Then, seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra standing in battle order while the weapons were about to begin, Arjuna lifted his bow.
— Sanjaya
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Bhagavad Gita · 1.20
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे महीपते धृतराष्ट्र अब शस्त्रों के चलने की तैयारी हो ही रही थी कि उस समय अन्यायपूर्वक राज्य को धारण करनेवाले राजाओं और उनके साथियों को व्यवस्थितरूप से सामने खड़े हुए देखकर कपिध्वज पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुन ने अपना गाण्डीव धनुष उठा लिया और अन्तर्यामी भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण से ये वचन बोले ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
अथthenव्यवस्थितान्arrayed, standing in orderदृष्ट्वाhaving seenधार्तराष्ट्रान्the sons of Dhritarashtraकपिध्वजःhe whose banner bears Hanumanप्रवृत्तेwhen begunशस्त्रसंपातेthe clash of weaponsधनुःbowउद्यम्यliftingपाण्डवःthe son of Pandu
Read literallythen · arrayed, standing in order · having seen · the sons of Dhritarashtra · he whose banner bears Hanuman · when begun · the clash of weapons · bow · lifting · the son of Pandu
Understanding the verse
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Arjuna lifts his bow just as the weapons are about to fly, ready for the fight.
01
In plain words
What this verse means
Arjuna sees the opposing army ready for battle and raises his bow.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
The two armies stand ready. Sanjaya describes the exact instant before violence begins: Arjuna sees the sons of Dhritarashtra arrayed before him and lifts Gandiva. This is the moment just before his inner collapse turns into speech.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
At the start of a board exam, you pick up the pen the moment the invigilator says begin. Arjuna lifts his bow in that same instant of readiness, before any doubt has surfaced.
The takeaway
“The body moves toward action even when the mind is about to hesitate.”
Arjuna sees the opposing army ready for battle and raises his bow.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 1.20?
Sanjaya speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Arjuna Vishada Yoga" (The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 1.20?
Verse 20 sits in Chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita — Arjuna Vishada Yoga, "The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair". The chapter has 47 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 1.20 matter today?
At the start of a board exam, you pick up the pen the moment the invigilator says begin. Arjuna lifts his bow in that same instant of readiness, before any doubt has surfaced.
Arjuna lifts his bow just as the weapons are about to fly, ready for the fight.
What this verse means
Arjuna sees the opposing army ready for battle and raises his bow.
Context & commentary
The two armies stand ready. Sanjaya describes the exact instant before violence begins: Arjuna sees the sons of Dhritarashtra arrayed before him and lifts Gandiva. This is the moment just before his inner collapse turns into speech.
What it looks like today
At the start of a board exam, you pick up the pen the moment the invigilator says begin. Arjuna lifts his bow in that same instant of readiness, before any doubt has surfaced.
“The body moves toward action even when the mind is about to hesitate.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), arjuna (52 verses), battlefield (20 verses)