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Arjuna's Dejection · 47 verses
Ask Krishna about this chapterDhritarashtra said: Assembled on the holy field of Kurukshetra, eager for battle, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do, O Sanjaya?
Sanjaya said: Then, seeing the army of the Pandavas arrayed in battle formation, King Duryodhana approached his teacher and spoke these words.
Behold, O teacher, this great army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed in battle formation by the son of Drupada, your intelligent disciple.
Here are mighty warriors and great bowmen, equal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna — Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada, the great chariot-warrior.
Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, and the valiant king of Kashi, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Shaibya, the best among men.
The valiant Yudhamanyu and the mighty Uttamaujas, the son of Subhadra and the sons of Draupadi — all of them indeed great chariot-warriors.
But know also, O best among the twice-born, those who are distinguished among us, the leaders of my army; I name them to you for your information.
You come first; then Bheeshma, Karna, Kripa, great warriors; Ashwaththama, Vikarna, and the son of Somadhatta;
And many others, all ready to die for My sake; all armed, all skilled in warfare.
Our army, marshalled under the protection of Bhishma, is unlimited, while this army of theirs, marshalled under the protection of Bhima, is limited.
Therefore, all of you, stationed in your respective positions at every strategic point, must protect Bhishma alone, each and every one of you.
Then, to enliven his spirits, the brave Grandfather Bheeshma, the eldest of the Kuru clan, blew his conch, its sound resembling that of a lion's roar.
And immediately, all the conches, drums, trumpets, and horns blared forth in a tumultuous uproar.
Then, seated in their spacious war chariot, yoked with white horses, Lord Shri Krishna and Arjuna sounded their divine conch shells.
Lord Shri Krishna blew his Panchajanya, and Arjuna blew his Devadatta; brave Bheema blew his renowned shell, Poundra.
The King Dharmaraja, the son of Kunti, blew the Anantavijaya, Nakula, and Sahadeva, the Sughosa and Manipushpaka, respectively.
And the Maharaja of Benares, the great archer, Shikhandi, the great soldier, Dhrishtayumna, Virata, and Satyaki, the invincible one,
Drupada and the sons of Draupadi, all of them, O ruler of the earth, and the mighty-armed son of Subhadra, blew their conch shells each separately.
The tumult rent the hearts of the sons of Dhritarashtra, shaking heaven and earth with its echoing violence.
Then, seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra arrayed in battle formation, as the clash of weapons was about to begin, the son of Pandu, whose banner bore a monkey, took up…
Arjuna said: Then, O lord of the earth, he spoke these words to Hrishikesha: “O Achyuta, place my chariot between the two armies.”
So that I may look upon these warriors arrayed here eager to fight, and know with whom I must do battle in this great combat.
I wish to observe those who have assembled here, ready to fight, desiring to please the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra in battle.
Sanjaya said: "Having listened to Arjuna's request, Lord Shri Krishna drew up His bright chariot in the midst between the two armies.
In the presence of Bhishma, Drona, and all the rulers of the earth, he said, "O Partha, behold these Kurus assembled together.
There Partha saw stationed fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and friends as well.
Fathers-in-law and benefactors were arrayed on both sides, and Arjuna then gazed at all those kinsmen before him.
And his heart melted with pity, and sadly he spoke: "O my Lord! When I see all these, my own people, thirsting for battle,
My limbs are failing me, my throat is parched, my body is trembling, and my hair is standing on end.
The bow Gandiva slips from my hand, and my skin burns. I cannot remain still, for my mind is in tumult.
I see only adverse omens, O Keshava, and I do not foresee any good from killing my own kinsmen in battle.
Ah, my Lord! I do not crave victory, nor a kingdom, nor any pleasure. What would a kingdom, happiness, or life be to me?
Those for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyments, and pleasures — they stand here arrayed in battle, having given up their lives and wealth.
Teachers, fathers, grandfathers, sons, grandsons, uncles, fathers-in-law, brothers-in-law, and other relatives.
I would not kill them, even for three worlds; why then for this earth alone? It matters not if I myself am killed.
My Lord! What happiness can come from the death of these sons of Dhritarashtra? We shall be committing a sin if we kill these desperate men.
Therefore, it is not right for us to kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our own kinsmen; for how can we be happy after slaying our own people, O Madhava?
Although these men, blinded by greed, see no guilt in destroying their kin or fighting against their friends,
Should we not, whose eyes are open and who consider it wrong to annihilate our family, turn away from such a great crime?
The destruction of our kindred means the destruction of the traditions of our ancient lineage, and when these are lost, irreligion will overrun our homes.
O Krishna, when irreligion prevails, the women of the family become corrupt; and when women are corrupted, O Varshneya, there arises an intermixture of castes.
Such intermixture of castes leads to hell both the destroyers of the family and the family itself; for their ancestors fall, deprived of the offerings of rice-balls and…
By these sins of the destroyers of the family, which cause the intermixture of castes, the eternal duties of the community and the traditions of the family are ruined.
O Janardana, we have heard that for those human beings whose family traditions have been destroyed, dwelling in hell for an indefinite period is certain.
Alas, what a great sin we have resolved to commit, that out of greed for the pleasures of a kingdom we are prepared to slay our own kinsmen!
If, on the contrary, the sons of Dhritarashtra, with weapons in hand, should slay me, unarmed and unresisting, surely that would be better for my welfare!
Sanjaya said: "Having spoken thus, Arjuna sank into the seat of his chariot, discarding his bow and arrow, overwhelmed with grief in the midst of the armies."