bhagavad-giitaa adhyaaya 1 (English)

Bhagavad-giitaa means the song of Bhagavaan. Bhagavaan is a name of Vis'n'u, that occurs in the Vis'n'u-sahasra-naama. In the Bhagavad-giitaa, Bhagavaan is traditionally identified with Kr's'n'a, who is also considered to be Vis'n'u himself. Vis'n'u-sahasra-naama is a collection of a thousand names of Vis'nu. Both Bhagavad-giitaa and Vis'n'u-sahasra-naama are included in the famous epic Mahaabhaarata, and this first chapter of the Bhagavad-giitaa is a transition from the scene of Mahaabhaarata to the actual teachings of Kr's'n'a, which start in the second chapter. The scene of the Mahaabhaarata is a battle in Kuruks'etra, where the forces of the Kuru dynasty fight against the forces of the Paan'd'ava dynasty. Arjuna is a fighter in the Paan'd'ava dynasty, and Kr's'n'a is his charioteer. Modern people sometimes have difficulties to understand why battles and wars are described in divine scriptures, but the reason is that the fight between divine forces and demoniac forces is a very ancient battle, that still goes on in many ways. It might happen as a physical fight, or as a more subtle mental battle. When a person takes his religious life seriously, there will be obstacles in his way, and he must fight those obstacles. Of course, this doesn't mean that anyone should fight whimsically against anyone who disagrees with him, but proper guidance is necessary. In this preparation for battle, Arjuna loses his will to fight, and this is a natural feeling when he realises the consequences of the fight, that has already been prepared. His opponents are ready and willing to fight, but he has lost the will to defend. This is a serious problem, since he is actually a military man, and as such, his duty is to defend righteous principles.

Next adhyaaya

D:àt:raÄÕ uv:ac: D:m:üx:ð:ð kÙ,x:ð:ð s:m:v:ðt:a y:Øy:Øts:v:H . m:am:kaH p:aNRv:Á:òv: ekm:kÙv:üt: s:Wj:y: / 1 /	Dhr'taraas't'ra spoke: When they had assembled at Kuruks'etra, the field of justice, willing to fight, what did my and Paan'd'ava's warriors arrange for, O Sanjjaya? (1)
s:Wj:y: uv:ac: dàÄÏv:a t:Ø p:aNRv:an:ik÷ vy:ÜZö dØy:<üD:n:st:da . Aac:ay:üm:Øp:s:¤my: raj:a v:c:n:m:b:Òv:it:Î / 2 /	Sanjjaya spoke: Then, after seeing Paan'd'ava's forces prepared for battle, the king Duryodhana approached his teacher and said these words: (2)
p:Sy:òt:aö p:aNRÙp:Ø:aN:am:ac:ay:ü m:ht:iö c:m:Üm:Î . vy:ÜZö dÒÙp:dp:Ø:ðN: t:v: eS:\y:ðN: D:im:t:a / 3 /	See, O teacher, the huge army of Paan'd'u's sons, prepared by Drupada's son, your wise disciple! (3)
A*: S:Üra m:hð\v:as:a B:im:aj:Øün:s:m:a y:ØeD: . y:Øy:ØD:an:< ev:raXÁ: dÒÙp:dÁ: m:harT:H / 4 /	Here are heroic archers, equal to Bhiima and Arjuna in battle, and Yuyudhaana, Viraat'a, and Drupada the great warrior, (4)
D:àÄkñt:ØÁ:ðekt:an:H kaeS:raj:Á: v:iy:üv:an:Î . p:Ø,ej:tkÙ¡nt:B:<j:Á: S:òby:Á: n:rp:Ø¤v:H / 5 /	and Dhr's't'aketu, Cekitaana, Kaas''iraaja the possessor of great courage, and Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and S''aibya the bull among men, (5)
y:ØD:am:ny:ØÁ: ev:#ant: u¶:m:>j:Á: v:iy:üv:an:Î . s:>B:dÒ< dÒ>p:dðy:Á: s:v:ü Ov: m:harT:aH / 6 /	and Yudhaamanyu the mighty front-runner, and Uttamauja the possessor of great courage, and Subhadraa's son^*, and Draupadii's sons. All are indeed great warriors, (6)
Asm:ak÷ t:Ø ev:eS:Äa y:ð t:aeÀb:<D: e¾j:<¶:m: . n:ay:ka m:m: s:òny:sy: s:öwaT:þ t:anb:Òv:iem: t:ð / 7 /	but listen and learn about those distinguished ones on our side, o topmost amongst twice-born. For the sake of deep knowledge, I tell you about my army's commanders. (7)
B:v:anB:i\m:Á: kN:üÁ: káp:Á: s:em:et:Wj:y:H . AÃ:tT:am:a ev:kN:üÁ: s:>m:de¶:j:üy:dÒT:H / 8 /	You, and Bhiis'ma, and Karn'a, and Kr'pa the victorious in battle, As''vatthaamaa, and Vikarn'a, and Somadatta's son^, and Jayadratha,^ (8)
Any:ð c: b:hv:H S:Üra m:dT:ðü ty:Vt:j:iev:t:aH . n:an:aS:s*:)hrN:aH s:v:ðü y:Ø¹ev:S:ardaH / 9 /	and many other heroes, who are ready to abandon their life for my sake. All are strikers of various weapons, and experienced in war. (9)
Ap:y:aüpt:ö t:dsm:ak÷ b:l:ö B:i\m:aeB:rex:t:m:Î . p:y:aüpt:ö ¡tv:dm:ðt:ð\:aö b:l:ö B:im:aeB:rex:t:m:Î / 10 /	That strength, which is guarded by Bhiis'ma, is insufficient for us, but this strength, which is guarded by Bhiima, is sufficient for them, (10)
Ay:n:ð\:Ø c: s:v:ðü\:Ø y:T:aB:ag:m:v:¡sT:t:aH . B:i\m:m:ðv:aeB:rx:nt:Ø B:v:nt:H s:v:ü Ov: eh / 11 /	and in all movements, standing near the division, let your highness and indeed everyone guard even Bhiis'ma! (11)
t:sy: s:Wj:n:y:nh\:þ kÙ,v:à¹H ep:t:am:hH . es:öhn:adö ev:n:½<cc:òH S:£ö dDm:> )t:ap:v:an:Î / 12 /	The senior Kuru, the paternal grandfather, the possessor of brilliance^, got his^ happiness produced, while blowing the conch like a lion's roar with a loud noise. (12)
t:t:H S:£aÁ: B:ðy:üÁ: p:N:v:an:kg:<m:ØK:aH . s:hs:òv:aBy:hny:nt: s: S:bdst:Øm:Øl:<\|B:v:t:Î / 13 /	Thereafter conches and kettledrums, pan'ava, military drums, and horns were beaten vehemently indeed. That sound was tumultuous. (13)
t:t:H Ã:ðt:òhüy:òy:ØüVt:ð m:het: sy:ndn:ð ¡sT:t:> . m:aD:v:H p:aNRv:Á:òv: edvy:> S:£> )dDm:t:ØH / 14 /	Thereafter, Maadhava^* and Paan'd'u's son^*, who were located in a large chariot drawn by white horses, blew into divine conches. (14)
p:aWc:j:ny:ö Æ\:ikñS:< dðv:d¶:ö D:n:Wj:y:H . p:>NRÕö dDm:> m:haS:£ö B:im:km:aü v:àk<drH / 15 /	Hr's'ikes''a^* blew Paanjcajanya, Dhananjjaya^* blew Devadatta, Bhiimakarmaa the wolf-bellied blew the great conch Paun'd'ra. (15)
An:nt:ev:j:y:ö raj:a kÙnt:ip:Ø*:< y:ØeD:eÅrH . n:kÙl:H s:hdðv:Á: s:ØG:<\:m:eN:p:Ø\p:k> / 16 /	Kuntii's son, king Yudhis't'hira, blew Anantavijaya, Nakula and Sahadeva blew Sughos'a and Man'ipus'paka, (16)
kaSy:Á: p:rm:ð\v:as:H eS:K:NRi c: m:harT:H . D:àÄ½Ùmn:< ev:raXÁ: s:aty:ekÁ:ap:raej:t:H / 17 /	and Kaas''ya the supreme archer, and S''ikhan'd'ii the great warrior, Dhr's't'adymna and Viraat'a, and Saatyaki the undefeated, (17)
dÒÙp:d< dÒ>p:dðy:aÁ: s:v:üS:H p:àeT:v:ip:t:ð . s:>B:dÒÁ: m:hab:ahÚH S:£andDm:ØH p:àT:Vp:àT:kÏ / 18 /	and Drupada and Draupadii's sons, o ruler of the earth, and Subhadra's son^* with strong arms, thoroughly blew conches one by one. (18)
s: G:<\:< D:at:üraÄÕaN:aö Ædy:aen: vy:dary:t:Î . n:B:Á: p:àeT:v:iö c:òv: t:Øm:Øl:<\|By:n:Øn:ady:n:Î / 19 /	That battle-noise caused the hearts of Dhr'taraas't'ra's sons to burst. The clouds and even the earth were caused to resound tumultuously. (19)
AT: vy:v:¡sT:t:andàÄÏv:a D:t:üraÄÕan:Î kep:Dv:j:H . )v:à¶:ð S:s*:s:mp:at:ð D:n:Ø,½my: p:aNRv:H . Æe\:kñS:ö t:da v:aVy:em:dm:ah m:hip:t:ð / 20 /	Then, Kapidhvaja^, Paan'd'u's son^, while set in motion encountering the weapons, after seeing Dhr'taraas't'ra's sons stratecigally spread out, and after lifting the bow, then spoke these statements to Hr's'ikes''a^*, o king of the earth. (20)
Aj:Øün: uv:ac: s:ðn:y:<,B:y:<m:üDy:ð rT:ö sT:ap:y: m:ð\|cy:Øt: / 21 /	Arjuna spoke: Place my chariot between both armies, o Acyuta^*! (21)
y:av:dðt:aeÀrix:ð\|hö y:<¹Ùkam:an:v:¡sT:t:an:Î . kóm:üy:a s:h y:<¹vy:m:¡sm:n:ÒN:s:m:Ø½m:ð / 22 /	As often as I distantly observe these warriors, wishing for battle, standing here waiting, in this joyous great effort, with whom am I to fight? (22)
y:<tsy:m:an:an:v:ðx:ð\|hö y: Ot:ð\|*: s:m:ag:t:aH . D:at:üraÄÕsy: dØb:Øü¹ðy:Øü¹ð e)y:ec:ki\:üv:H / 23 /	I view those, who have assembled here, who will fight, wanting to do Dhr'taraas't'ra's stupid son a favour in the war. (23)
s:Wj:y: uv:ac: Ov:m:ØVt:< Æ\:ikñS:< g:ØRakñS:ðn: B:art: . s:ðn:y:<,B:y:<m:üDy:ð sT:ap:ey:tv:a rT:<¶:m:m:Î / 24 /	Sanjjaya spoke: Thus, o Bharata, Gud'aakes''a^* has spoken to Hr's'ikes''a^*, who had placed the supreme chariot between both armies, (24)
B:i\m:dÒ<N:)m:ØK:t:H s:v:ðü\:aö c: m:hiex:t:am:Î . uv:ac: p:aT:ü p:Sy:òt:ans:m:v:ðt:ankÙ-en:et: / 25 /	In front of Bhiis'ma and Dron'a, and all kings, he spoke: "See, o Pr'thaa's son^*, these assembled Kurus!" (25)
t::ap:Sy:¡tsT:t:anp:aT:üH ep:t:än:T: ep:t:am:han:Î . Aac:ay:aünm:at:Øl:anB:Òat:änp:Ø:anp:>*:ans:K:iöst:T:a . Ã:S:Ørans:ØÆdÁ:òv: s:ðn:y:<,B:y:<rep: / 26 /	There, Pr'thaa's son^* then saw located fathers, paternal grandfathers, spiritual teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons (from sons), as well as companions, fathers-in-law, and true friends, in both armies indeed. (26)
t:ans:m:ixy: s: k>nt:ðy:H s:v:aünb:nD:Ün:v:¡sT:t:an:Î . káp:y:a p:ry:aev:Ä< ev:\:ideÀdm:b:Òv:it:Î / 27 /	After Kuntii's son had thoroughly inspected all these gathered relatives, he, filled with utmost compassion, in despair said this. (27)
Aj:Øün: uv:ac: dàÄÏv:ðm:ö sv:j:n:ö ká\Na y:Øy:Øts:Øö s:m:Øp:¡sT:t:m:Î . s:id¡nt: m:m: g:a*:aeN: m:ØK:ö c: p:erS:Ø\y:et: / 28 /	Arjuna spoke: After seeing these kinsmen, O Kr's'n'a, approached and willing to fight, my limbs sink down, and my mouth dries up, (28)
v:ðp:T:ØÁ: S:rirð m:ð r<m:h\:üÁ: j:ay:t:ð . g:aNRiv:ö +ös:t:ð hst:a¶v:Vc:òv: p:erdÊt:ð / 29 /	and my body trembles, and my hairs start to bristle, Gaan'd'iiva^* slips off my hand, and even my skin dries up, (29)
n: c: S:Vn:<my:v:sT:at:Øö B:Òm:t:iv: c: m:ð m:n:H . en:em:¶:aen: c: p:Sy:aem: ev:p:rit:aen: kñS:v: / 30 /	and I can't stay here, and my mind seems to wander, and I see inauspicious omens, o Kes''ava^*, (30)
n: c: Â:ðy:<\|n:Øp:Sy:aem: htv:a sv:j:n:m:ahv:ð . n: ka{Ïx:ð ev:j:y:ö ká\Na n: c: rajy:ö s:ØK:aen: c: / 31 /	and I don't perceive anything better, after killing kinsmen in battle. I don't desire conquest for myself, o Kr's'n'a, and also not the kingdom or pleasures. (31)
ek÷ n:< rajy:ðn: g:<ev:nd ek÷ B:<g:òj:iüev:t:ðn: v:a . y:ð\:am:T:ðü ka¡{Ïx:t:ö n:< rajy:ö B:<g:aH s:ØK:aen: c: / 32 /	What is the use or our kingdom, o Govinda^*? What is the use of enjoyments or living? We desired kingdom, enjoyments, and pleasures for the sake of those, (32)
t: Em:ð\|v:¡sT:t:a y:Ø¹ð )aN:aösty:Vtv:a D:n:aen: c: . Aac:ay:aüH ep:t:rH p:Ø*:ast:T:òv: c: ep:t:am:haH / 33 /	who are gathered in fight after giving up their lives and riches; spiritual teachers, fathers,as well as even sons and paternal grandfathers, (33)
m:at:Øl:aH Ã:S:ØraH p:>*:aH Sy:al:aH s:mb:¡nD:n:st:T:a . Ot:aÀ hnt:Øem:cCaem: Gn:at:<\|ep: m:D:Øs:Üdn: / 34 /	maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons (from sons), brothers-in-law, as well as relatives in marriage. I don't want to kill these, even if they would kill, o Madhusuudana^*. (34)
Aep: *:òl:<krajy:sy: hðt:<H ek÷ n:Ø m:hikát:ð . en:hty: D:at:üraÄÕaÀH ka )iet:H sy:ajj:n:adün: / 35 /	Even for the reason of sovereignty over the three worlds^, what to speak about this world, after attacking Dhr'taraas't'ra's sons, what pleasure would there be for us, o Janaardana^? (35)
p:ap:m:ðv:aÂ:y:ðdsm:anhtv:òt:an:at:t:aey:n:H . t:sm:aÀahaü v:y:ö hnt:Øö D:at:üraÄÕansv:b:anD:v:an:Î . sv:j:n:ö eh kT:ö htv:a s:ØeK:n:H sy:am: m:aD:v: / 36 /	Misfortune would indeed cling to us, having killed these murderers. Therefore, it is not worth for us to kill our own relatives, Dhr'taraas't'ra's sons, for how would we be happy after killing kinsmen, o Maadhava^*? (36)
y:½py:ðt:ð n: p:Sy:¡nt: l:<B:<p:ht:c:ðt:s:H . kÙl:x:y:kát:ö d<\:ö em:*:dÒ<hð c: p:at:km:Î / 37 /	Even if these men, whose consciousness is hit by impatient desire, don't see the fault in making the end of a clan, or the wickedness in betraying a friend, (37)
kT:ö n: wðy:m:sm:aeB:H p:ap:adsm:aeÀv:et:üt:Øm:Î . kÙl:x:y:kát:ö d<\:ö )p:Sy:e»j:ün:adün: / 38 /	how could it be unknown to us, how we can return from misfortune, who observe the fault in making the end of a clan, o Janaardana^*? (38)
kÙl:x:y:ð )N:Sy:¡nt: kÙl:D:m:aüH s:n:at:n:aH . D:m:ðü n:Äð kÙl:ö kátsn:m:D:m:<ü\|eB:B:v:ty:Øt: / 39 /	In the decay of a clan, the eternal duties of the clan are destroyed. In the loss of duties, unrighteousness certainly overpowers the entire clan. (39)
AD:m:aüeB:B:v:atká\Na )dØ\y:¡nt: kÙl:¡s:y:H . s:i\:Ø dØÄas:Ø v:a\Naðüy: j:ay:t:ð v:N:üs:¢rH / 40 /	From the subjugation under unrighteousness, the women of the clan deteriorate, o Kr's'n'a. In the corruption of women, mixing of varn'a is produced, o Vr's'n'i's descendant^*. (40)
s:¢r< n:rkay:òv: kÙl:Gn:an:aö kÙl:sy: c: . p:t:¡nt: ep:t:r< Êð\:aö l:Øpt:ep:NR<dke#y:aH / 41 /	Intermixture certainly leads to hell for clan-killers and the clan, for their deceased ancestors fall, as they are deprived of the offerings of pin'd'a and water. (41)
d<\:òrðt:òH kÙl:Gn:an:aö v:N:üs:¢rkarkóH . uts:a½nt:ð j:aet:D:m:aüH kÙl:D:m:aüÁ: S:aÃ:t:aH / 42 /	The perpetual duties of the race and the duties of the clan are abolished by these discrepancies of the clan-killers, which create the mixing of varn'a. (42)
uts:ÀkÙl:D:m:aüN:aö m:n:Ø\y:aN:aö j:n:adün: . n:rkñ en:y:t:ö v:as:< B:v:t:ity:n:ØS:ØÂ:Øm: / 43 /	The dwelling place of the human beings who have abolished the duties of their clan becomes tied to hell, we heard authoritatively, o Janaardana^*. (43)
Ah< b:t: m:htp:ap:ö kt:Øþ vy:v:es:t:a v:y:m:Î . y:dÒajy:s:ØK:l:<B:ðn: hnt:Øö sv:j:n:m:Ø½t:aH / 44 /	Alas! We have made up our minds to perform a very evil deed, for the impatience desire of enjoyment of a kingdom we are prepared to kill our kinsmen. (44)
y:ed m:am:)t:ikarm:S:s:ö S:s:p:aN:y:H . D:at:üraÄÕa rN:ð hny:Øst:nm:ð x:ðm:t:rö B:v:ðt:Î / 45 /	If Dhr'taraas't'ra's sons, with weapons in their hands, would kill me unarmed, without resistance, in this desired battle, that would be more comfortable for me. (45)
s:Wj:y: uv:ac: Ov:m:ØVtv:aj:Øün:H s:{ÏKy:ð rT:<p:sT: up:aev:S:t:Î . ev:s:àjy: s:S:rö c:ap:ö S:<ks:öev:gn:m:an:s:H / 46 /	Sanjjaya spoke: After speaking like that in conflict, renouncing his bow and arrow, Arjuna sat down on the inner seat of the chariot, with his mind terrified with sorrow.^* (46)