Arjuna Visada Yoga

1.1

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

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāścaiva kimakurvata sañjaya

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

1.2

सञ्जय उवाच दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा। आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत्॥

sañjaya uvāca dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṃ vyūḍhaṃ duryodhanastadā ācāryamupasaṅgamya rājā vacanamabravīt

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

1.3

पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम्। व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता॥

paśyaitāṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāmācārya mahatīṃ camūm vyūḍhāṃ drupadaputreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā

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

1.4

अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि। युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः॥

atra śūrā maheṣvāsā bhīmārjunasamā yudhi yuyudhāno virāṭaśca drupadaśca mahārathaḥ

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

1.5

धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान्। पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः॥

dhṛṣṭaketuścekitānaḥ kāśirājaśca vīryavān purujitkuntibhojaśca śaibyaśca narapuṅgavaḥ

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

1.6

युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान्। सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः॥

yudhāmanyuśca vikrānta uttamaujāśca vīryavān saubhadro draupadeyāśca sarva eva mahārathāḥ

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

1.7

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

asmākaṃ tu viśiṣṭā ye tānnibodha dvijottama nāyakā mama sainyasya saṃjñārthaṃ tānbravīmi te

O best of the twice-born, now hear the names of the most distinguished on our own side, the commanders of my army. I name them for your information.

1.8

भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः। अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च॥

bhavānbhīṣmaśca karṇaśca kṛpaśca samitiñjayaḥ aśvatthāmā vikarṇaśca saumadattistathaiva ca

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

1.9

अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः। नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः॥

anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā madarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ nānāśastrapraharaṇāḥ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ

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

1.10

अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम्। पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम्॥

aparyāptaṃ tadasmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam paryāptaṃ tvidameteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhirakṣitam

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

1.11

अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः। भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि॥

ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu yathābhāgamavasthitāḥ bhīṣmamevābhirakṣantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi

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

1.12

तस्य संजनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः। सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान्॥

tasya saṃjanayanharṣaṃ kuruvṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ siṃhanādaṃ vinadyoccaiḥ śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau pratāpavān

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.

1.13

ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः। सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत्॥

tataḥ śaṅkhāśca bheryaśca paṇavānakagomukhāḥ sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śabdastumulo'bhavat

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

1.14

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

tataḥ śvetairhayairyukte mahati syandane sthitau mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaścaiva divyau śaṅkhau pradadhmatuḥ

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

1.15

पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनंजयः। पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः॥

pāñcajanyaṃ hṛṣīkeśo devadattaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ pauṇḍraṃ dadhmau mahāśaṅkhaṃ bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ

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

1.16

अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ॥

anantavijayaṃ rājā kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ nakulaḥ sahadevaśca sughoṣamaṇipuṣpakau

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

1.17

काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः। धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः॥

kāśyaśca parameṣvāsaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaśca sātyakiścāparājitaḥ

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

1.18

द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते। सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक्॥

drupado draupadeyāśca sarvaśaḥ pṛthivīpate saubhadraśca mahābāhuḥ śaṅkhāndadhmuḥ pṛthakpṛthak

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

1.19

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

sa ghoṣo dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ hṛdayāni vyadārayat nabhaśca pṛthivīṃ caiva tumulo vyanunādayan

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

1.20

अथ व्यवस्थितान् दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः। प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसंपाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः॥

atha vyavasthitān dṛṣṭvā dhārtarāṣṭrānkapidhvajaḥ pravṛtte śastrasaṃpāte dhanurudyamya pāṇḍavaḥ

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

1.21

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

arjuna uvāca hṛṣīkeśaṃ tadā vākyamidamāha mahīpate senayorubhayormadhye rathaṃ sthāpaya me'cyuta

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.

1.22

यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान्। कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन्रणसमुद्यमे॥

yāvadetānnirīkṣe'haṃ yoddhukāmānavasthitān kairmayā saha yoddhavyamasminraṇasamudyame

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

1.23

योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः। धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः॥

yotsyamānānavekṣe'haṃ ya ete'tra samāgatāḥ dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddheryuddhe priyacikīrṣavaḥ

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

1.24

संजय उवाच एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत। सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम्॥

saṃjaya uvāca evamukto hṛṣīkeśo guḍākeśena bhārata senayorubhayormadhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam

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

1.25

भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम्। उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति॥

bhīṣmadroṇapramukhataḥ sarveṣāṃ ca mahīkṣitām uvāca pārtha paśyaitānsamavetānkurūniti

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.

1.26

तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितृ़नथ पितामहान्। आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातृ़न्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा॥

tatrāpaśyatsthitānpārthaḥ pitṛ़natha pitāmahān ācāryānmātulānbhrātṛ़nputrānpautrānsakhīṃstathā

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

1.27

श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि। तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान्॥

śvaśurānsuhṛdaścaiva senayorubhayorapi tānsamīkṣya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvānbandhūnavasthitān

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

1.28

अर्जुन उवाच कृपया परयाऽऽविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत्। दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम्॥

arjuna uvāca kṛpayā parayā''viṣṭo viṣīdannidamabravīt dṛṣṭvemaṃ svajanaṃ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṃ samupasthitam

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

1.29

सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति। वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते॥

sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṃ ca pariśuṣyati vepathuśca śarīre me romaharṣaśca jāyate

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

1.30

गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते। न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः॥

gāṇḍīvaṃ sraṃsate hastāttvakcaiva paridahyate na ca śaknomyavasthātuṃ bhramatīva ca me manaḥ

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

1.31

निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव। न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे॥

nimittāni ca paśyāmi viparītāni keśava na ca śreyo'nupaśyāmi hatvā svajanamāhave

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

1.32

न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च। किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा॥

na kāṅkṣe vijayaṃ kṛṣṇa na ca rājyaṃ sukhāni ca kiṃ no rājyena govinda kiṃ bhogairjīvitena vā

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

1.33

येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च। त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च॥

yeṣāmarthe kāṅkṣitaṃ no rājyaṃ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca ta ime'vasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṃstyaktvā dhanāni ca

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

1.34

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

ācāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrāstathaiva ca pitāmahāḥ mātulāḥ ścaśurāḥ pautrāḥ śyālāḥ sambandhinastathā

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

1.35

एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन। अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते॥

etānna hantumicchāmi ghnato'pi madhusūdana api trailokyarājyasya hetoḥ kiṃ nu mahīkṛte

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

1.36

निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन। पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः॥

nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrānnaḥ kā prītiḥ syājjanārdana pāpamevāśrayedasmānhatvaitānātatāyinaḥ

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.

1.37

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

tasmānnārhā vayaṃ hantuṃ dhārtarāṣṭrānsvabāndhavān svajanaṃ hi kathaṃ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava

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?

1.38

यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः। कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम्॥

yadyapyete na paśyanti lobhopahatacetasaḥ kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ mitradrohe ca pātakam

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

1.39

कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम्। कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन॥

kathaṃ na jñeyamasmābhiḥ pāpādasmānnivartitum kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ prapaśyadbhirjanārdana

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

1.40

कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः। धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत॥

kulakṣaye praṇaśyanti kuladharmāḥ sanātanāḥ dharme naṣṭe kulaṃ kṛtsnamadharmo'bhibhavatyuta

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.

1.41

अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः। स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः॥

adharmābhibhavātkṛṣṇa praduṣyanti kulastriyaḥ strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇasaṅkaraḥ

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

1.42

सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च। पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः॥

saṅkaro narakāyaiva kulaghnānāṃ kulasya ca patanti pitaro hyeṣāṃ luptapiṇḍodakakriyāḥ

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.

1.43

दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः। उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः॥

doṣairetaiḥ kulaghnānāṃ varṇasaṅkarakārakaiḥ utsādyante jātidharmāḥ kuladharmāśca śāśvatāḥ

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

1.44

उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन। नरकेऽनियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम॥

utsannakuladharmāṇāṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ janārdana narake'niyataṃ vāso bhavatītyanuśuśruma

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

1.45

अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम्। यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः॥

aho bata mahatpāpaṃ kartuṃ vyavasitā vayam yadrājyasukhalobhena hantuṃ svajanamudyatāḥ

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.

1.46

यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः। धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत्॥

yadi māmapratīkāramaśastraṃ śastrapāṇayaḥ dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyustanme kṣemataraṃ bhavet

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!

1.47

सञ्जय उवाच एवमुक्त्वाऽर्जुनः संख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्। विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः॥

sañjaya uvāca evamuktvā'rjunaḥ saṃkhye rathopastha upāviśat visṛjya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ śokasaṃvignamānasaḥ

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."