🕉️ Bhagavad Gita – Chapter 1
Arjuna Vishada Yoga (The Yoga of Arjuna’s Dejection)
👉 Total Verses: 47
Verse 1
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच ।
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः ।
मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥१॥
Dhritarashtra said:
O Sanjaya, assembled on the holy land of Kurukshetra and eager for battle, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do?
Verse 2
सञ्जय उवाच ।
दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा ।
आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥२॥
Sanjaya said:
O King, seeing the Pandava army arranged for battle, King Duryodhana approached his teacher Drona and spoke these words.
Verse 3
पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् ।
व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ॥३॥
Behold, O teacher, this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arranged by your intelligent disciple, the son of Drupada.
Verse 4
अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि ।
युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ॥४॥
Here in this army are great heroes, mighty archers equal to Bhima and Arjuna in battle—Yuyudhana, Virata, and the great warrior Drupada.
Verse 5
धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान् ।
पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः ॥५॥
There are also great heroes like Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, the valiant King of Kashi, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and the noble Shaibya.
Verse 6
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् ।
सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ॥६॥
The courageous Yudhamanyu, the valiant Uttamauja, Abhimanyu (son of Subhadra), and the five sons of Draupadi—all great chariot warriors.
Verse 7
अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम ।
नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते ॥७॥
But for your information, O best of Brahmanas, let me tell you about the distinguished leaders of my army.
Verse 8
भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः ।
अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ॥८॥
There are personalities like yourself, Bhishma, Karna, Kripa—ever victorious in battle; Ashvatthama, Vikarna, and Bhurishrava, son of Somadatta.
Verse 9
अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः ।
नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ॥९॥
And there are many other heroes prepared to lay down their lives for my sake, all well-armed and skilled in the art of warfare.
Verse 10
अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् ।
पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ॥१०॥
Our strength, guarded by Bhishma, is immeasurable, whereas their strength, protected by Bhima, is limited.
Verse 11
अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः ।
भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ॥११॥
Therefore, all of you positioned in your respective divisions should give full support to Grandfather Bhishma, the commander-in-chief of our army.
Verse 12
तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः ।
सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ॥१२॥
Then the powerful elder of the Kurus, Grandfather Bhishma, roared like a lion and blew his conch loudly, giving joy to Duryodhana.
Verse 13
ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः ।
सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥१३॥
Immediately, conchshells, drums, bugles, trumpets, and horns were sounded all at once, producing a tumultuous sound.
Verse 14
ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ ।
माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः ॥१४॥
Then, seated in their great chariot drawn by white horses, Lord Krishna and Arjuna blew their divine conchshells.
Verse 15
पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः ।
पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः ॥१५॥
Hrishikesha (Krishna) blew his conch, Panchajanya; Arjuna, the conqueror of wealth, blew Devadatta; and Bhima, the voracious eater and performer of great feats, blew Paundra, his mighty conch.
Verse 16
अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ।
नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ ॥१६॥
King Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, blew his conch Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva blew their conchs, Sughosha and Manipushpaka.
Verse 17
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः ।
धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ॥१७॥
The great archer, King of Kashi; the mighty warrior Shikhandi; Dhrishtadyumna; Virata; and the undefeated Satyaki all blew their conchs.
Verse 18
द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते ।
सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक् ॥१८॥
O King! Drupada, the sons of Draupadi, and the mighty-armed Abhimanyu, son of Subhadra, all blew their respective conchs.
Verse 19
स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत् ।
नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन् ॥१९॥
The terrible sound reverberated through the sky and the earth, shattering the hearts of Dhritarashtra’s sons.
Verse 20
अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः ।
प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः ॥२०॥
Then, seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra ready for battle, Arjuna, whose chariot bore the flag of Hanuman, raised his bow as the weapons were about to be released.
Verse 31
निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव ।
न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे ॥३१॥
I see bad omens, O Krishna, and I find no good in killing my own kinsmen in battle.
Verse 32
न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च ।
किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा ॥३२॥
I desire neither victory, nor kingdom, nor pleasures, O Govinda. Of what use is kingdom, enjoyment, or even life itself to us?
Verse 33
येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च ।
त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ॥३३॥
Those for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyment, and happiness—here they stand, ready to give up life and wealth in battle.
Verse 34
आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः ।
मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा ॥३४॥
Teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other relatives—
Verse 35
एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन ।
अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते ॥३५॥
O Madhusudana, I do not wish to kill them, even if I am killed by them. Not even for the sovereignty of the three worlds, what to speak of this earthly kingdom.
Verse 36
निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन ।
पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ॥३६॥
By killing the sons of Dhritarashtra, what pleasure will be ours, O Janardana? Sin alone will seize us if we slay these aggressors.
Verse 37
तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान् ।
स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ॥३७॥
Therefore, it is not proper for us to kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our own relatives. How can we be happy by killing our own kinsmen, O Madhava?
Verse 38
यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः ।
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ॥३८॥
Although they, with their intelligence destroyed by greed, see no wrong in ruining the family and betraying friends—
Verse 39
कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम् ।
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ॥३९॥
Why should we, who can clearly see the sin in destroying a family, not learn to refrain from such sinful acts, O Janardana?
Verse 40
कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः ।
धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ॥४०॥
With the destruction of the family, the eternal family traditions perish. When dharma is lost, the entire family is overwhelmed by irreligion.
Verse 41
अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः ।
स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः ॥४१॥
When irreligion dominates, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupted; and from the corruption of womanhood arises unwanted progeny (varṇa-saṅkara).
Verse 42
सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च ।
पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः ॥४२॥
Such varṇa-saṅkara leads the family destroyers and the family itself to hell. The ancestors of these families fall down, deprived of the offerings of food and water.
Verse 43
दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः ।
उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ॥४३॥
Through the evil deeds of those who destroy the family, leading to varṇa-saṅkara, the eternal family traditions and social duties are ruined.
Verse 44
उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन ।
नरकेऽनियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥४४॥
We have heard, O Janardana, that those men who have lost their family traditions dwell in hell for an indefinite time.
Verse 45
अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् ।
यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ॥४५॥
Alas! How strange it is that we are resolved to commit a great sin, driven by the desire for royal pleasures, by trying to kill our own relatives.
Verse 46
यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः ।
धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ॥४६॥
It would be better for me if the sons of Dhritarashtra, armed with weapons, were to kill me unresisting and unarmed in battle.
Verse 47
सञ्जय उवाच ।
एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः सङ्ख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् ।
विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः ॥४७॥
Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus, Arjuna cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down in the back of the chariot, his heart overwhelmed with sorrow.
✅ Chapter 1 Summary
In this chapter, Arjuna is overcome with compassion, grief, and confusion upon seeing his relatives, teachers, and friends assembled for battle. Unable to carry out his duty as a warrior, he refuses to fight and surrenders in despair. This sets the stage for Lord Krishna’s divine teachings in the subsequent chapters.
