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“The battle becomes unbearable when every side is family.”
Seeing all his relatives standing there, Arjuna sank into grief and spoke in fear.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
Read literallyfathers-in-law · well-wishers · and · indeed · of the armies · of both · also · those · having seen · he · son of Kunti · all · relatives · standing
Arjuna sees every kind of relative on both sides of the battlefield and is overwhelmed with grief.
Sanjaya speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Arjuna Vishada Yoga" (The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair).
Verse 27 sits in Chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita — Arjuna Vishada Yoga, "The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair". The chapter has 47 verses in total.
At a funeral, you can hold yourself together until you see your mother's sister walk in. Arjuna's grief starts the same way, with the sight of family standing in front of him.
Did you like this verse?
Seeing all his relatives standing there, Arjuna sinks into grief, and his next words come out in fear.
What this verse means
Arjuna sees every kind of relative on both sides of the battlefield and is overwhelmed with grief.
Context & commentary
Arjuna looks again and sees familiar faces where strangers might have stood: fathers-in-law, friends, and relatives in both armies. That sight deepens his collapse and prepares the words of despair that follow.
What it looks like today
At a funeral, you can hold yourself together until you see your mother's sister walk in. Arjuna's grief starts the same way, with the sight of family standing in front of him.
“Seeing familiar faces can make a fight feel unbearable.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses)