Then Arjuna, son of Pritha, saw fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, friends, fathers-in-law, and well-wishers standing there.
— Sanjaya
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Bhagavad Gita · 1.26
Hindi · हिन्दी
उसके बाद पृथानन्दन अर्जुनने उन दोनों ही सेनाओंमें स्थित पिताओंको, पितामहोंको, आचार्योंको, मामाओंको, भाइयोंको, पुत्रोंको, पौत्रोंको तथा मित्रोंको, ससुरोंको और सुहृदोंको भी देखा ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
तत्रthereअपश्यत्sawस्थितान्standingपार्थःArjuna, son of Prithaपितृ़न्fathersअथalsoपितामहान्grandfathersआचार्यान्teachersमातुलान्maternal unclesभ्रातृ़न्brothersपुत्रान्sonsपौत्रान्grandsonsसखीन्friendsतथाand so on
Read literallythere · saw · standing · Arjuna, son of Pritha · fathers · also · grandfathers · teachers · maternal uncles · brothers · sons · grandsons · friends · and so on
Understanding the verse
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Arjuna looks across and sees fathers, grandfathers, teachers, uncles, brothers, sons and friends, all standing there.
01
In plain words
What this verse means
Arjuna looks across the battlefield and recognizes his own relatives and teachers among the enemy ranks.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna has placed Arjuna between the armies. As Arjuna looks, he sees fathers, grandfathers, teachers, cousins, sons, and friends on both sides. The war becomes personal in a single glance.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
At a cousin's wedding you scan the hall and find teachers, in-laws, old school friends and an uncle you once fought with. Arjuna's list reads that way, except every face here is in armour.
The takeaway
“The enemy is no longer abstract. The sight of familiar faces turns battle into grief.”
Arjuna looks across the battlefield and recognizes his own relatives and teachers among the enemy ranks.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 1.26?
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 1.26?
Verse 26 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 1.26 matter today?
At a cousin's wedding you scan the hall and find teachers, in-laws, old school friends and an uncle you once fought with. Arjuna's list reads that way, except every face here is in armour.
Arjuna looks across and sees fathers, grandfathers, teachers, uncles, brothers, sons and friends, all standing there.
What this verse means
Arjuna looks across the battlefield and recognizes his own relatives and teachers among the enemy ranks.
Context & commentary
Krishna has placed Arjuna between the armies. As Arjuna looks, he sees fathers, grandfathers, teachers, cousins, sons, and friends on both sides. The war becomes personal in a single glance.
What it looks like today
At a cousin's wedding you scan the hall and find teachers, in-laws, old school friends and an uncle you once fought with. Arjuna's list reads that way, except every face here is in armour.
“The enemy is no longer abstract. The sight of familiar faces turns battle into grief.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), arjuna (52 verses)