Arjuna Vishada Yoga

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच |

Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, assembled on the holy field of Kurukshetra, eager to fight, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do?

सञ्जय उवाच |

Sanjaya said: But 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 |

Behold, O Teacher, this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arranged in battle formation by the son of Drupada, your talented disciple.

अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि |

Here are brave warriors, mighty archers, equal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna—Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada, the great chariot-warrior.

धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान् |

Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, and the valiant King of Kashi; Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Shaibya, the best of men.

युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् |

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

अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम |

Know also, O best of the twice-born, those who are the most distinguished among us, the leaders of my army. I name them for your information.

भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः |

Yourself, Bhishma, Karna, and Kripa, victorious in battle; Ashvatthama, Vikarna, and the son of Somadatta as well.

अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः |

And there are many other heroes who are prepared to lay down their lives for my sake, equipped with various weapons, and all skilled in warfare.

अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् |

Our strength is unlimited, marshaled as we are by Bhishma, whereas their strength, marshaled by Bhima, is limited.

अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः |

Therefore, all of you, standing in your respective positions at all the strategic entry points of the army, protect Bhishma alone.

तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः |

Then, the valiant Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kuru dynasty, blew his conch shell, sounding like a lion's roar, to bring joy to Duryodhana's heart.

ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः |

Immediately after that, conch shells, kettledrums, cymbals, drums, and horns were sounded all at once, creating a tumultuous uproar.

ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ |

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

पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः |

Hrishikesha (Krishna) blew His conch shell, Panchajanya; Dhananjaya (Arjuna) blew Devadatta; and Bhima, of ferocious deeds, blew his mighty conch, Paundra.

अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः |

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

काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः |

The excellent archer, the King of Kashi; the great chariot-warrior Shikhandi; Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and the unconquered Satyaki;

द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते |

Drupada, the sons of Draupadi, and the mighty-armed son of Subhadra, O Lord of the Earth, blew their respective conch shells on all sides.

स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत् |

That tumultuous sound shattered the hearts of the sons of Dhritarashtra, echoing through heaven and earth.

अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान् कपिध्वजः |

At that time, seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra arrayed against him and weapons ready to fly, Arjuna, whose chariot banner bore the crest of Hanuman, took up his bow and spoke these words to Krishna, O King.

अर्जुन उवाच |

Arjuna said: O Achyuta (Infallible One), please place my chariot between the two armies,

यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् |

so that I may behold those who stand here eager to fight, and with whom I must contend in this great battle.

योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः |

Let me look upon those who have assembled here, wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra by fighting on his side.

सञ्जय उवाच |

Sanjaya said: O descendant of Bharata (Dhritarashtra), having been thus addressed by Gudakesha (Arjuna), Hrishikesha (Krishna) drove that magnificent chariot between the two armies.

भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् |

In the presence of Bhishma, Drona, and all the rulers of the earth, Krishna said: Behold, O Partha (Arjuna), these Kurus assembled here.

तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान् |

There, Arjuna saw stationed before him grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and companions.

श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि |

Seeing all these kinsmen standing there, the son of Kunti (Arjuna) was filled with deep compassion and spoke in sadness.

कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् |

Arjuna said: O Krishna, seeing my own kinsmen assembled here eager to fight, my limbs are failing and my mouth is parched.

सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति |

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

गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते |

I am unable to stand steady, my mind is wandering in circles, and I see adverse omens, O Keshava (Krishna).

निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव |

I do not see any good in killing my own kinsmen in this battle, nor do I desire victory, kingdom, or pleasures, O Keshava.

न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च |

O Krishna, I do not desire victory, nor kingdom, nor pleasures. Of what use is kingdom, O Govinda, or enjoyment, or even life itself?

येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च |

Those for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyments, and pleasures are standing here in battle, having renounced their lives and wealth—

आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः |

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

एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन |

O Madhusudana, even if they kill me, I do not wish to kill them, even for the sovereignty of the three worlds, let alone for this earth.

निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन |

O Janardana (sustainer of all beings), what pleasure can we derive from killing the sons of Dhritarashtra? Only sin will cling to us if we slay these aggressors.

तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान् |

Therefore, it is not fit for us to kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our own kinsmen. O Madhava (husband of Lakshmi), how can we be happy by killing our own relatives?

यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः |

Even if these men, whose minds are blinded by greed, see no defect in destroying a family or sin in treachery to friends,

कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम् |

why should we, who see the evil of family destruction, not turn away from this sin, O Janardana?

कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः |

With the destruction of the family, the eternal family traditions (kula-dharma) are ruined. When traditions are lost, the entire family is overcome by lawlessness.

अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः |

When lawlessness prevails, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupt, and from their corruption, O Varshneya (descendant of Vrishni), unwanted progeny arises.

सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च |

An increase in unwanted progeny drags both the family destroyers and the family itself to hell. Their ancestors also fall, being deprived of offerings of food and water.

दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः |

By the evil deeds of those who destroy the family, causing intermingling of classes, the eternal traditions of the community and the family are ruined.

उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन |

O Janardana, we have heard from the sages that those whose family traditions are destroyed must dwell in hell for an indefinite time.

अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् |

Alas! What a great sin we are prepared to commit, driven by the greed for royal happiness, by being ready to kill our own kinsmen.

यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः |

If the sons of Dhritarashtra, armed with weapons, were to kill me in battle while I am unarmed and unresisting, that would be better for me.

सञ्जय उवाच |

Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus on the battlefield, Arjuna cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down in the chariot, his mind overwhelmed with grief.