Summary — English
AI-generated · not yet verified
The English meaning of each verse is shown below the verse.
मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥ 1 ॥
māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāścaiva kimakurvata sañjaya || 1 ||
Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, assembled on the holy field of Kurukshetra and eager to fight, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do? AI
आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 2 ॥
ācāryamupasaṅgamya rājā vacanamabravīt || 2 ||
Sanjaya said: Seeing the army of the Pandavas drawn up in battle formation, King Duryodhana then approached his teacher (Drona) and spoke these words. AI
व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ॥ 3 ॥
vyūḍhāṃ drupadaputreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā || 3 ||
O teacher, behold this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed by your talented disciple, the son of Drupada (Dhrishtadyumna). AI
युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ॥ 4 ॥
yuyudhāno virāṭaśca drupadaśca mahārathaḥ || 4 ||
Here are heroes, mighty archers, equal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna — Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada, the great chariot-warrior; AI
पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः ॥ 5 ॥
purujitkuntibhojaśca śaibyaśca narapuṅgavaḥ || 5 ||
Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana and the valiant king of Kashi; Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Shaibya, the best among men; AI
सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ॥ 6 ॥
saubhadro draupadeyāśca sarva eva mahārathāḥ || 6 ||
the courageous Yudhamanyu and the valiant Uttamaujas, the son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu) and the sons of Draupadi — all of them great chariot-warriors. AI
नायका मम सैन्यस्य सञ्ज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते ॥ 7 ॥
nāyakā mama sainyasya sañjñārthaṃ tānbravīmi te || 7 ||
But know also, O best of the twice-born, those who are most distinguished on our side, the leaders of my army; I name them for your information. AI
अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ॥ 8 ॥
aśvatthāmā vikarṇaśca saumadattistathaiva ca || 8 ||
Yourself, Bhishma, Karna and Kripa, who is ever victorious in battle; Ashvatthama, Vikarna and the son of Somadatta (Bhurishravas); AI
नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ॥ 9 ॥
nānāśastrapraharaṇāḥ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ || 9 ||
and many other heroes who are ready to lay down their lives for my sake, armed with various weapons, all skilled in warfare. AI
पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ॥ 10 ॥
paryāptaṃ tvidameteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhirakṣitam || 10 ||
This army of ours, protected by Bhishma, is insufficient, whereas their army, protected by Bhima, is sufficient. (Some commentators read the words the other way: our army is unlimited, theirs limited.) AI
भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ॥ 11 ॥
bhīṣmamevābhirakṣantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi || 11 ||
Therefore, all of you, standing firm in your respective positions at every entrance of the formation, must protect Bhishma above all. AI
सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ॥ 12 ॥
siṃhanādaṃ vinadyoccaiḥ śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau pratāpavān || 12 ||
Then, to cheer Duryodhana, the valiant grandsire Bhishma, the eldest of the Kurus, roared loudly like a lion and blew his conch. AI
सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥ 13 ॥
sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śabdastumulo'bhavat || 13 ||
Then conches, kettledrums, tabors, drums and cow-horns blared forth all at once, and the sound was tumultuous. AI
माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदघ्मतुः ॥ 14 ॥
mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaścaiva divyau śaṅkhau pradaghmatuḥ || 14 ||
Then Madhava (Krishna) and the son of Pandu (Arjuna), seated in a great chariot yoked with white horses, blew their divine conches. AI
पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः ॥ 15 ॥
pauṇḍraṃ dadhmau mahāśaṅkhaṃ bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ || 15 ||
Hrishikesha (Krishna) blew the Panchajanya, Dhananjaya (Arjuna) the Devadatta, and Bhima, of terrible deeds, blew the great conch Paundra. AI
नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ ॥ 16 ॥
nakulaḥ sahadevaśca sughoṣamaṇipuṣpakau || 16 ||
King Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, blew the Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughosha and the Manipushpaka. AI
धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ॥ 17 ॥
dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaśca sātyakiścāparājitaḥ || 17 ||
The king of Kashi, the great archer; Shikhandi, the great chariot-warrior; Dhrishtadyumna, Virata and the unconquered Satyaki; AI
सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक् ॥ 18 ॥
saubhadraśca mahābāhuḥ śaṅkhāndadhmuḥ pṛthakpṛthak || 18 ||
Drupada and the sons of Draupadi, O lord of the earth, and the mighty-armed son of Subhadra — all blew their own conches, each in turn. AI
नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन् ॥ 19 ॥
nabhaśca pṛthivīṃ caiva tumulo vyanunādayan || 19 ||
That tumultuous sound, resounding through the sky and the earth, tore the hearts of the sons of Dhritarashtra. AI
प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः ॥ 20 ॥
pravṛtte śastrasampāte dhanurudyamya pāṇḍavaḥ || 20 ||
Then, O king, seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra standing in array as the clash of weapons was about to begin, Arjuna, the son of Pandu, whose banner bears the monkey (Hanuman), raised his bow, AI
and, O lord of the earth (Dhritarashtra), he then spoke these words to Hrishikesha (Krishna). AI
Arjuna said: O Achyuta, place my chariot between the two armies, AI
कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन्रणसमुद्यमे ॥ 22 ॥
kairmayā saha yoddhavyamasminraṇasamudyame || 22 ||
so that I may look at those who stand here eager for battle, and know with whom I must fight in this combat. AI
धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः ॥ 23 ॥
dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddheryuddhe priyacikīrṣavaḥ || 23 ||
I wish to see those who have assembled here to fight, wishing to please in battle the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra. AI
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ॥ 24 ॥
senayorubhayormadhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam || 24 ||
Sanjaya said: O descendant of Bharata, thus addressed by Gudakesha (Arjuna), Hrishikesha placed that finest of chariots between the two armies, AI
उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति ॥ 25 ॥
uvāca pārtha paśyaitānsamavetānkurūniti || 25 ||
in front of Bhishma, Drona and all the rulers of the earth, and said: “O Partha, behold these Kurus assembled here.” AI
आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा ॥ 26 ॥
ācāryānmātulānbhrātṝnputrānpautrānsakhīṃstathā || 26 ||
There Partha saw, standing in both armies, fathers and grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons and companions, AI
तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान् ॥ 27 ॥
tānsamīkṣya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvānbandhūnavasthitān || 27 ||
fathers-in-law and well-wishers as well. Seeing all these kinsmen standing there, the son of Kunti (Arjuna), AI
overcome with deep compassion, spoke these words in sorrow. AI
Arjuna said: O Krishna, seeing these my own people standing here, eager to fight, AI
वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते ॥ 29 ॥
vepathuśca śarīre me romaharṣaśca jāyate || 29 ||
my limbs give way and my mouth is parched; my body trembles and my hair stands on end. AI
न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ॥ 30 ॥
na ca śaknomyavasthātuṃ bhramatīva ca me manaḥ || 30 ||
The Gandiva bow slips from my hand and my skin is burning; I cannot stand steady, and my mind seems to whirl. AI
न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे ॥ 31 ॥
na ca śreyo'nupaśyāmi hatvā svajanamāhave || 31 ||
I see evil omens, O Keshava, and I foresee no good in killing my own kinsmen in battle. AI
किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा ॥ 32 ॥
kiṃ no rājyena govinda kiṃ bhogairjīvitena vā || 32 ||
I do not desire victory, O Krishna, nor a kingdom, nor pleasures. Of what use to us is a kingdom, O Govinda, or enjoyments, or even life itself? AI
त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ॥ 33 ॥
ta ime'vasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṃstyaktvā dhanāni ca || 33 ||
Those for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyments and pleasures stand here in battle, having staked their lives and wealth — AI
मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा ॥ 34 ॥
mātulāḥ śvaśurāḥ pautrāḥ śyālāḥ sambandhinastathā || 34 ||
teachers, fathers, sons and grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives. AI
अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते ॥ 35 ॥
api trailokyarājyasya hetoḥ kiṃ nu mahīkṛte || 35 ||
O Madhusudana, I do not wish to kill them, even if they kill me — not even for the sovereignty of the three worlds, let alone for this earth. AI
पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ॥ 36 ॥
pāpamevāśrayedasmānhatvaitānātatāyinaḥ || 36 ||
What joy could we have, O Janardana, by killing the sons of Dhritarashtra? Only sin would come upon us by slaying these aggressors. AI
स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ॥ 37 ॥
svajanaṃ hi kathaṃ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava || 37 ||
Therefore we should not kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our own kinsmen. How could we be happy, O Madhava, after killing our own people? AI
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ॥ 38 ॥
kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ mitradrohe ca pātakam || 38 ||
Even though they, their minds overpowered by greed, see no wrong in destroying the family and no sin in treachery to friends, AI
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ॥ 39 ॥
kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ prapaśyadbhirjanārdana || 39 ||
why should we, who clearly see the evil in destroying a family, not know to turn away from this sin, O Janardana? AI
धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ॥ 40 ॥
dharme naṣṭe kulaṃ kṛtsnamadharmo'bhibhavatyuta || 40 ||
When a family is destroyed, its age-old family traditions perish; and when those traditions perish, unrighteousness overtakes the whole family. AI
स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः ॥ 41 ॥
strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇasaṅkaraḥ || 41 ||
When unrighteousness prevails, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupt; and when the women are corrupt, O descendant of Vrishni, there arises a mixing of social orders (varna-sankara). AI
पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः ॥ 42 ॥
patanti pitaro hyeṣāṃ luptapiṇḍodakakriyāḥ || 42 ||
This mixing leads both the family and its destroyers to hell; their ancestors fall, deprived of the offerings of rice-balls and water. AI
उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ॥ 43 ॥
utsādyante jātidharmāḥ kuladharmāśca śāśvatāḥ || 43 ||
Through these misdeeds of the destroyers of families, which cause the mixing of social orders, the eternal duties of community and family are ruined. AI
नरकेऽनियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥ 44 ॥
narake'niyataṃ vāso bhavatītyanuśuśruma || 44 ||
We have heard, O Janardana, that people whose family duties have been destroyed dwell in hell for an indefinite time. AI
यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ॥ 45 ॥
yadrājyasukhalobhena hantuṃ svajanamudyatāḥ || 45 ||
Alas! What a great sin we have resolved to commit, in being ready to kill our own kinsmen out of greed for the pleasures of a kingdom! AI
धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ॥ 46 ॥
dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyustanme kṣemataraṃ bhavet || 46 ||
It would be better for me if the sons of Dhritarashtra, weapons in hand, were to kill me in battle while I am unarmed and do not resist. AI
विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः ॥ 47 ॥
visṛjya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ śokasaṃvignamānasaḥ || 47 ||
Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus on the battlefield, Arjuna, his mind overwhelmed with sorrow, cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the seat of the chariot. AI
श्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे अर्जुनविषादयोगो नाम प्रथमोऽध्यायः ॥1 ॥