CHAPTER I - THE YOGA OF DESPONDENCY OF ARJUNA

Vasude Vasutum Devam Kans Chanur Mardanam Devaki Parmanandam Krsnam Vande Jagatagurum		To the Lord, the Son of Vasudeva The Destroyer of Kans and Chanur To Supreme Bliss of Devaki To Krsna the Teacher of the Universe - My Salutations!
Dhrtarastra uvaca: dharmaksetre kuruksetre samaveta yuyutsavah mamakah pandavas cai'va		Dhrtarastra said: O Samjaya, assembled on the sacred field of Kuruksetra, eager to fight, what did my sons and those of Pandu do?
Samjaya uvaca: drstva tu pandavanikam vyudham duryodhanas tada acaryam upasamgamya raja vacanam abravit		Samajaya said: At that time, Prince Duryodhana having seen the army of Pandavas arrayed in battle, approached his Acarya (Drona) and spoke these words
pasyai 'tam panduputranam acarya mahatim camum vyudham drupadaputrena tava sisyena dhimata		Behold, Master, the mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed for battle by your talented pupil son of Drupada (Dhrstadyumna)
atra sura mahesvasa bhimarjunasama yudhi yuyudhano viratas ca drupadas ca maharathah		Here are in this army, heroes wielding mighty bows and as brave in battle as Bhima and Arjuna such as Yuyudhana, Virata and the Maharathi (great chariot-warrior) Drupada
dhrstaketus cekitanah kasirajas ca viryavan purujit kuntibhojas ca saibyas ca narapumgavah		Dhrstaketu, Cekitana and the valiant king of Kasi, also Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Saibya, the best of men
yudhamanyus ca vikranta uttamaujas ca viryavan saubhadro draupadeyas ca sarva eva mahrathah		And mighty Yudhamanyu, and valiant Uttmanuja, the son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu), and the sons of Draupadi - all of them Maharathis (great chariot warriors)
asmakam tu visista ye tan nibodha dvijottama nayaka mama sainyasya samjnartham tan bravimi te		O best of Brahmans, know them also who are the distinguished warriors on our side, the commanders of my army whom I mention for your information
bhvan bhismas ca karnas ca krpas ca samitimjayah asvatthama vikarnas ca saumadattis tathai 'va ca		Thyself and Bhisma and Karna and Krpa ever victorious in battle; Asvathama, Vikarna and also the son of Somadatta (Bhurisrava)
anye ca bahavah sura madarthe tyaktavjivitah nansastrapraharahah sarve yuddhavisaradah		And many other heroes, equipped with various weapons and missiles, who have staked their lives for me, all skilled in warfare
aparyaptam tad asmakam balam bhismabhirak sitam paryaptam tv idam etesam balam bhimabhirakstiam		This army of ours though commanded by Bhisma is insufficient, whereas that army of theirs, guarded by Bhima, is sufficiently equipped
ayanesu ca sarvesu yathabhagam avasthitah bhismam eva 'bhiraksantu bhavantah sarva eva hi		Therefore, stationed in your respective positions on all fronts, do you all guard Bhisma from all sides
tasya samjanayan harsam kuruvrddhah pitamahah simhanadam vinadyo 'ccaih sankham dadhmau pratapavan		The valiant Bhisma, the aged grandsire of the Kurus, roared like a lion and blew his conch to cheer him (Duryodhana) up
tatah sankhas ca bheryas ca panavanakagomukhah sahasai 'va bhyahanyanta sa sabdas tumulo 'bhavat		Then conches, kettledrums, tabors, drums and trumpets suddenly blared forth all at once, and the noise was tumultuous
tatah svetair hayair yukte mahati syandane sthitau madhavah pandavas cai 'va divyau sankhau pradadhmatuh		Then, seated in a glorious chariot drawn by white horses, Madhava (Sri Krsna) and Pandava (Arjuna) blew their celestial conches
pancajanyam hrsikeso devdattam dhanamjaya paundram dadhmau mahasankham bhimakarma vrkodarah		Hrsikesa (Krsna) blew his conch named Pancajanya and Dhanamjayah (Arjuna), his conch named Devadatta, and Bhima of terrible deeds, blew his mighty conch Paundra
anantavijayam raja kuntiputro yudhisthirah nakulah sahadevas ca sughosamanipuspakau		King Yudhisthira, the son of Kunti, blew his conch Anatvijaya; while Nakula and Sahadeva blew theirs, the Sughosa and Manipuspaka
kasyas ca paramesvasah sikhandi ca maharathah dhrstadyumno viratas ca satyakis ca 'parajitah		And the king of Kasi, the excellent archer, and Sikhandi the Maharathi, Dhrstadyumna and Virata and invincible Satyaki did likewise
drupado draupadeyas ca sarvasah prthivipate saubhadras ca mahabahuh sankhan dadhmuh prtak-prthak		O Lord of Earth, Drupada as well as the sons of Draupadi, and the mighty armed son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu), all of them severally blew their respective conches
sa ghoso dhratarastranam hrdayani vyadarayat nabhas ca prthivim cai 'va tumulo vyanumadayan		The tumultuous sound resounding through earth and sky rent the hearts of Dhrtarastra's sons
atha vyavasthitan drstva dhartaarastran kapidhvajah pravrtte sastrasampate dhanur udyamya pandavah		needs to be read with verse 21...
hrsikesam tada vakyam idam aha mahipate Arjuna uvaca... senayor ubhayor madhye ratham sthapaya me 'cyuta		Oh Lord of the Earth, then Kapidhavajah (Arjuna) Pandavah, looked at the sons of Dhrtarastra stationed in their army positions ready to operate the weapons, raising his bow said to Hrsikesa (Krsna), place my chariot between the two armies
yavadd etan nirikse 'ham yoddhukaman avasthitan kair maya saha yoddhavyam asmin ranasamudyame		So that I can carefully observe the warriors desirous of war, with whom I have to fight in the battle, which is going to commence
yotsyamanan avekse 'ham ya ete 'tra samagatah dhartarastrasya durbuddher yuddhe priyacikirsavah		I may see those who are assembled ready to fight, wishing to please in battle the evil minded son of Dhrtarastra (Duryodhana)
evam ukto hrsikeso gudakesena bharata senayor ubhayor madhe sthapayitva rathottamam		Thus addressed by Gudakesa (Arjuna), Hkrsikesa (Krsna) having drawn up the best of chariots, Oh Bharata (Dhrtarastra), between the two armies
bhismadronapramukhatah sarvesam ca mahiksitam uvaca partha pasyai 'tan samavetan kurun iti		In front of Bhisma, Drona, and all the rulers of the earth, said, "O Partha (Arjuna), behold these Kurus gathered together
tatra pasyat sthitan parthah pitrn atha pitamahan acaryan matulan bhratrn putran pautran sakhims tatha		Then, Partha (Arjuna) saw stationed there his uncles, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons and grandsons
svasuran suhrdas cai 'va senayor ubhayor api tan samiksya sa kaunteyah sarvan bandhun avasthitan		And the son of Kunti also saw his fathers-in-law and benefactors among all his relations, in both the armies
krpaya paraya visto visidann idam abravit Arjuna uvaca: drstve 'mam svajanam krsna yuyutsam samupasthitam		needs to be read with verse 29...
sidanti mama gatrani mukham ca parisusyati vepathus ca sarire me romaharsas ca jayate		He was possessed by extreme compassion, and uttered these words in sadness.. Arjuna said: O Krsna, seeing these kinsmen assembled here desirous to fight, my limbs give way and my mouth is parched, my body trembles and my hair stands on end
gandivam sramsate hastat tvak cai 'va paridahyate na ca saknomy avasthatum bhramati 'va ca me manah		Gandiva (the bow), slips from my hand, and my skin burns all over, my mind is reeling, as it were and I am not able to stand
nimittani ca pasyami viparitani kesava na ca sreyo 'nupasyami hatva svajanam ahave		And I see evil omens, O Kesava (Sri Krsna), nor do I see any good slaying my kith and kin in battle
na kankse vijayam krsna na ca rajyam sukhani ca kim no rajyena govinda kim bhogair jivitena va		O Krsna, I covet not victory, nor kingdom, nor pleasures. Govinda (Krsna), of what use will kingdom, or luxuries, or even life be to us?
yesam arthe kanksitam no rajyam bhogah sukhani ca ta ime 'vasthita yuddhe pranams tyaktva dhanani ca		Those for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyments and pleasures, they stand here in battle, renouncing their lives and riches
acaryah pitarah putras tathai 'va ca pitamahah matulah svasurah pautrah syalah sambandhinas tatha		They are teachers, fathers, sons also grandfathers, uncles and fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and kinsmen
etan na hantum icchami ghnato 'pi madhusudana api trailokyarajyasya hetoh kim nu mahikrte		O Madhusudana (Krsna) I do not wish to kill them though they may kill me, not even for the sovereignty of the three worlds much less for this earth
nihatya dhartarastran nah ka pritih syaj janardana papam eva 'srayed asman hatvai 'tan atatayinah		O, Janardana what joy can we derive by slaying the sons of Dhrtarastra, sin alone will accrue to us by killing these felons
tasman na 'rha vayam hantum dhartarastran svabandhavan svajanam hi katham hatva sukhinah syama madhava		Therefore, O Madhava (Krsna), it does not behove us to kill our relations, the sons of Dhrtarastra, for how can we be happy by killing our own kinsmen?
yady apy ete na pasyanti lobhopahatacetasah kulaksayakrtam dosam mitradrohe ca patakam		Although these people, with their minds overpowered by greed, do not see the evil of destruction of ones' family and crime in treachery to friends
katham na jneyam asmabhih papad asman nivartitum kulaksayakrtam dosam prpasyadbhir janardana		O Janardana, why should not we who see the sin involved in the destruction of one's family, think of turning away from this crime?
kulaksaye pranasyanti kuladharmah sanatanah dharme naste kulam krtsnam adharmo 'bhibhavaty uta		Ancient family traditions disappear with the destruction of the family; and in the absence of virtue, vice pervades the entire family
adharmabhibhavat krsna pradusyanti kulastriyah strisu dustasu varsneya jayate varnasamkarah		When vice prevails, the women of the family get corrupted and with the corruption of women, O Varsneya there ensues intermixture of castes
samkaro narakayai 'va kulaghnanam kulasya ca patanti pitaro by esam luptapindokakakriyah		Intermixture of caste leads the destroyers of the family along with the family to hell. Being deprived of the offerings (to the dead) of rice and water (Sraddha - tarpan, etc..) their manes fall
dosair etaih kulaghnanam varnasamkarakarakaih utsadyante jatidharmah kuladharmas ca sasvatah		By the misdeeds of those who destroy a family and create confusion of Varnas (caste), the ancient laws of the caste and the family are destroyed
utsannakuladharmanam manusyanam janardana narake niyatam vaso bhavati'ty anususruma		O, Janardana, we hear that men who have lost their family traditions dwell in hell for an indefinite period of time
aho bata mahat papam kartum vyavasita vayam yad rajyasukhalobhena hantum svajanam undyatah		Alas! what a great sin we are going to commit by slaying our won people for the greed and/or pleasure of the kingdom
yadi mam apratikaram asastram sastrapanayah dhartarastra rane hanyus tan me ksemataram bhavet		It would be better if I am slain unarmed and unresisting in the battle by the sons of Dhrtarastra armed with weapons
Samjaya uvaca: evam uktva 'rjunah samkhye rathopostha upavisat visrjya sasaram capam sokasamvignamanasah		Samjaya said: Having spoken thus, Arjuna sank down in the back seat of the chariot laying down his bow and arrow, overwhelmed by sorrow and mind agitated
Aum tatsdity srimad bhagavadgitasupanisatu brahmavidyayam yogasastre srikrsnaarjunasamvade arjunavisadyogo nama prathamo 'dhyayah		In the Upanisad of Bhagavadgita, the science of the Absolute, the scripture of Yoga and the dialogue between Srikrsna and Arjuna, thus ends the first chapter "Yoga of Despondency of Arjuna". Select from Contents