant? पुरुजित् Purujit? कुन्तिभोजः Kuntibhoja? च and? शैब्यः son of Sibi? च and? नरपुङ्गवः the best of men.No Commentary.
1.5. "Dhrishtaketu, chekitana and the valiant king of Kasi, Purujit and Kuntibhoja and Saibya, the best men.
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान्। सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ॥
1.6 युधामन्युः Yudhamanyu? च and? विक्रान्तः the strong? उत्तमौजाः Uttamaujas? च and? वीर्यवान् the brave? सौभद्रः the son of Subhadra? द्रौपदेयाः the sons of Draupadi? च and? सर्वे all? एव even? महारथाः great carwarriors.No Commentary.
1.6. "The strong Yodhamanyu and the brave Uttamaujas, the son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadra and Arjuna), and the sons of Draupadi, all of great chariots (great heroes).
अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम। नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते ॥
1.7 अस्माकम् ours? तु also? विशिष्टाः the best? ये who (those)? तान् those? निबोध know (thou)? द्विजोत्तम (O) best among the twicorn ones? नायकाः the leaders? मम my? सैन्यस्य of the army? संज्ञार्थम् for information? तान् them? ब्रवीमि speak? ते to thee.No Commentary.
1.7. "Know also, O best among the twice-born! the names of those who are the most distinguished amongst ourselves, the leaders of my army; these I name to thee for thy information.
भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः। अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ॥
1.8 भवान् yourself? भीष्मः Bhishma? च and? कर्णः Karna? च and? कृपः Kripa? च and? समितिञ्जयः victorious in war? अश्वत्थामा Asvatthama? the son of Dronacharya? विकर्णः Vikarna? च and? सौमदत्तिः the son of Somadatta? तथा thus? एव even? च and.No Commentary.
1.8. "Thyself and Bhishma, and Karna and also Kripa, the victorious in war, Asvatthama, Vikarna, and also Bhurisrava, the son of Somadatta.
अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः। नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ॥
1.9 अन्ये others? च and? बहवः many? शूराः heroes? मदर्थे for my sake? त्यक्तजीविताः who are ready to give up their lives? नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः armed with various weapons and missiles? सर्वे all? युद्धविशारदाः wellskilled in battle.No Commentary.
1.9. "And also many other heroes who are ready to give up their lives for my sake, armed with various weapons and missiles, all well-skilled in battle.
अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम्। पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ॥
1.10 अपर्याप्तम् insufficient? तत् that? अस्माकम् ours? बलम् army? भीष्माभिरक्षितम् marshalled by Bhishma? पर्याप्तम् sufficient? तु while? इदम् this? एतेषाम् their? बलम् army? भीमाभिरक्षितम् marshalled by Bhima.Commentary The verse is differently interpreted by different commentators. Sridhara Swami takes the word aparyaptam to mean insufficient. Ananda Giri takes it to mean unlimited.
1.10. "This army of ours marshalled by Bhishma is insufficient, whereas that army of theirs marshelled by Bhima is sufficient.
अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः। भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ॥
1.11 अयनेषु in the arrays (of the army)? च and? सर्वेषु in all? यथाभागम् according to division? अवस्थिताः being stationed? भीष्मम् Bhishma? एव alone? अभिरक्षन्तु protect? भवन्तः ye? सर्वे all? एव even? हि indeed.No Commentary.
1.11. "Therefore do ye all, stationed in your respective positions, in the several divisions of the army, protect Bhishma alone."
तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः। सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ॥
1.12 तस्य his (Duryodhanas)? संजयन् causing? हर्षम् joy? कुरुवृद्धः oldest of the Kurus? पितामहः grandfather? सिंहनादम् lions roar? विनद्य having sounded? उच्चैः loudly? शङ्खम् conch? दध्मौ blew? प्रतापवान् the glorious.No Commentary.
1.12. His glorious grandsire (Bhishma), the oldest of the Kauravas, in order to cheer Duryodhana, now roared like a lion, and blew his conch.
ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः। सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥
1.13 ततः then शङ्खाः conches? च and? भेर्यः kettledrums? च and? पणवानकगोमुखाः tabors? drums and cowhorns? सहसा एव ite suddenly? अभ्यहन्यन्त blared forth? सः that? शब्दः sound? तुमुलः tremendous? अभवत् was.No Commentary.
1.13. Then (following Bhishma), conches and kettledrums, tabors, drums and cow horns blared forth ite suddenly (from the Kaurava side) and the sound was tremendous.
ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ। माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः ॥
1.14 ततः then? श्वेतैः (with) white? हयैः horses? युक्ते yoked? महति magnificent? स्यन्दने in the chariot? स्थितौ seated? माधवः Madhava? पाण्डवः Pandava? the son of Pandu? च and? एव also? दिव्यौ divine? शङ्खौ conches? प्रदध्मतुः blew.No Commentary.
1.14. Then, also, Madhava (Krishna) and the son of Pandu (Arjuna), seated in the magnificent chariot, yoked with white horses, blew divine conches.
पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः। पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः ॥
1.15 पाञ्चजन्यम् (the conch named) Panchajanya? हृषीकेशः (the Lord of the senses) Krishna? देवदत्तम् (the conch named) Devadatta? धनञ्जयः (the victor of wealth) Arjuna? पौण्ड्रम् (the conch named) Poundra? दध्मौ blew? महाशङ्खम् great conch? भीमकर्मा doer of terrible dees? वृकोदरः (having the belly of a wolf) Bhima.No Commentary.
1.15. Hrishikesha blew the Panchajanya and Arjuna blew the Devadatta and Bhima (the wolf-bellied), the doer of terrible deeds, blew the great conch Paundra.
अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ ॥
1.16 अनन्तविजयम् (the conch named) Anantavijayam? राजा the king? कुन्तीपुत्रः son of Kunti? युधिष्ठिरः Yudhishthira? नकुलः Nakula? सहदेवः Sahadeva? च and? सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ (the conches named) Sughosha and Manipushpaka.No Commentary.
1.16. The king Yodhishthira, the son of Kunti, blew the Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughosha and the Manipushpaka.
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः। धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ॥
1.17 काश्यः Kasya? the king of Kasi? च and? परमेष्वासः an excellent archer? शिखण्डी Sikhandi? च and? महारथः mighty carwarrior? धृष्टद्युम्नः Dhrishtadyumna? विराटः Virata? च and? सात्यकिः Satyaki? च and? अपराजितः unconered.No Commentary.
1.17. The king of Kasi, an exellent archer, Sikhandi, the mighty car-warrior, Dhrishtadyumna and Virata and Satyaki, the unconered.
द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते। सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक् ॥
1.18 द्रुपदः Drupada? द्रौपदेयाः the sons of Draupadi? च and? सर्वशः all? पृथिवीपते O Lord of the earth? सौभद्रः the son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu)? च and महाबाहुः the mightyarmed? शङ्खान् conches? दध्मुः blew? पृथक् पृथक् separately.Commentary This blowing of conches announced the commencement of the battle.
1.18. Drupada and the sons of Draupadi, O Lord of the earth, and the son of Subhadra, the mighty-armed, blew their conches separately.
स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत्। नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलोऽभ्यनुनादयन् (or लोव्यनु) ॥
1.19 सः that? घोषः uproar? धार्तराष्ट्राणाम् of Dhritarashtras party? हृदयानि hearts? व्यदारयत् rent? नभः sky? च and? पृथिवीम् earth? च and? एव also? तुमुलः tumultuous? व्यनुनादयन् resounding.No Commentary.
1.19. That tumultuous sound rent the hearts of (the members of) Dhritarashtra's party, making both the heaven and the earth resound.
अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान् कपिध्वजः। प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः। हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते ॥
1.20 अथ now? व्यवस्थितान् standing arrayed? दृष्ट्वा seeing? धार्तराष्ट्रान् Dhritarashtras party? कपिध्वजः monkeyensigned? प्रवृत्ते about to begin? शस्त्रसंपाते discharge of weapons? धनुः bow? उद्यम्य having taken up? पाण्डवः the son of Pandu? हृषीकेशम् to Hrishikesha? तदा then? वाक्यम् word? इदम् this? आह said? महीपते O Lord of the earth.No Commentary.
1.20. Then, seeing the people of Dhritarashtra’s party standing arrayed and the discharge of weapons about to begin, Arjuna, the son of Pandu, whose ensign was a monkey, took up his bow and said the following to Krishna, O Lord of the earth.
अर्जुन उवाच। सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ॥
1.21 -- 1.22 सेनयोः of the armies? उभयोः of both? मध्ये in the middle? रथम् car? स्थापय place? मे my? अच्युत O Achyuta (O changeless? Krishna)? यावत् while? एतान् these? निरीक्षे behold? अहम् I? योद्धुकामान् desirous to fight? अवस्थितान् standing? कैः with whom? मया by me? सह together? योद्धव्यम् must be fought? अस्मिन् in this? रणसमुद्यमे eve of battle.No Commentary.
1.21 Arjuna said In the middle between the two armies, place my chariot, O krishna, 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.
यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान्। कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन् रणसमुद्यमे ॥
1.21 -- 1.22 सेनयोः of the armies? उभयोः of both? मध्ये in the middle? रथम् car? स्थापय place? मे my? अच्युत O Achyuta (O changeless? Krishna)? यावत् while? एतान् these? निरीक्षे behold? अहम् I? योद्धुकामान् desirous to fight? अवस्थितान् standing? कैः with whom? मया by me? सह together? योद्धव्यम् must be fought? अस्मिन् in this? रणसमुद्यमे eve of battle.No Commentary.
1.22. Arjuna said In the middle between the two armies, place my chariot, O krishna, 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.
योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः। धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः ॥
1.23 योत्स्यमानान् with the object of fighting? अवेक्षे observe? अहम् I? ये who? एते those? अत्र here (in this Kurukshetra)? समागताः assembled? धार्तराष्ट्रस्य of the son of Dhritarashtra? दुर्बुद्धेः of the evilminded? युद्धे in battle? प्रियचिकीर्षवः wishing to please.No Commentary.
1.23. For I desire to observe those who are assembled here to fight, wishing to please in battle the evil-minded Duryodhana (the son of Dhritarashtra).
सञ्जय उवाच। एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत। सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ॥
1.24 एवम् thus? उक्तः addressed? हृषीकेशः Hrishikesha? गुडाकेशेन by Gudakesha (the coneror of sleep? Arjuna)? भारत O Bharata (descendant of king Bharata? Dhritarashtra)? सेनयोः of the armies? उभयोः of both? मध्ये in the middle? स्थापयित्वा having stationed? रथोत्तमम् best of chariots.No Commentary.
1.24. Sanjaya said Thus addressed by Arjuna, Krishna, having stationed that best of chariots, O Dhritarashtra, in the midst of the two armies.
भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम्। उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति ॥
1.25 भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः in front of Bhishma and Drona? सर्वेषाम् of all? च and? महीक्षिताम् rulers of the earth? उवाच said? पार्थ O Partha? पश्य behold? एतान् these? समवेतान् gathered? कुरून् Kurus? इति thus.No Commentary.
1.25. In front of Bhishma and Drona, and all the rulers of the earth, said: "O Arjuna (son of Pritha), behold these Kurus gathered together."
तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान्। आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा ॥
1.26 तत्र there? अपश्यत् saw? स्थितान् stationed? पार्थः Partha? पितृ़न् fathers? अथ also? पितामहान्grandfathers? आचार्यान् teachers? मातुलान् maternal uncles? भ्रातृ़न् brothers? पुत्रान् sons? पौत्रान् grandsons? सखीन् friends? तथा too.No Commentary.
1.26. Then, Arjuna (son of Pritha) saw there (in the armies) stationed, fathers and grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons and friends too.
श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि। तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान् ॥
1.27 श्वशुरान् fathersinlaw? सुहृदः friends? च and? एव also? सेनयोः in armies? उभयोः (in) both? अपि also? तान् those? समीक्ष्य having seen? सः he? कौन्तेयः Kaunteya? सर्वान् all? बन्धून् relatives? अवस्थितान् standing (arrayed)? कृपया by pity? परया deep? आविष्टः filled? विषीदन् sorrowfully? इदम् this? अब्रवीत् said.No Commentary.
1.27. (He saw) fathers-in-law and friends also in both the armies. The son of Kunti, Arjuna, seeing all those kinsmen thus standing arrayed, spoke this, sorrowfully filled with deep pity.
कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत्। अर्जुन उवाच। दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् ॥
1.28 दृष्ट्वा having seen? इमम् these? स्वजनम् kinsmen? कृष्ण O Krishna (the dark one? He who attracts)? युयुत्सुम् eager to fight? समुपस्थितम् arrayed.No Commentary.
1.28. Arjuna said Seeing these, my kinsmen, O krishna, arrayed, eager to fight.
सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति। वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते ॥
1.29 सीदन्ति fail? मम my? गात्राणि limbs? मुखम् mouth? च and? परिशुष्यति is parching? वेपथुः shivering? च and? शरीरे in body? मे my? रोमहर्षः horripilation? च and? जायते arises.No Commentary.
1.29. My limbs fail and my mouth is parched, my body ivers and my hair stands on end.
गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते। न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ॥
1.30 गाण्डीवम् Gandiva? स्रंसते slips? हस्तात् from (my) hand? त्वक् (my) skin? च and? एव also? परिदह्यते burns all over? न not? च and? शक्नोमि (I) am able? अवस्थातुम्? to stand? भ्रमति इव seems whirling? च and? मे my? मनः mind.No Commentary.
1.30. The (bow) Gandiva slips from my hand, and also my skins burns all over; I am unable even to stand and my mind is reeling, as it were.
निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव। न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे ॥
1.31 निमित्तानि omens? च and? पश्यामि I see? विपरीतानि adverse? केशव O Kesava? न not? च and? श्रेयः good? अनुपश्यामि (I) see? हत्वा killing? स्वजनम् our peope? आहवे in battle.Commentary Kesava means he who has fine or luxuriant hair.
1.31. And I see adverse omens, O Kesava. I do not see any good in killing my kinsmen in battle.
न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च। किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा ॥
1.32 न not? काङ्क्षे (I) desire? विजयम् victory? कृष्ण O Krishna? न not? च and? राज्यम् kingdom? सुखानि pleasures? च and? किम् what? नः to us? राज्येन by kindom? गोविन्द O Govinda? किम् what? भोगैः by pleasures? जीवितेन life? वा or.No Commentary.
1.32. I desire not victory, O Krishna, nor kingdom, nor pleasures. Of what avail is dominion to us, O Krishna, or pleasures or even life?
येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च। त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ॥
1.33 येषाम् of whose? अर्थे sake? काङ्क्षितम् (is) desired? नः by us? राज्यम् kingdom? भोगाः enjoyment? सुखानि pleasures? च and? ते they? इमे these? अवस्थिताः stand? युद्धे in battle? प्राणान् life? त्यक्त्वा having abandoned? धनानि wealth? च and.No Commentary.
1.33. Those for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyments and pleasures, stand here in battle, having renounced life and wealth.
आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः। मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा ॥
1.34 आचार्याः teachers? पितरः fathers? पुत्राः sons? तथा thus? एव also? च and? पितामहाः grandfathers? मातुलाः maternal uncles? श्वशुराः fathersinlaw? पौत्राः grandsons? श्यालाः brothersinlaw? सम्बन्धिनः relatives? तथा as well as.No Commentary.
1.34. Teachers, fathers, sons and also grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives,-
एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन। अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते ॥
1.35 एतान् these? न not? हन्तुम् to kill? इच्छामि (I) wish? घ्नतःअपि even if they kill me? मधुसूदन O Madhusudana (the slayer of Madhu? a demon)? अपि even? त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य dominion over the three worlds? हेतोः for the sake of? किम् how? नु then? महीकृते for the sake of the earth.No Commentary.
1.35. These I do not wish to kill, though they kill me, O Krishna, even for the sake of dominion over the three worlds; leave alone killing them for the sake of the earth.
निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन। पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ॥
1.36 निहत्य having slain? धार्तराष्ट्रान् sons of Dhritarashtra? नः to us? का what? प्रीतिः pleasure? स्यात् may be? जनार्दन O Janardana? पापम् sin? एव only? आश्रयेत् would take hold? अस्मान् to us? हत्वा having killed? एतान् these? आततायिनः felons.Commentary Janardana means one who is worshipped by all for prosperity and salvation -- Krishna.He who sets fire to the house of another? who gives poision? who runs with sword to kill? who has plundered wealth and lands? and who has taken hold of the wife of somody else is an atatayi. Duryodhana had done all these evil actions.
1.36. By killing these sons of Dhritarashtra, what pleasure can be ours, O Janardana? Only sin will accrue to us from killing these felons.
तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान्। स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ॥
1.37 तस्मात् therefore? न (are) not? अर्हाः justified? वयम् we? हन्तुम् to kill? धार्तराष्ट्रान् the sons of Dhritarashtra? स्वबान्धवान् our relatives? स्वजनम् kinsmen? हि indeed? कथम् how? हत्वा having killed? सुखिनः happy? स्याम may (we) be? माधव O Madhava.No Commentary.
1.37. Therefore, we should not kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our relatives; for how can we be happy by killing our own people, O Madhava (Krishna)?
यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः। कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ॥
1.38 यद्यपि though? एते these? न not? पश्यन्ति see? लोभोपहतचेतसः with intelligence overpowered by greed? कुलक्षयकृतम् in the destruction of families? दोषम् evil? मित्रद्रोहे in hostility to friends? च and? पातकम् sin.No Commentary.
1.38. Though they, with intelligence overpowered by greed, see no evil in the destruction of families, and no sin in hostility to friends,
कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम्। कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ॥
1.39 कथम् why? न not? ज्ञेयम् should be learnt? अस्माभिः by us? पापात् from sin? अस्मात् this? निवर्तितुम् to turn away? कुलक्षयकृतम् in the destruction of families? दोषम् evil? प्रपश्यद्भिः clearly seeing? जनार्दन O Janardana.Commentary Ignorance of law is no excuse but wanton sinful conduct is a grave crime? unworthy of us? who are wiser.
1.39. Why should not we who clearly see evil in the destruction of families, learn to turn away from this sin, O Janardana (Krishna)?
कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः। धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ॥
1.40 कुलक्षये in the destruction of a family? प्रणश्यन्ति perish? कुलधर्माः family religious rites? सनातनाः immemorial? धर्मे spirituality? नष्टे being destroyed? कुलम् कृत्स्नम् the whole family? अधर्मः impiety? अभिभवति overcomes? उत indeed.Commentary Dharma -- the duties and ceremonies practised by the family in accordance with the injunctions of the scriptures.
1.40. In the destruction of a family, the immemorial religious rites of that family perish; on the destruction of spirituality, impiety, indeed, overcomes the whole family.
अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः। स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः ॥
1.41 अधर्माभिभवात् from the prevalence of impiety? कृष्ण O Krishna? प्रदुष्यन्ति become corrupt? कुलस्त्रियः the women of the family? स्त्रीषु in women? दुष्टासु (being) corrupt? वार्ष्णेय O Varshneya? जायते arises? वर्णसङ्करः casteadmixture.No Commentary.
1.41. By the prevalence of impiety, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupt; and , women being corrupted, O Varshenya (descendant of Vrishni), there arises intermingling of castes.
सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च। पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः ॥
1.42 सङ्करः confusion of castes? नरकाय for the hell? एव also? कुलघ्नानाम् of the slayers of the family?कुलस्य of the family? च and? पतन्ति fall? पितरः the forefathers? हि verily? एषां their? लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः deprived of the offerings of ricall and water.No Commentary.
1.42. Confusion of castes leads to hell the slayers of the family, for their forefathers fall, deprived of the offerings of rice-ball and water (libations).
दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः। उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ॥
1.43 दोषैः by evil deeds? एतैः (by) these? कुलघ्नानाम् of the family destroyers? वर्णसङ्करकारकैः causing intermingling of castes? उत्साद्यन्ते are destroyed? जातिधर्माः religious rites of the caste? कुलधर्माः family religious rites? च and? शाश्वताः eternal.No Commentary.
1.43. By these evil deeds of the destroyers of the family, which cause confusion of castes, the eternal religious rites of the caste and the family are destroyed.
उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन। नरके नियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम (or नरकेऽनियतं) ॥
1.44 उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणाम् whose family religious practices are destroyed? मनुष्याणाम् of the men? जनार्दन O Janardana? नरके in hell? अनियतं for unknown period? वासः dwelling? भवति is? इति thus? अनुशुश्रुम we have heard.No Commentary.
1.44. We have heard, O Janardana, that inevitable is the dwelling for an unknown period in hell for those men in whose families the religious practices have been destroyed.
अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम्। यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ॥
1.45 अहो बत alas? महत् great? पापम् sin? कर्तुम् to do? व्यवसिताः prepared? वयम् we? यत् that? राज्यसुखलोभेन by the greed of pleasure of kingdom? हन्तुम् to kill? स्वजनम् kinsmen? उद्यताः prepared.No Commentary.
1.45. Alas! We are involved in a great sin, in that we are prepared to kill our kinsmen, through greed for the pleasures of a kingdom.
यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः। धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ॥
1.46 यदि if? माम् me? अप्रतीकारम् unresisting? अशस्त्रम् unarmed? शस्त्रपाणयः with weapons in hand? धार्तराष्ट्राः the sons of Dhritarashtra? रणे in the battle हन्युः should slay? तत् that? मे of me? क्षेमतरम् better? भवेत् would be.No Commentary.
1.46. If the sons of Dhritarashtra with weapons in hand should slay me in battle, unresisting and unarmed, that would be better for me.
सञ्जय उवाच। एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः सङ्ख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्। विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः ॥
1.47 एवम् thus? उक्त्वा having said? अर्जुनः Arjuna? संख्ये in the battle? रथोपस्थे on the seat of the chariot? उपाविशत् sat down? विसृज्य having cast away? सशरम् with arrow? चापम् bow? शोकसंविग्नमानसः with a mind distressed with sorrow.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 entitledThe Yoga of the Despondency of Arjuna.
1.47. Sanjaya said Having thus spoken in the midst of the battlefield, Arjuna, casting away his bow and arrow, sat down on the seat of the chariot with his mind overwhelmed with sorrow.