Chapter 1

Dhritirashtra: Ranged thus for battle on the sacred plain-- On Kurukshetra--say, Sanjaya! say What wrought my people, and the Pandavas?

Dhritirashtra: Lined up this way for battle on the sacred plain, On Kurukshetra, tell me, Sanjaya! Tell me, What did my people and the Pandavas do?

Sanjaya: When he beheld the host of Pandavas, Raja Duryodhana to Drona drew, And spake these words: "Ah, Guru! see this line, How vast it is of Pandu fighting-men, Embattled by the son of Drupada, Thy scholar in the war! Therein stand ranked Chiefs like Arjuna, like to Bhima chiefs, Benders of bows; Virata, Yuyudhan, Drupada, eminent upon his car, Dhrishtaket, Chekitan, Kasi's stout lord, Purujit, Kuntibhoj, and Saivya, With Yudhamanyu, and Uttamauj Subhadra's child; and Drupadi's;-all famed! All mounted on their shining chariots! On our side, too,--thou best of Brahmans! see Excellent chiefs, commanders of my line, Whose names I joy to count: thyself the first, Then Bhishma, Karna, Kripa fierce in fight, Vikarna, Aswatthaman; next to these Strong Saumadatti, with full many more Valiant and tried, ready this day to die For me their king, each with his weapon grasped, Each skilful in the field. Weakest-meseems- Our battle shows where Bhishma holds command, And Bhima, fronting him, something too strong! Have care our captains nigh to Bhishma's ranks Prepare what help they may! Now, blow my shell!"

Sanjaya: When he saw the army of the Pandavas, Raja Duryodhana approached Drona And said: "Ah, Guru! Look at these ranks. How vast this army of Pandu's warriors is, Arranged for battle by the son of Drupada, Your student in warfare! Among them stand Leaders like Arjuna and Bhima, Skilled archers: Virata, Yuyudhan, And Drupada, outstanding in his chariot. There are Dhrishtaket, Chekitan, Kasi's brave lord, Purujit, Kuntibhoj, and Saivya, Along with Yudhamanyu and Uttamauj, Subhadra's child and Drupadi's children, all famous! All ride in their shining chariots! On our side too, best of Brahmans, look At the excellent leaders who command my army. I take pleasure in naming them: first yourself, Then Bhishma, Karna, and Kripa, fierce in battle, Vikarna and Aswatthaman. After them comes Strong Saumadatti, along with many more Brave, battle-tested warriors, ready today to die For me, their king. Each holds his weapon, And each is skilled in battle. It seems to me Our army is weaker where Bhishma commands, And Bhima's force facing him is somewhat too strong! Make sure our captains near Bhishma's ranks Prepare whatever support they can! Now, blow my shell!"

Then, at the signal of the aged king, With blare to wake the blood, rolling around Like to a lion's roar, the trumpeter Blew the great Conch; and, at the noise of it, Trumpets and drums, cymbals and gongs and horns Burst into sudden clamour; as the blasts Of loosened tempest, such the tumult seemed! Then might be seen, upon their car of gold Yoked with white steeds, blowing their battle-shells, Krishna the God, Arjuna at his side: Krishna, with knotted locks, blew his great conch Carved of the "Giant's bone;" Arjuna blew Indra's loud gift; Bhima the terrible-- Wolf-bellied Bhima-blew a long reed-conch; And Yudhisthira, Kunti's blameless son, Winded a mighty shell, "Victory's Voice;" And Nakula blew shrill upon his conch Named the "Sweet-sounding," Sahadev on his Called"Gem-bedecked," and Kasi's Prince on his. Sikhandi on his car, Dhrishtadyumn, Virata, Satyaki the Unsubdued, Drupada, with his sons, (O Lord of Earth!) Long-armed Subhadra's children, all blew loud, So that the clangour shook their foemen's hearts, With quaking earth and thundering heav'n.

Then, at the old king's signal, The trumpeter sounded a blast that stirred the blood. The sound rolled out like a lion's roar As he blew the great conch. At its sound, Trumpets and drums, cymbals and gongs and horns Suddenly burst into a roar. The uproar seemed Like the blasts of a storm unleashed! Then, on their golden chariot Drawn by white horses, two figures could be seen blowing their battle conches: Krishna the God, with Arjuna at his side. Krishna, with his knotted hair, blew his great conch, Carved from the "Giant's bone." Arjuna blew Indra's loud gift. Bhima the terrible, The wolf-bellied Bhima, blew a long reed conch. And Yudhisthira, Kunti's blameless son, Blew a mighty shell, "Victory's Voice." And Nakula blew a shrill note on his conch, Named the "Sweet-sounding." Sahadev blew his, Called "Gem-bedecked," and Kasi's Prince blew his. Sikhandi on his chariot, Dhrishtadyumn, Virata, Satyaki the Unsubdued, Drupada and his sons all blew loudly. (O Lord of Earth!) The long-armed children of Subhadra all blew loudly too, So that the uproar shook their enemies' hearts, While the earth trembled and heaven thundered.

Then 'twas- Beholding Dhritirashtra's battle set, Weapons unsheathing, bows drawn forth, the war Instant to break-Arjun, whose ensign-badge Was Hanuman the monkey, spake this thing To Krishna the Divine, his charioteer: "Drive, Dauntless One! to yonder open ground Betwixt the armies; I would see more nigh These who will fight with us, those we must slay To-day, in war's arbitrament; for, sure, On bloodshed all are bent who throng this plain, Obeying Dhritirashtra's sinful son."

Then Arjun saw Dhritirashtra's army ready for battle, with weapons drawn and bows raised. The war was about to begin. Arjun's banner bore Hanuman the monkey. Arjun spoke to Krishna the Divine, his charioteer: "Drive, Dauntless One, to the open ground between the armies. I want a closer look at those who will fight us, those we must kill today as battle decides the outcome. For surely, all who crowd this plain are bent on bloodshed, obeying Dhritirashtra's sinful son."

Thus, by Arjuna prayed, (O Bharata!) Between the hosts that heavenly Charioteer Drove the bright car, reining its milk-white steeds Where Bhishma led,and Drona,and their Lords. "See!" spake he to Arjuna, "where they stand, Thy kindred of the Kurus:" and the Prince Marked on each hand the kinsmen of his house, Grandsires and sires, uncles and brothers and sons, Cousins and sons-in-law and nephews, mixed With friends and honoured elders; some this side, Some that side ranged: and, seeing those opposed, Such kith grown enemies-Arjuna's heart Melted with pity, while he uttered this:

At Arjuna's request, (O Bharata!) The heavenly Charioteer drove between the armies. He guided the bright chariot and its milk-white horses To where Bhishma, Drona, and their lords stood. "Look!" he said to Arjuna. "There stand Your relatives, the Kurus." The Prince Saw relatives from his own family on both sides: Grandfathers and fathers, uncles, brothers, and sons, Cousins, sons-in-law, and nephews, standing Among friends and respected elders. Some stood on one side, Some on the other. Seeing his relatives facing each other, Now enemies, Arjuna's heart Filled with pity, and he said:

Arjuna. Krishna! as I behold, come here to shed Their common blood, yon concourse of our kin, My members fail, my tongue dries in my mouth, A shudder thrills my body, and my hair Bristles with horror; from my weak hand slips Gandiv, the goodly bow; a fever burns My skin to parching; hardly may I stand; The life within me seems to swim and faint; Nothing do I foresee save woe and wail! It is not good, O Keshav! nought of good Can spring from mutual slaughter! Lo, I hate Triumph and domination, wealth and ease, Thus sadly won! Aho! what victory Can bring delight, Govinda! what rich spoils Could profit; what rule recompense; what span Of life itself seem sweet, bought with such blood? Seeing that these stand here, ready to die, For whose sake life was fair, and pleasure pleased, And power grew precious:-grandsires, sires, and sons, Brothers, and fathers-in-law, and sons-in-law, Elders and friends! Shall I deal death on these Even though they seek to slay us? Not one blow, O Madhusudan! will I strike to gain

Arjuna. Krishna! As I see our relatives gathered here To shed one another's blood, My limbs give way, and my mouth goes dry. A shudder runs through my body, and my hair Stands on end with horror. From my weak hand slips Gandiv, my fine bow. My skin Burns with fever. I can hardly stand. I feel dizzy and faint. I foresee nothing but sorrow and cries of grief! No good can come of this, Keshav! Nothing good Can come from killing one another! I want no Victory or power, wealth or comfort, Won through such sorrow! Ah! What victory Could bring joy, Govinda? What rich spoils Could benefit us? What kingdom could make up for such loss? Could Even life itself be sweet, bought with such blood? For those who made life beautiful stand here, ready to die. For their sake, pleasure brought joy, And power became precious: grandfathers, fathers, sons, Brothers, fathers-in-law, sons-in-law, Elders and friends! Should I kill these people, Even though they seek to kill us? Not one blow, Madhusudan! Will I strike to gain

The rule of all Three Worlds; then, how much less To seize an earthly kingdom! Killing these Must breed but anguish, Krishna! If they be Guilty, we shall grow guilty by their deaths; Their sins will light on us, if we shall slay Those sons of Dhritirashtra, and our kin; What peace could come of that, O Madhava? For if indeed, blinded by lust and wrath, These cannot see, or will not see, the sin Of kingly lines o'erthrown and kinsmen slain, How should not we, who see, shun such a crime-- We who perceive the guilt and feel the shame-- O thou Delight of Men, Janardana? By overthrow of houses perisheth Their sweet continuous household piety, And-rites neglected, piety extinct-- Enters impiety upon that home; Its women grow unwomaned, whence there spring Mad passions, and the mingling-up of castes, Sending a Hell-ward road that family, And whoso wrought its doom by wicked wrath. Nay, and the souls of honoured ancestors Fall from their place of peace, being bereft Of funeral-cakes and the wan death-water.¹ So teach our holy hymns. Thus, if we slay Kinsfolk and friends for love of earthly power, Ahovat! what an evil fault it were! Better I deem it, if my kinsmen strike, To face them weaponless, and bare my breast To shaft and spear, than answer blow with blow.

Rule over all Three Worlds, much less An earthly kingdom! Killing these men Can only bring anguish, Krishna! Even if these men are Guilty, killing them will make us guilty too. Their sins will fall on us if we kill Those sons of Dhritirashtra, our own relatives. What peace could come from that, Madhava? For if, blinded by desire and anger, These men cannot or will not see the sin Of destroying royal families and killing relatives, How can we, who see that sin, not avoid such a crime? We recognize the guilt and feel the shame, Janardana, Delight of Men! When families are destroyed, their cherished Religious traditions, passed down through generations, die. Their rites are neglected, and their devotion dies. Then wickedness enters the home. Its women lose their virtue, giving rise To uncontrolled passions and the mixing of castes. This sends the family down the road to Hell, Along with whoever destroyed it through wicked anger. Even the souls of honored ancestors Lose their place of peace, deprived Of funeral cakes and water offerings for the dead.¹ So our sacred hymns teach. Thus, if we kill Relatives and friends for the love of earthly power, Alas! What a terrible sin that would be! I think it would be better, if my relatives attack, To face them unarmed, with my chest exposed To arrows and spears, rather than strike back.

So speaking, in the face of those two hosts, Arjuna sank upon his chariot-seat, And let fall bow and arrows, sick at heart.

After saying this, in front of the two armies, Arjuna sank into his chariot seat. He let his bow and arrows fall, his heart heavy with sorrow.

HERE ENDETH CHAPTER I. OF THE BHAGAVAD-GITA, Entitled "Arjun-Vishad," Or "The Book of the Distress of Arjuna."

Here ends Chapter I of the Bhagavad-Gita, Titled "Arjun-Vishad," Or "The Book of Arjuna's Distress."