The opening chapter sets the scene on the field of Kurukshetra. Sanjaya, blessed with divine sight, narrates to the blind king Dhritarashtra. Arjuna asks Krishna to drive his chariot between the two armies. Seeing his kinsmen arrayed for battle, his bow Gandiva slips from his hand. He sinks into the chariot, overcome with grief.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच । धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः । मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | dharma-kṣetre kuru-kṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ | māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāś-caiva kim-akurvata sañjaya ||
Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, gathered on the field of dharma, on Kurukshetra, eager for battle — what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do?
सञ्जय उवाच । दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा । आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥
sañjaya uvāca | dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṃ vyūḍhaṃ duryodhanas-tadā | ācāryam-upasaṅgamya rājā vacanam-abravīt ||
Sanjaya said: Seeing the Pandava army arrayed for battle, King Duryodhana approached his teacher Drona and spoke these words.
पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् । व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ॥
paśyaitāṃ pāṇḍu-putrāṇām-ācārya mahatīṃ camūm | vyūḍhāṃ drupada-putreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā ||
Behold, O teacher, this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed by the son of Drupada, your own wise disciple.
अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि । युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ॥
atra śūrā maheṣv-āsā bhīmārjuna-samā yudhi | yuyudhāno virāṭaś-ca drupadaś-ca mahā-rathaḥ ||
Here are heroes, mighty archers equal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna — Yuyudhana, Virata, and the great chariot warrior Drupada.
धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान् । पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः ॥
dhṛṣṭaketuś-cekitānaḥ kāśirājaś-ca vīryavān | purujit-kuntibhojaś-ca śaibyaś-ca nara-puṅgavaḥ ||
Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, the valiant king of Kashi, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Shaibya — bull among men.
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् । सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ॥
yudhāmanyuś-ca vikrānta uttamaujāś-ca vīryavān | saubhadro draupadeyāś-ca sarva eva mahā-rathāḥ ||
The valiant Yudhamanyu, the brave Uttamaujas, the son of Subhadra, and the sons of Draupadi — all great chariot warriors.
अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम । नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते ॥
asmākaṃ tu viśiṣṭā ye tān-nibodha dvijottama | nāyakā mama sainyasya saṃjñārthaṃ tān bravīmi te ||
Know also, O best of the twice-born, the distinguished ones on our side — the leaders of my army. I name them for your information.
भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः । अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ॥
bhavān bhīṣmaś-ca karṇaś-ca kṛpaś-ca samitiñjayaḥ | aśvatthāmā vikarṇaś-ca saumadattis-tathaiva ca ||
Yourself, Bhishma, Karna, and the victorious Kripa; Ashvatthama, Vikarna, and the son of Somadatta as well.
अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः । नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ॥
anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā mad-arthe tyakta-jīvitāḥ | nānā-śastra-praharaṇāḥ sarve yuddha-viśāradāḥ ||
And many other heroes, ready to lay down their lives for my sake, armed with various weapons, all skilled in battle.
अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् । पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ॥
aparyāptaṃ tad-asmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam | paryāptaṃ tv-idam-eteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhirakṣitam ||
Our army, defended by Bhishma, is unlimited; theirs, defended by Bhima, is limited.
अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः । भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ॥
ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu yathā-bhāgam-avasthitāḥ | bhīṣmam-evābhirakṣantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi ||
Stationed in your respective positions on all fronts, all of you — protect Bhishma alone.
तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः । सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ॥
tasya sañjanayan harṣaṃ kuru-vṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ | siṃha-nādaṃ vinadyoccaiḥ śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau pratāpavān ||
Then the venerable grandsire Bhishma, the glorious elder of the Kurus, roaring like a lion to cheer Duryodhana, blew his conch.
ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः । सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥
tataḥ śaṅkhāś-ca bheryaś-ca paṇavānaka-gomukhāḥ | sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śabdas-tumulo’bhavat ||
Then conches, kettledrums, tabors, drums and horns suddenly sounded; the tumult was tremendous.
ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ । माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः ॥
tataḥ śvetair-hayair-yukte mahati syandane sthitau | mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaś-caiva divyau śaṅkhau pradadhmatuḥ ||
Then, stationed in their great chariot yoked with white horses, Madhava (Krishna) and Pandava (Arjuna) blew their divine conches.
पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः । पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः ॥
pāñcajanyaṃ hṛṣīkeśo devadattaṃ dhanañjayaḥ | pauṇḍraṃ dadhmau mahā-śaṅkhaṃ bhīma-karmā vṛkodaraḥ ||
Hrishikesha blew the Panchajanya, Dhananjaya the Devadatta; Bhima of terrible deeds blew the great conch Paundra.
अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ ॥
ananta-vijayaṃ rājā kuntī-putro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | nakulaḥ sahadevaś-ca sughoṣa-maṇipuṣpakau ||
King Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, blew the Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughosha and Manipushpaka.
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः । धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ॥
kāśyaś-ca parameṣv-āsaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahā-rathaḥ | dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaś-ca sātyakiś-cāparājitaḥ ||
The king of Kashi, supreme archer; the great warrior Shikhandi; Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and the unconquered Satyaki.
द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते । सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक् ॥
drupado draupadeyāś-ca sarvaśaḥ pṛthivī-pate | saubhadraś-ca mahā-bāhuḥ śaṅkhān dadhmuḥ pṛthak pṛthak ||
Drupada, the sons of Draupadi, and the mighty-armed son of Subhadra — O lord of the earth — all blew their conches separately.
स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत् । नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन् ॥
sa ghoṣo dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ hṛdayāni vyadārayat | nabhaś-ca pṛthivīṃ caiva tumulo vyanunādayan ||
That tumultuous sound, reverberating through heaven and earth, tore the hearts of the sons of Dhritarashtra.
अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः । प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः । हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते ॥
atha vyavasthitān dṛṣṭvā dhārtarāṣṭrān kapi-dhvajaḥ | pravṛtte śastra-sampāte dhanur-udyamya pāṇḍavaḥ | hṛṣīkeśaṃ tadā vākyam-idam-āha mahī-pate ||
Then, O King, seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra arrayed, as weapons were about to clash, Arjuna — whose banner bears Hanuman — raised his bow and spoke to Krishna.
अर्जुन उवाच । सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ॥
arjuna uvāca | senayor-ubhayor-madhye rathaṃ sthāpaya me’cyuta ||
Arjuna said: O Achyuta, place my chariot between the two armies.
यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् । कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन् रणसमुद्यमे ॥
yāvad-etān nirīkṣe’haṃ yoddhu-kāmān-avasthitān | kair-mayā saha yoddhavyam-asmin raṇa-samudyame ||
So that I may behold these warriors standing eager for battle, and know with whom I must fight in this enterprise of war.
योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः । धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः ॥
yotsyamānān-avekṣe’haṃ ya ete’tra samāgatāḥ | dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddher yuddhe priya-cikīrṣavaḥ ||
Let me see those who have come ready to fight, eager to please the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra in battle.
सञ्जय उवाच । एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत । सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ॥
sañjaya uvāca | evam-ukto hṛṣīkeśo guḍākeśena bhārata | senayor-ubhayor-madhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam ||
Sanjaya said: O Bharata, thus addressed by Arjuna, Krishna placed the magnificent chariot between the two armies.
भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् । उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति ॥
bhīṣma-droṇa-pramukhataḥ sarveṣāṃ ca mahī-kṣitām | uvāca pārtha paśyaitān samavetān kurūn-iti ||
In front of Bhishma, Drona, and all the rulers of the earth, he said: O Partha, behold these Kurus assembled here.
तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान् । आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा ॥
tatrāpaśyat sthitān pārthaḥ pitṝn-atha pitāmahān | ācāryān mātulān bhrātṝn putrān pautrān sakhīṃs-tathā ||
There Arjuna saw fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and friends.
श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि । तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान् ॥
śvaśurān suhṛdaś-caiva senayor-ubhayor-api | tān samīkṣya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvān bandhūn-avasthitān ||
Fathers-in-law and well-wishers too, in both armies. Seeing all these kinsmen so arrayed, the son of Kunti—
कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् । अर्जुन उवाच । दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् ॥
kṛpayā parayāviṣṭo viṣīdann-idam-abravīt | arjuna uvāca | dṛṣṭvemaṃ sva-janaṃ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṃ samupasthitam ||
Overcome with deep compassion and despair, he said: O Krishna, seeing these my own kinsmen arrayed eager to fight—
सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति । वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते ॥
sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṃ ca pariśuṣyati | vepathuś-ca śarīre me roma-harṣaś-ca jāyate ||
My limbs give way, my mouth dries up, my body trembles, my hair stands on end.
गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते । न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ॥
gāṇḍīvaṃ sraṃsate hastāt tvak-caiva paridahyate | na ca śaknomy-avasthātuṃ bhramatīva ca me manaḥ ||
The bow Gandiva slips from my hand; my skin burns. I cannot stand my ground; my mind is whirling.
निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव । न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे ॥
nimittāni ca paśyāmi viparītāni keśava | na ca śreyo’nupaśyāmi hatvā svajanam-āhave ||
I see only ill omens, O Keshava. I see no good in slaying my own kin in battle.
न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च । किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा ॥
na kāṅkṣe vijayaṃ kṛṣṇa na ca rājyaṃ sukhāni ca | kiṃ no rājyena govinda kiṃ bhogair-jīvitena vā ||
I desire neither victory, O Krishna, nor kingdom nor pleasures. What use is kingdom to us, O Govinda — what use are enjoyments or even life?
येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च । त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ॥
yeṣām-arthe kāṅkṣitaṃ no rājyaṃ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca | ta ime’vasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṃs-tyaktvā dhanāni ca ||
Those for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyments, and pleasures stand here in battle, ready to give up their lives and wealth.
आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः । मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा ॥
ācāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrās-tathaiva ca pitāmahāḥ | mātulāḥ śvaśurāḥ pautrāḥ śyālāḥ sambandhinas-tathā ||
Teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other kinsmen.
एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन । अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते ॥
etān na hantum-icchāmi ghnato’pi madhusūdana | api trailokya-rājyasya hetoḥ kiṃ nu mahī-kṛte ||
I do not wish to slay them, O Madhusudana, even if I am slain — not for sovereignty of the three worlds, much less for the earth.
निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन । पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ॥
nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrān naḥ kā prītiḥ syāj-janārdana | pāpam-evāśrayed-asmān hatvaitān-ātatāyinaḥ ||
O Janardana, what joy could there be in killing the sons of Dhritarashtra? Even killing these aggressors, only sin would cling to us.
तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान् । स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ॥
tasmān nārhā vayaṃ hantuṃ dhārtarāṣṭrān sva-bāndhavān | sva-janaṃ hi kathaṃ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava ||
Therefore we ought not to kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our own relatives. How, O Madhava, can we be happy after slaying our own kin?
यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः । कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ॥
yady-apy-ete na paśyanti lobhopahata-cetasaḥ | kula-kṣaya-kṛtaṃ doṣaṃ mitra-drohe ca pātakam ||
Though their minds, blinded by greed, do not see the evil in destroying a family or the sin in betraying friends—
कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम् । कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ॥
kathaṃ na jñeyam-asmābhiḥ pāpād-asmān-nivartitum | kula-kṣaya-kṛtaṃ doṣaṃ prapaśyadbhir-janārdana ||
Why should we not, O Janardana, who clearly see the evil in destroying a family, turn back from this sin?
कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः । धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ॥
kula-kṣaye praṇaśyanti kula-dharmāḥ sanātanāḥ | dharme naṣṭe kulaṃ kṛtsnam-adharmo’bhibhavaty-uta ||
In the destruction of a family, the eternal family traditions perish. When dharma perishes, adharma overcomes the whole family.
अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः । स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः ॥
adharmābhibhavāt kṛṣṇa praduṣyanti kula-striyaḥ | strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇa-saṅkaraḥ ||
When adharma prevails, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupt; and when the women are corrupt, O Varshneya, intermixture of caste arises.
सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च । पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः ॥
saṅkaro narakāyaiva kula-ghnānāṃ kulasya ca | patanti pitaro hy-eṣāṃ lupta-piṇḍodaka-kriyāḥ ||
Such intermixture leads to hell for the destroyers of the family and for the family itself. Their ancestors fall, deprived of the offerings of rice and water.
दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः । उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ॥
doṣair-etaiḥ kula-ghnānāṃ varṇa-saṅkara-kārakaiḥ | utsādyante jāti-dharmāḥ kula-dharmāś-ca śāśvatāḥ ||
By these evils of the destroyers of family, causing intermixture, the eternal duties of caste and family are abolished.
उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन । नरकेऽनियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥
utsanna-kula-dharmāṇāṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ janārdana | narake’niyataṃ vāso bhavatīty-anuśuśruma ||
O Janardana, we have heard that those whose family dharma is destroyed dwell indefinitely in hell.
अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् । यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ॥
aho bata mahat-pāpaṃ kartuṃ vyavasitā vayam | yad-rājya-sukha-lobhena hantuṃ svajanam-udyatāḥ ||
Alas, what a great sin we are about to commit, that out of greed for the joys of kingdom we are prepared to slay our own kin.
यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः । धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ॥
yadi mām-apratīkāram-aśastraṃ śastra-pāṇayaḥ | dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyus tan-me kṣemataraṃ bhavet ||
If the sons of Dhritarashtra, weapons in hand, were to slay me — unresisting and unarmed — in battle, that would be better for me.
सञ्जय उवाच । एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः सङ्ख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् । विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः ॥
sañjaya uvāca | evam-uktvārjunaḥ saṅkhye rathopastha upāviśat | visṛjya sa-śaraṃ cāpaṃ śoka-saṃvigna-mānasaḥ ||
Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus on the battlefield, Arjuna cast aside his bow and arrows and sank down on the seat of the chariot, his mind overwhelmed with grief.