Arjuna Vishada Yoga
Two armies face each other on Kurukshetra. Arjuna sees his own kin across the field, and his bow falls. The Gita begins with a man unable to act.
All 47 verses of this chapter on one page. Read straight through, or press play and follow each verse as it is recited.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः । मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥
Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do, assembled on the holy field of Kurukshetra and eager for battle?
सञ्जय उवाच दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा । आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥
Sanjaya said: Seeing the Pandava army arranged in battle formation, King Duryodhana went to Dronacharya and spoke these words.
पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् । व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ॥
O teacher, look at this great army of the sons of Pandu, arranged in battle formation by your wise disciple, the son of Drupada.
अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि । युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ॥
Here in the Pandava army are mighty warriors, great archers, equal to Bhima and Arjuna in battle: Satyaki, Virata, and the great chariot-warrior Drupada.
धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान् । पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः ॥
Dhृष्टकेतु, Chekitana, and the valiant king of Kashi; Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Shaibya, the best among men.
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् । सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ॥
Yudhamanyu, brave and powerful, Uttamaujas, brave and powerful, Subhadra's son, and the sons of Draupadi — all of them are great warriors.
अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम । नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते ॥
O best of the twice-born, note also our own chief warriors. I name them to remind you of our army.
भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः । अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ॥
Bhishma, Karna, Kripa, Ashvatthama, Vikarna, and the son of Somadatta are also there.
अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः । नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ॥
Besides these, many heroes have given up their lives for my sake. They wield many kinds of weapons and are all skilled in warfare.
अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् । पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ॥
Our force, guarded by Bhishma, is insufficient; their force, guarded by Bhima, is sufficient.
अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः । भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ॥
Remain at your stations on every front and protect Bhishma from all sides.
तस्य संजनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः । सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ॥
The elder of the Kuru clan, the powerful grandfather Bhishma, roared like a lion and blew his conch loudly, filling Duryodhana with joy.
ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः । सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥
Then conches, kettledrums, drums, and trumpets burst forth at once. Their sound became thunderous.
ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ । माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः ॥
Then, seated on the great chariot yoked with white horses, Madhava and Pandava blew their divine conches.
पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनंजयः । पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः ॥
Hrisikesha Krishna blew the Panchajanya, Dhananjaya Arjuna blew the Devadatta, and Bhima of mighty deeds blew the great conch Paundra.
अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ ॥
King Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, blew the Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughosha and Manipushpaka.
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः । धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ॥
The great archer from Kashi, Shikhandi the great warrior, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and invincible Satyaki.
द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते । सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक् ॥
Drupada, Draupadi's sons, and mighty Abhimanyu each blew their conches separately, O lord of the earth.
स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत् । नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन् ॥
That terrible sound split the hearts of Dhritarashtra's side, echoing through sky and earth.
अथ व्यवस्थितान् दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः । प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसंपाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः ॥
Then, seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra standing in battle order while the weapons were about to begin, Arjuna lifted his bow.
अर्जुन उवाच हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते । सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ॥
Arjuna said: O Hrishikesha, place my chariot between the two armies, O Achyuta, until I can look at these men who wish to fight and see with whom I must battle in this war.
यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् । कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन्रणसमुद्यमे ॥
Arjuna said: O Achyuta, keep my chariot between the two armies until I can inspect these men standing here, eager for battle, and see with whom I must fight in this great struggle.
योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः । धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः ॥
I want to see those who have gathered here, eager to fight and wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra.
संजय उवाच एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत । सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ॥
Sanjaya said: Spoken to thus by Gudakesha, Hrishikesha stationed the finest chariot between the two armies, in front of Bhishma, Drona, and all the kings.
भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् । उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति ॥
Standing before Bhishma, Drona, and all the rulers, Krishna said, "O Partha, behold these assembled Kurus."
तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितृ़नथ पितामहान् । आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातृ़न्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा ॥
Then Arjuna, son of Pritha, saw fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, friends, fathers-in-law, and well-wishers standing there.
श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि । तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान् ॥
Seeing all his relatives standing there, Arjuna sank into grief and spoke in fear.
अर्जुन उवाच कृपया परयाऽऽविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् । दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् ॥
Arjuna said: Seeing my own people gathered here, eager for battle, I am overcome with pity and grief, O Krishna.
सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति । वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते ॥
My limbs are failing, my mouth is drying up, my body trembles, and my hair stands on end.
गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते । न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ॥
My bow slips from my hand. My skin burns. I cannot stand steady, and my mind reels.
निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव । न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे ॥
O Keshava, I see only inauspicious signs, and I see no good in killing my own people in battle.
न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च । किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा ॥
I do not desire victory, Krishna, nor kingdom, nor pleasures. What use is kingdom to us, Govinda? What use are pleasures or even life?
येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च । त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ॥
Those for whom we wanted kingdom, pleasures, and comfort stand here in battle, ready to give up life and wealth.
आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः । मातुलाः श्चशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा ॥
Teachers, fathers, sons, 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 want to kill these people, even if they kill me, O Madhusudana. Not even for the rule of the three worlds, much less for the earth.
निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन । पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ॥
O Janardana, what joy would come to us by killing these sons of Dhritarashtra? Killing these aggressors would only bring us sin.
तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान् । स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ॥
Therefore, we are not fit to kill our own kinsmen, the sons of Dhritarashtra. How could we be happy after killing our relatives, O Madhava?
यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः । कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ॥
Though greed has blinded them, they do not see the fault in destroying a family or the wrong in betraying friends.
कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम् । कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ॥
Why should we not turn away from this sin, when we clearly see the fault in destroying the family, O Janardana?
कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः । धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ॥
When a family falls apart, its ancient duties disappear. When duty is lost, wrongdoing overtakes the whole family.
अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः । स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः ॥
When lawlessness grows, the women of the family are corrupted. When women are corrupted, mixed social disorder is born.
सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च । पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः ॥
Mixed lineage leads the destroyers of family to ruin, and their ancestors fall because offerings of food and water stop.
दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः । उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ॥
Because of these faults that create mixed social order, the eternal duties of family and community are destroyed.
उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन । नरकेऽनियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥
O Janardana, we have always heard that those whose family duties are destroyed dwell long in a lower realm.
अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् । यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ॥
Alas, we have resolved to commit a grave wrong—driven by greed for kingdom and pleasure, we are ready to kill our own kin.
यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः । धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ॥
If the armed sons of Dhritarashtra were to kill me in battle while I stood unresisting and without weapons, that would be far better for me.
सञ्जय उवाच एवमुक्त्वाऽर्जुनः संख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् । विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः ॥
Sanjaya said: Saying this, Arjuna sat down on the chariot seat in the midst of the battlefield, casting aside his bow and arrows, his mind overwhelmed by grief.