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Chapter 1: Observing The Armies On The Battlefield Of Kurukshetra

TEXT 1 dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ—King Dhṛtarāṣṭra; uvāca— Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: O Sañjaya, after

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca said; dharma-kṣetre—in the place of pilgrimage; kuru- assembling in the place of pilgrimage
dharma-kṣetre kuru-kṣetre kṣetre—in the place named Kurukṣetra; samavetāḥ— at Kurukṣetra, what did my sons and
samavetā yuyutsavaḥ assembled; yuyatsavaḥ—desiring to the sons of Pāṇḍu do, being desirous
māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva fight; māmakāḥ—my party (sons); pāṇḍavāḥ—the to fight?
kim akurvata sañjaya sons of Pāṇḍu; ca—and; eva-certainly; kim—
what; akurvata—did they do; sañjaya—O Sañjaya

TEXT 2 sañjayaḥ—Sañjaya; uvāca—said; dṛṣṭvā—after Sañjaya said: O King, after looking

sañjaya uvāca seeing; tu—but; pāṇḍava-anīkam—the soldiers of the over the army gathered by the sons
dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṁ Pāṇḍavas; vyūḍham—arranged in military of Pāṇḍu, King Duryodhana went to
vyūḍhaṁ duryodhanas tadā phalanx; duryodhanaḥ—King Duryodhana; tadā—at his teacher and began to speak the
ācāryam upasaṅgamya that time; ācāryam—the teacher; upasaṅgamya— following words:
rājā vacanam abravīt approaching nearby; rājā—the king; vacanam—
words; abravīt—spoke.

TEXT 3 paśya—behold; etām—this; pāṇḍu-putrāṇām—of the

O my teacher, behold the great army
paśyaitāṁ pāṇḍu-putrāṇām sons of Pāṇḍu; ācārya—O teacher; mahatīm—
of the sons of Pāṇḍu, so expertly
ācārya mahatīṁ camūm great; camūm—military force; vyuḍham—
arranged by your intelligent disciple,
vyūḍhāṁ drupada-putreṇa arranged; drupada-putreṇa—by the son
the son of Drupada
tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā of Drupada; tava—your; śiṣyeṇa—disciple; dhīmatā—
very intelligent.

TEXT 4 atra—here; śūrāḥ—heroes; maheṣvāsāḥ—mighty Here in this army there are many
atra śūrā maheṣv-āsā bowmen; bhīma-arjuna—Bhīma and Arjuna; samāḥ— heroic bowmen equal in fighting
bhīmārjuna-samā yudhi equal; yudhi—in the fight; yuyudhānaḥ— to Bhīma and Arjuna; there are also
yuyudhāno virāṭaś ca great fighters like
Yuyudhāna; virāṭaḥ—Virāṭa; ca—also; drupadaḥ—
drupadaś ca mahā-rathaḥ Yuyudhāna, Virāṭa and Drupada.
Drupada; ca—also; mahārathaḥ—great fighter.

TEXT 5 dhṛṣṭaketuḥ—Dhṛṣṭaketu; cekitānaḥ— There are also great, heroic,

dhṛṣṭaketuś cekitānaḥ Cekitāna; kāśirājaḥ—Kaśirāja; ca—also; vīryavān— powerful fighters like Dhṛṣṭaketu,
kāśirājaś ca vīryavān very powerful; purujit—Purujit; kuntibhojaḥ— Cekitāna, Kāśirāja, Purujit,
purujit kuntibhojaś ca Kuntibhoja; ca—and; śaibyaḥ—Śaibya; ca— Kuntibhoja and Śaibya.
śaibyaś ca nara-puṅgavaḥ and; nara-puṅgavaḥ—heroes in human society.

TEXT 6 yudhāmanyuḥ—Yudhāmanyu; ca—and; vikrāntaḥ— There are the mighty Yudhāmanyu,

yudhāmanyuś ca vikrānta mighty; uttamaujāḥ—Uttamaujā; ca—and; vīryavān— the very powerful Uttamaujā, the son
uttamaujāś ca vīryavān very powerful; saubhadraḥ—the son of Subhadrā and the sons
saubhadro draupadeyāś ca of Subhadrā; draupadeyāḥ—the sons of Draupadī. All these warriors are
sarva eva mahā-rathāḥ of Draupadī; ca—and; sarve—all; eva— great chariot fighters.
certainly; mahā-rathāḥ—great chariot fighters
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TEXT 7 asmākam—our; tu—but; viśiṣṭāḥ—especially O best of the brāhmaṇas, for your

asmākaṁ tu viśiṣṭā ye powerful; ye—those; tān—them; nibodha— information, let me tell you about the
tān nibodha dvijottama just take note, be informed; dvijottama—the captains who are especially qualified to lead
nāyakā mama sainyasya best of the brāhmaṇas; nāyakāḥ— my military force.
saṁjñārthaṁ tān bravīmi te captains; mama—my; sainyasya—of the
soldiers; saṁjñā-artham—for
information; tān—them; bravīmi—I am
speaking; te—your.

TEXT 8 bhavān—yourself; bhīṣmaḥ— There are personalities like

bhavān bhīṣmaś ca karṇaś ca Grandfather Bhīṣma; ca—also; karṇaḥ— yourself, Bhīṣma, Karṇa, Kṛpa, Aśvatthāmā,
kṛpaś ca samitiṁ-jayaḥ Karṇa; ca—and; kṛpaḥ—Kṛpa; ca— Vikarṇa and the son of Somadatta called
aśvatthāmā vikarṇaś ca and; samitiñjayaḥ—always victorious in Bhuriśravā, who are always victorious in
saumadattis tathaiva ca battle; aśvatthāmā— battle.
Aśvatthāmā; vikarṇaḥ—Vikarṇa; ca—as well
as; saumadattiḥ—the son of
Somadatta; tathā—and as;eva—
certainly; ca—and.

TEXT 9 anye—many others; ca—also; bahavaḥ—in There are many other heroes who are
anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā great numbers; śūrāḥ-heroes; mad-arthe— prepared to lay down their lives for my
mad-arthe tyakta-jīvitāḥ for my sake; tyakta-jīvitāḥ—prepared to risk sake. All of them are well equipped with
nānā-śastra-praharaṇāḥ life; nānā—many; śastra- different kinds of weapons, and all are
sarve yuddha-viśāradāḥ weapons; praharaṇāḥ—equipped experienced in military science.
with; sarve—all of them; yuddha—
battle; viśāradāḥ—experienced in military
science.

TEXT 10 aparyāptam—immeasurable; tat— Our strength is immeasurable, and we are

aparyāptaṁ tad asmākaṁ that; asmākam—of ours; balam— perfectly protected by Grandfather Bhīṣma,
balaṁ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam strength; bhīṣma—by whereas the strength of the Pāṇḍavas,
paryāptaṁ tv idam eteṣāṁ
balaṁ bhīmābhirakṣitam
Grandfather Bhīṣma; abhirakṣitam— carefully protected by Bhīma, is limited .
perfectly protected; paryāptam—
limited; tu—but; idam—all these; eteṣām—of
the Pāṇḍavas; balam—strength; bhīma—
by Bhīma; abhirakṣitam—carefully
protected.

TEXT 11 ayaneṣu—in the strategic points; ca— Now all of you must give full support to
ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu also; sarveṣu—everywhere; yathābhāgam— Grandfather Bhīṣma, standing at your
yathā-bhāgam avasthitāḥ as they are differently respective strategic points in the phalanx of
bhīṣmam evābhirakṣantu arranged; avasthitāḥ—situated; bhīṣmam— the army.
bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi unto Grandfather Bhīṣma; eva—
certainly; abhirakṣantu—support may be
given; bhavantaḥ—all of you; sarve—
respectively; eva—certainly; hi—and exactly.

TEXT 12 tasya—his; sañjanayan— Then Bhīṣma, the great valiant grandsire of

tasya sañjanayan harṣaṁ increasing; harṣam—cheerfulness; kuru- the Kuru dynasty, the grandfather of the
siṁha-nādaṁ vinadyoccaiḥ vṛddhaḥ—the grandsire of the Kuru dynasty fighters, blew his conchshell very loudly
śaṅkhaṁ dadhmau pratāpavān (Bhīṣma); pitāmahaḥ—the like the sound of a lion, giving Duryodhana
kuru-vṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ grandfather; siṁha-nādam—roaring sound, joy.
like a lion; vinadya—vibrating; uccaiḥ—very
loudly; śaṅkham—
conchshell; dadhmau,blew; pratāpavān;the
valiant.
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TEXT 13 tataḥ—thereafter; śaṅkhāḥ— After that, the conchshells,

tataḥ śaṅkhāś ca bheryaś ca conchshells; ca—also; bheryaḥ— bugles, trumpets, drums and horns
paṇavānaka-gomukhāḥ bugles; ca—and; paṇava-ānaka—trumpets were all suddenly sounded, and the
sahasaivābhyahanyanta and drums; go-mukhāḥ—horns; sahasā—all combined sound was tumultuous.
sa śabdas tumulo 'bhavat of a sudden; eva—
certainly; abhyahanyanta—being
simultaneously sounded; saḥ—
that; śabdaḥ—combined sound; tumulaḥ—
tumultuous; abhavat—became.

TEXT 14 tataḥ—thereafter; śvetaiḥ—by On the other side, both

tataḥ śvetair hayair yukte white; hayaiḥ—horses; yukte—being yoked Lord Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, stationed on a
mahati syandane sthitau with; mahati—in the great; syandane— great chariot drawn by white horses,
mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaś caiva chariot; sthitau—so situated; mādhavaḥ— sounded their transcendental
divyau śaṅkhau pradadhmatuḥ Kṛṣṇa (the husband of the goddess of conchshells.
fortune); pāṇḍavaḥ—Arjuna (the son
of Pāṇḍu); ca—also; eva—
certainly; divyau—
transcendental; śaṅkhau—
conchshells; pradadhmatuḥ—sounded.

TEXT 15 pāñcajanyam—the conchshell named Then, Lord Kṛṣṇa blew His conchshell,
pāñcajanyaṁ hṛṣīkeśo Pāñcajanya; hṛṣīkeśaḥ—Hṛṣīkeśa (Kṛṣṇa, the called Pāñcajanya; Arjuna blew his,
devadattaṁ dhanañjayaḥ Lord who directs the senses of the the Devadatta; and Bhīma, the
pauṇḍraṁ dadhmau mahā-śaṅkhaṁ devotees); devadattam—the conchshell voracious eater and performer of
bhīma-karmā vṛkodaraḥ named Devadatta; dhanañjayaḥ— Herculean tasks, blew his terrific
Dhanañjaya (Arjuna, the winner of conchshell called Pauṇḍram.
wealth); pauṇḍram—the conch
named Pauṇḍram; dadhmau—blew; mahā-
śaṅkham—the terrific conchshell; bhīma-
karmā—one who performs Herculean
tasks; vṛkodaraḥ—the voracious eater
(Bhīma).

TEXTS 16-18
ananta-vijayam—the conch named Ananta- King Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Kuntī,
anantavijayaṁ rājā
vijaya; rājā—the king; kuntī-putraḥ—the blew his conchshell, the Anantavijaya,
kuntī-putro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
son of Kuntī; yudhiṣṭhiraḥ— and Nakula and Sahadeva blew
nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca
Yudhiṣṭhira; nakulaḥ—Nakula; sahadevaḥ— the Sughoṣa and Maṇipuṣpaka. That
sughoṣa-maṇipuṣpakau
Sahadeva; ca—and; sughoṣa- great archer the King of Kāśī, the
maṇipuṣpakau—the conches great fighter
kāśyaś ca parameṣv-āsaḥ
named Sughoṣa and Maṇipuṣpaka; kāśyaḥ— Śikhaṇḍī, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Virāṭa and
śikhaṇḍī ca mahā-rathaḥ
the King of Kāśī (Vārāṇasī); ca— the unconquerable Sātyaki, Drupada,
dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaś ca the sons of Draupadī, and the others,
and; parama-iṣu-āsaḥ—the great
sātyakiś cāparājitaḥ O King, such as the son of Subhadrā,
archer; śikhaṇḍī—Śikhaṇḍī; ca—also; mahā-
rathaḥ—one who can fight alone against greatly armed, all blew their
drupado draupadeyāś ca respective conchshells.
thousands; dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ—
sarvaśaḥ pṛthivī-pate
Dhṛṣṭadyumna (the son of
saubhadraś ca mahā-bāhuḥ
King Drupada); virāṭaḥ—Virāṭa (the prince
śaṅkhān dadhmuḥ pṛthak pṛthak
who gave shelter to the Pāṇḍavas while they
were in disguise); ca—also; sātyakiḥ—
Sātyaki (the same as Yuyudhāna, the
charioteer of Lord Kṛṣṇa); ca—
and; aparājitaḥ—who had never been
vanquished; drupadaḥ—Drupada, the King
of Pāñcāla; draupadeyāḥ—the sons
of Draupadī; ca—also; sarvaśaḥ—
all; pṛthivī-pate—O King; saubhadraḥ—
Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadrā; ca—
also; mahā-bāhuḥ—mighty-
armed; śaṅkhān—conchshells; dadhmuḥ—
blew; pṛthak pṛthak—each separately
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TEXT 19 saḥ—that; ghoṣaḥ— The blowing of these different

sa ghoṣo dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṁ vibration; dhārtarāṣṭrāṇām—of the sons conchshells became uproarious, and
hṛdayāni vyadārayat of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; hṛdayāni— thus, vibrating both in the sky and on
nabhaś ca pṛthivīṁ caiva hearts; vyadārayat—shattered; nabhaḥ— the earth, it shattered the hearts of
tumulo 'bhyanunādayan the sky; ca—also; pṛthivīm—the surface of the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
the earth; ca—also; eva—
certainly; tumulaḥ—
uproarious; abhyanunādayan—by
resounding

TEXT 20 atha—thereupon; vyavasthitān— O King, at that time Arjuna, the son

atha vyavasthitān dṛṣṭvā situated; dṛṣṭvā—looking of Pāṇḍu, who was seated in his
dhārtarāṣṭrān kapi-dhvajaḥ on; dhārtarāṣṭrān—the sons chariot, his flag marked
pravṛtte śastra-sampāte of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; kapi-dhvajaḥ—one whose with Hanumān, took up his bow and
dhanur udyamya pāṇḍavaḥ flag is marked with Hanumān; pravṛtte— prepared to shoot his arrows, looking
while about to be engaged; śastra- at the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. O
hṛṣīkeśaṁ tadā vākyam sampāte—the arrows released; dhanuḥ— King, Arjuna then spoke
idam āha mahī-pate bow; udyamya—after taking to Hṛṣīkeśa [Kṛṣṇa] these words:
up; pāṇḍavaḥ—the son
of Pāṇḍu (Arjuna); hṛṣīkeśam—unto
Lord Kṛṣṇa; tadā—at that time; vākyam—
words; idam—these; āha—said; mahī-
pate—O King.

TEXTS 21-22 arjunaḥ—Arjuna; uvāca—said; senayoḥ—of Arjuna said: O infallible one, please
arjuna uvāca the armies; ubhayoḥ—of both the draw my chariot between the two
senayor ubhayor madhye parties; madhye—in between armies so that I may see who is
rathaṁ sthāpaya me 'cyuta them; ratham—the chariot; sthāpaya— present here, who is desirous of
yāvad etān nirīkṣe 'haṁ please keep; me—my; acyuta—O infallible fighting, and with whom I must
yoddhu-kāmān avasthitān one; yāvat—as long as; etān—all contend in this great battle attempt
these; nirīkṣe—may look; aham—I; yoddhu-
kair mayā saha yoddhavyam kāmān—desiring to fight; avasthitān—
asmin raṇa-samudyame arrayed on the battlefield; kaiḥ—with
whom; mayā—by me; saha—
with; yoddhavyam—to fight with; asmin—
in this; raṇa—strife; samudyame—in the
attempt.

TEXT 23 yotsyamānān—those who will be Let me see those who have come here
yotsyamānān avekṣe 'haṁ fighting; avekṣe—let me see; aham—I; ye— to fight, wishing to please the evil-
ya ete 'tra samāgatāḥ who; ete—those; atra—here; samāgatāḥ— minded son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddher assembled; dhārtarāṣṭrasya—the son
yuddhe priya-cikīrṣavaḥ of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; durbuddheḥ—evil-
minded; yuddhe—in the fight; priya—
well; cikīrṣavaḥ—wishing.

TEXT 24 sañjayaḥ—Sañjaya; uvāca—said; evam— Sañjaya said: O descendant

sañjaya uvāca thus; uktaḥ—addressed; hṛṣīkeśaḥ— of Bharata, being thus addressed
evam ukto hṛṣīkeśo Lord Kṛṣṇa; guḍākeśena— by Arjuna, Lord Kṛṣṇa drew up the
guḍākeśena bhārata by Arjuna; bhārata—O descendant fine chariot in the midst of the armies
senayor ubhayor madhye of Bharata; senayoḥ—of armies; ubhayoḥ— of both parties.
sthāpayitvā rathottamam of both; madhye—in the midst
of; sthāpayitvā—by placing; rathottamam—
the finest chariot.
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TEXT 25 bhīṣma—Grandfather Bhīṣma; droṇa—the In the presence of Bhīṣma, Droṇa and

bhīṣma-droṇa-pramukhataḥ teacher Droṇa; pramukhataḥ—in the front all other chieftains of the
sarveṣāṁ ca mahī-kṣitām of; sarveṣām—all; ca—also; mahīkṣitām— world, Hṛṣīkeśa, the Lord, said, Just
uvāca pārtha paśyaitān chiefs of the world; uvāca—said; pārtha— behold, Pārtha, all the Kurus who are
samavetān kurūn iti O Pārtha (son of Pṛthā); paśya—just assembled here.
behold; etān—all of them; samavetān—
assembled; kurūn—all the members of
the Kuru dynasty; iti—thus.

TEXT 26 tatra—there; apaśyat—he could There Arjuna could see, within the
tatrāpaśyat sthitān pārthaḥ see; sthitān—standing; pārthaḥ— midst of the armies of both parties,
pitṝn atha pitāmahān Arjuna; pitṝn—fathers; atha— his fathers, grandfathers, teachers,
ācāryān mātulān bhrātṝn also; pitāmahān—grandfathers; ācāryān— maternal uncles, brothers, sons,
putrān pautrān sakhīṁs tathā teachers; mātulān—maternal grandsons, friends, and also his
uncles; bhrātṝn—brothers; putrān—sons father-in-law and well-wishers-all
śvaśurān suhṛdaś caiva ; pautrān—grandsons; sakhīn— present there.
senayor ubhayor api friends; tathā—too, śvaśurān—fathers-in-
law; suhṛdaḥ—wellwishers; ca—also; eva—
certainly; senayoḥ—of the
armies; ubhayoḥ—of both parties; api—
including.

TEXT 27 tān—all of them; samīkṣya—after When the son of Kuntī, Arjuna, saw
tān samīkṣya sa kaunteyaḥ seeing; saḥ—he; kaunteyaḥ—the son all these different grades of friends
sarvān bandhūn avasthitān of Kuntī; sarvān—all kinds of; bandhūn— and relatives, he became
kṛpayā parayāviṣṭo relatives; avasthitān—situated; kṛpayā—by overwhelmed with compassion and
viṣīdann idam abravīt compassion; parayā—of a high spoke thus:
grade; āviṣṭaḥ—overwhelmed by; viṣīdan—
while lamenting; idam—thus; abravīt—
spoke.

TEXT 28 arjunaḥ—Arjuna; uvāca—said; dṛṣṭvā—after Arjuna said: My dear Kṛṣṇa, seeing my

arjuna uvāca seeing; imam—all these; svajanam— friends and relatives present before
dṛṣṭvemaṁ sva-janaṁ kṛṣṇa kinsmen; kṛṣṇa—O Kṛṣṇa; yuyutsum—all in me in such a fighting spirit, I feel the
yuyutsuṁ samupasthitam fighting spirit; samupasthitam—all limbs of my body quivering and my
sīdanti mama gātrāṇi present; sīdanti—quivering; mama— mouth drying up.
mukhaṁ ca pariśuṣyati my; gātrāṇi—limbs of the body; mukham—
mouth; ca—also; pariśuṣyati—drying up.

TEXT 29 vepathuḥ—trembling of the body; ca— My whole body is trembling, and my

vepathuś ca śarīre me also; śarīre—on the body; me—my; roma- hair is standing on end. My
roma-harṣaś ca jāyate harṣaḥ—standing of hair on end; ca— bow Gāṇḍīva is slipping from my
gāṇḍīvaṁ sraṁsate hastāt also; jāyate—is taking place; gāṇḍīvam—the hand, and my skin is burning.
tvak caiva paridahyate bow of Arjuna; sraṁsate—is
slipping; hastāt—from the hands; tvak—
skin; ca—also; eva—
certainly; paridahyate—burning.
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TEXT 30 na—nor; ca—also; śaknomi—am I I am now unable to stand here any

na ca śaknomy avasthātuṁ able; avasthātum—to stay; bhramati— longer. I am forgetting myself, and my
bhramatīva ca me manaḥ forgetting; iva—as; ca—and; me— mind is reeling. I foresee only evil, O
nimittāni ca paśyāmi my; manaḥ—mind; nimittāni—causes; ca— killer of the Keśī demon.
viparītāni keśava also; paśyāmi—I foresee; viparītāni—just
the opposite; keśava—O killer of the
demon Keśī (Kṛṣṇa).

TEXT 31 na—nor; ca—also; śreyaḥ— I do not see how any good can come
na ca śreyo 'nupaśyāmi good; anupaśyāmi—do I foresee; hatvā—by from killing my own kinsmen in this
hatvā sva-janam āhave killing; svajanam—own kinsmen; āhave—in battle, nor can I, my dear Kṛṣṇa,
na kāṅkṣe vijayaṁ kṛṣṇa the fight; na—nor; kānkṣe—do I desire any subsequent victory,
na ca rājyaṁ sukhāni ca desire; vijayam—victory; kṛṣṇa— kingdom, or happiness.
O Kṛṣṇa; na—nor; ca—also; rājyam—
kingdom; sukhāni—happiness thereof; ca—
also.

TEXTS 32-35
kim—what use; naḥ—to us; rājyena—is the O Govinda, of what avail to us are
kiṁ no rājyena govinda
kingdom; govinda—O Kṛṣṇa; kim— kingdoms, happiness or even life
kiṁ bhogair jīvitena vā
what; bhogaiḥ—enjoyment; jīvitena—by itself when all those for whom we may
yeṣām arthe kāṅkṣitaṁ no
living; vā—either; yeṣām—for desire them are now arrayed in this
rājyaṁ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca battlefield? O Madhusūdana, when
whom; arthe—for the matter
of; kāṅkṣitam—desired; naḥ—our; rājyam— teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers,
ta ime 'vasthitā yuddhe maternal uncles, fathers-in-law,
kingdom; bhogāḥ—material
prāṇāṁs tyaktvā dhanāni ca grandsons, brothers-in-law and all
enjoyment; sukhāni—all happiness; ca—
ācāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrās relatives are ready to give up their
also; te—all of them; ime—
tathaiva ca pitāmahāḥ lives and properties and are standing
these; avasthitāḥ—situated; yuddhe—in this
battlefield; prāṇān—lives; tyaktvā—giving before me, then why should I wish to
mātulāḥ śvaśurāḥ pautrāḥ kill them, though I may survive? O
up; dhanāni—riches; ca—also; ācāryāḥ—
śyālāḥ sambandhinas tathā maintainer of all creatures, I am not
teachers; pitaraḥ—fathers; putrāḥ—
etān na hantum icchāmi prepared to fight with them even in
sons; tathā—as well as; eva—certainly; ca—
ghnato 'pi madhusūdana exchange for the three worlds, let
also; pitāmahāḥ—grandfathers; mātulāḥ—
maternal uncles; śvaśurāḥ—fathers-in- alone this earth.
api trailokya-rājyasya
law; pautrāḥ—grandsons; śyālāḥ—brothers-
hetoḥ kiṁ nu mahī-kṛte
in-law; sambandhinaḥ—relatives; tathā—as
nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrān naḥ
well as; etān—all these; na—
kā prītiḥ syāj janārdana
never; hantum—for killing; icchāmi—do I
wish; ghnataḥ—being killed; api—
even; madhusūdana—O killer of the
demon Madhu (Kṛṣṇa); api—even
if; trailokya—of the three
worlds; rājyasya—of the kingdoms; hetoḥ—
in exchange; kim—what to speak of; nu—
only; mahī-kṛte—for the sake of
earth; nihatya—by killing; dhārtarāṣṭrān—
the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; naḥ—our; kā—
what; prītiḥ—pleasure; syāt—will there
be; janārdana—O maintainer of all living
entities.
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TEXT 36 pāpam—vices; eva—certainly; āśrayet— Sin will overcome us if we slay such

pāpam evāśrayed asmān must take upon; asmān—us; hatvā—by aggressors. Therefore it is not proper
hatvaitān ātatāyinaḥ killing; etān—all these; ātatāyinaḥ— for us to kill the sons
tasmān nārhā vayaṁ hantuṁ aggressors; tasmāt—therefore; na— of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and our friends. What
dhārtarāṣṭrān sa-bāndhavān never; arhāḥ—deserving; vayam— should we gain, O Kṛṣṇa, husband of
us; hantum—to kill; dhārtarāṣṭrān—the the goddess of fortune, and how could
sva-janaṁ hi kathaṁ hatvā sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; svabāndhavān—along we be happy by killing our own
sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava with friends; svajanam—kinsmen; hi— kinsmen?
certainly; katham—how; hatvā—by
killing; sukhinaḥ—happy; syāma—
become; mādhava—O Kṛṣṇa, husband of the
goddess of fortune.

TEXTS 37-38 yadi—if; api—certainly; ete—they; na—do O Janārdana, although these men,
yady apy ete na paśyanti not; paśyanti—see; lobha— overtaken by greed, see no fault in
lobhopahata-cetasaḥ greed; upahata—overpowered; cetasaḥ—the killing one's family or quarreling with
kula-kṣaya-kṛtaṁ doṣaṁ hearts; kula-kṣaya—in killing the friends, why should we, with
mitra-drohe ca pātakam family; kṛtam—done; doṣam—fault; mitra- knowledge of the sin, engage in these
drohe—quarreling with friends; ca— acts?
kathaṁ na jñeyam asmābhiḥ also; pātakam—sinful reactions; katham—
pāpād asmān nivartitum why; na—shall not; jñeyam—know
kula-kṣaya-kṛtaṁ doṣaṁ this; asmābhiḥ—by us; pāpāt—from
prapaśyadbhir janārdana sins; asmāt—ourselves; nivartitum—to
cease; kula-kṣaya—the destruction of a
dynasty; kṛtam—by so doing; doṣam—
crime; prapaśyadbhiḥ—by those who can
see; janārdana—O Kṛṣṇa.

TEXT 39 kula-kṣaye—in destroying the With the destruction of dynasty, the

kula-kṣaye praṇaśyanti family; praṇaśyanti—becomes eternal family tradition is vanquished,
kula-dharmāḥ sanātanāḥ vanquished; kula-dharmāḥ—the family and thus the rest of the family
dharme naṣṭe kulaṁ kṛtsnam traditions; sanātanāḥ—eternal; dharme—in becomes involved in irreligious
adharmo 'bhibhavaty uta religion; naṣṭe—being destroyed; kulam— practice.
family; kṛtsnam—wholesale; adharmaḥ—
irreligious; abhibhavati—transforms; uta—
it is said.

TEXT 40 adharma—irreligion; abhibhavāt—having When irreligion is prominent in the

adharmābhibhavāt kṛṣṇa been predominant; kṛṣṇa— family, O Kṛṣṇa, the women of the
praduṣyanti kula-striyaḥ O Kṛṣṇa; praduṣyanti—become family become corrupt, and from the
strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya polluted; kula-striyaḥ—family degradation of womanhood, O
jāyate varṇa-saṅkaraḥ ladies; strīṣu —of the descendant of Vṛṣṇi, comes unwanted
womanhood; duṣṭāsu—being so progeny.
polluted; vārṣṇeya—O descendant
of Vṛṣṇi; jāyate—it so becomes; varṇa-
saṅkaraḥ—unwanted progeny.

TEXT 41 saṅkaraḥ—such unwanted When there is increase of unwanted

saṅkaro narakāyaiva children; narakāya—for hellish life; eva— population, a hellish situation is
kula-ghnānāṁ kulasya ca certainly; kula-ghnānām—of those who are created both for the family and for
patanti pitaro hy eṣāṁ killers of the family; kulasya—of the those who destroy the family
lupta-piṇḍodaka-kriyāḥ family; ca—also; patanti—fall tradition. In such corrupt families,
down; pitaraḥ—forefathers; hi— there is no offering of oblations of
certainly; eṣām—of them; lupta— food and water to the ancestors.
stopped; piṇḍa—offerings; udaka—
water; kriyāḥ—performance.
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TEXT 42 doṣaiḥ—by such faults; etaiḥ—all Due to the evil deeds of the destroyers
doṣair etaiḥ kula-ghnānāṁ these; kula-ghnānām—of the destroyer of a of family tradition, all kinds of
varṇa-saṅkara-kārakaiḥ family; varṇa-saṅkara—unwanted community projects and family
utsādyante jāti-dharmāḥ children; kārakaiḥ—by the welfare activities are devastated.
kula-dharmāś ca śāśvatāḥ doers; utsādyante—causes devastation; jāti-
dharmāḥ—community project; kula-
dharmāḥ—family tradition; ca—
also; śāśvatāḥ—eternal.

TEXT 43 utsanna—spoiled; kula-dharmāṇām—of O Kṛṣṇa, maintainer of the people, I

utsanna-kula-dharmāṇāṁ those who have the family have heard by disciplic succession
manuṣyāṇāṁ janārdana traditions; manuṣyāṇām—of such that those who destroy family
narake niyataṁ vāso men; janārdana—O Kṛṣṇa; narake—in traditions dwell always in hell.
bhavatīty anuśuśruma hell; niyatam—always; vāsaḥ—
residence; bhavati—it so becomes; iti—
thus; anuśuśruma—I have heard by disciplic
succession.

TEXT 44 ahaḥ—alas; bata—how strange it Alas, how strange it is that we are

aho bata mahat pāpaṁ is; mahat—great; pāpam—sins; kartum—to preparing to commit greatly sinful
kartuṁ vyavasitā vayam perform; vyavasitāḥ—decided; vayam— acts, driven by the desire to enjoy
yad rājya-sukha-lobhena we; yat—so that; rājya—kingdom; sukha- royal happiness.
hantuṁ sva-janam udyatāḥ lobhena—driven by greed for royal
happiness; hantum—to kill; svajanam—
kinsmen; udyatāḥ—trying for.

TEXT 45 yadi—even if; mām—unto I would consider it better for the sons
yadi mām apratīkāram me; apratīkāram—without being of Dhṛtarāṣṭra to kill me unarmed and
aśastraṁ śastra-pāṇayaḥ resistant; aśastram—without being fully unresisting, rather than fight with
dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyus equipped; śastra-pāṇayaḥ—those with them.
tan me kṣemataraṁ bhavet weapons in hand; dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ—the sons
of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; raṇe—in the
battlefield; hanyuḥ—may kill; tat—
that; me—mine; kṣemataram—
better; bhavet—become.

TEXT 46 sañjayaḥ—Sañjaya; uvāca—said; evam— Sañjaya said: Arjuna, having thus

sañjaya uvāca thus; uktvā—saying; arjunaḥ— spoken on the battlefield, cast aside
evam uktvārjunaḥ saṅkhye Arjuna; saṅkhye—in the battlefield; ratha— his bow and arrows and sat down on
rathopastha upāviśat chariot; upasthaḥ—situated on; upāviśat— the chariot, his mind overwhelmed
visṛjya sa-śaraṁ cāpaṁ sat down again; visṛjya—keeping aside; sa- with grief.
śoka-saṁvigna-mānasaḥ śaram—along with arrows; cāpam—the
bow; śoka—lamentation; saṁvigna—
distressed; mānasaḥ—within the mind.
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