Bhagavad Gita

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच। धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः। मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय॥

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। आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत्॥

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॥

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॥

Here are heroes, mighty archers, equal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna — Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada, of the great car.

धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान्। पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः॥

Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, and the valiant king of Kashi, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Shaibya — the best among men.

युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान्। सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः॥

The strong Yudhamanyu and the brave Uttamaujas, the son of Subhadra and the sons of Draupadi — all of them great chariot-warriors.

अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम। नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते॥

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 you for your information.

भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः। अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च॥

Thyself and Bhishma, and Karna, and Kripa the victorious in war; Ashvatthama, Vikarna, and Saumadatti also.

अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः। नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः॥

And also many other heroes who have given 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॥

Our army marshalled by Bhishma is unlimited, while their army marshalled by Bhima is limited.

अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः। भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि॥

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॥

His glorious grandsire Bhishma, the oldest of the Kauravas, roaring like a lion, blew his conch to cheer Duryodhana.

ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः। सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत्॥

Then conches, kettledrums, tabors, drums, and cow-horns blared forth suddenly from the Kaurava side, and the sound was tumultuous.

ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ। माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः॥

Then Madhava (Krishna) and the son of Pandu (Arjuna), seated in the magnificent chariot yoked with white horses, blew their divine conches.

पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः। पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः॥

Hrishikesha (Krishna) blew the Panchajanya, Arjuna blew the Devadatta, and Bhima of terrible deeds blew the great conch Paundra.

अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ॥

King Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, blew the Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughosha and the Manipushpaka.

काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः। धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः॥

The king of Kashi, an excellent archer, Shikhandi the mighty chariot-warrior, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and the unconquerable Satyaki.

द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते। सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक्॥

Drupada and the sons of Draupadi, O Lord of the Earth, and the mighty-armed son of Subhadra — all blew their respective conches.

स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत्। नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन्॥

That tumultuous sound tore the hearts of the sons of Dhritarashtra, reverberating through both heaven and earth.

अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः। प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः॥

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.

अर्जुन उवाच। हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते। सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत॥

Arjuna said: O Krishna, place my chariot in the middle between the two armies, O Achyuta (Infallible One).

यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान्। कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन्रणसमुद्यमे॥

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॥

Let me see those who have come here to fight, wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra in battle.

सञ्जय उवाच। एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत। सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम्॥

Sanjaya said: Thus addressed by Gudakesha (Arjuna), Hrishikesha (Krishna), O Bharata (Dhritarashtra), having stationed that best of chariots in the midst of the two armies.

भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम्। उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति॥

In the presence of Bhishma, Drona, and all the rulers of the earth, Krishna said: 'O Partha, behold these Kurus gathered together.'

तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान्। आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा॥

Then Arjuna saw there, stationed in both armies, fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and friends.

श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि। तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान्। कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत्॥

Arjuna saw fathers-in-law and friends also in both armies. Seeing all these kinsmen standing arrayed, the son of Kunti was overcome with deep compassion and, sorrowful, spoke thus.

अर्जुन उवाच। दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम्। सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति॥

Arjuna said: Seeing these, my kinsmen, O Krishna, arrayed, eager to fight, my limbs fail and my mouth is parched.

वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते। गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते॥

My body is trembling, my hair stands on end, my bow Gandiva slips from my hand, and my skin burns all over.

न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः। निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव॥

I am unable to stand, my mind is reeling, and I see adverse omens, O Keshava (Krishna).

न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे। न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च॥

I do not see any good in killing my own kinsmen in battle. I desire neither victory, O Krishna, nor kingdom, nor pleasures.

किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा। येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च॥

Of what use is a kingdom to us, O Govinda, or pleasures or even life itself? Those for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyments, and pleasures stand here in battle.

त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च॥

They stand here in battle, having staked their lives and wealth.

आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः। मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा॥

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॥

I do not wish to kill them, even though they may kill me, O Madhusudana, not even for the sake of dominion over the three worlds — let alone for this earth.

निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन। पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः॥

By killing the sons of Dhritarashtra, what pleasure could be ours, O Janardana? Only sin would accrue to us from killing these felons.

तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान्। स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव॥

Therefore, we should not kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our relatives. For how can we, having killed our own kinsmen, be happy, O Madhava?

यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः। कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम्॥

Though these, 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॥

Why should we not, who clearly see the evil of the destruction of families, learn to turn away from this sin, O Janardana?

कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः। धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत॥

In the destruction of a family, the immemorial religious rites of that family perish. On the destruction of spirituality, impiety overwhelms the whole family.

अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः। स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः॥

By the prevalence of impiety, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupt; and when women are corrupted, O Varshneya, there arises intermingling of castes.

सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च। पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः॥

Confusion of castes leads to hell for the destroyers of the family and the family itself; for their forefathers fall, deprived of the offerings of food and water.

दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः। उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः॥

By these evil deeds of the destroyers of the family, which cause intermingling of castes, the eternal community dharmas and family dharmas are destroyed.

उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन। नरके नियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम॥

We have heard, O Janardana, that for those men whose family dharmas are destroyed, a dwelling in hell is ordained.

अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम्। यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः॥

Alas! We are involved in a great sin, for we are prepared to kill our kinsmen out of greed for the pleasures of a kingdom.

यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः। धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत्॥

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 संख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्। विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः॥

Sanjaya said: Having thus spoken in the midst of the battlefield, Arjuna cast away his bow and arrow, and sat down on the seat of the chariot, his mind overwhelmed with sorrow.