A story moment · reflective in mood · easy to enter
“Grief opens the door for instruction.”
Sanjaya said: To Arjuna, overcome by pity, his eyes full of tears and clouded with grief, Madhusudana spoke these words.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
Read literallySanjaya said · to him · thus · by pity · overcome · with eyes full of tears and troubled · grieving · this · speech · spoke · Madhusudana
Sanjaya describes Arjuna in tears and grief as Krishna begins to speak to him.
Sanjaya speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Sankhya Yoga" (The Yoga of Knowledge).
Verse 1 sits in Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita — Sankhya Yoga, "The Yoga of Knowledge". The chapter has 72 verses in total.
A friend sitting with you after your father's cremation waits until you have cried before saying anything. Sanjaya sets the scene the same way: Arjuna's tears come first, then Krishna speaks.
Did you like this verse?
Sanjaya shows Arjuna in tears, clouded by pity and grief, and then Madhusudana begins to speak.
What this verse means
Sanjaya describes Arjuna in tears and grief as Krishna begins to speak to him.
Context & commentary
Arjuna has broken down before the fight begins. Sanjaya describes his tear-filled, confused state just before Krishna answers him. This verse sets the emotional scene for the teaching that follows.
What it looks like today
A friend sitting with you after your father's cremation waits until you have cried before saying anything. Sanjaya sets the scene the same way: Arjuna's tears come first, then Krishna speaks.
“Even the deepest collapse can become the starting point of guidance.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), arjuna (52 verses), krishna (31 verses)