Gita: Chap 01

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Verse 1

dhṛitarāśhtra uvācha
dharma-kṣhetre kuru-kṣhetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ
māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāśhchaiva kimakurvata sañjaya

dhṛitarāśhtraḥ uvācha
Dhritarashtra said
dharma-kṣhetre        kuru-kṣhetre      samavetāḥ          yuyutsavaḥ
the land of dharma    at Kurukshetra    having gathered    desiring to fight
māmakāḥ    pāṇḍavāḥ             cha    eva          kim     akurvata       sañjaya
my sons    the sons of Pandu    and    certainly    what    did they do    Sanjay
---

Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “O Sanjaya, what did my people and the Pāṇḍavas do, gathered together on the holy field of Kurukshetra, eager for battle?”

Verse 2

sañjaya uvācha
dṛiṣhṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṁ vyūḍhaṁ duryodhanastadā
āchāryamupasaṅgamya rājā vachanamabravīt

sanjayaḥ uvācha
Sanjay said
dṛiṣhṭvā        tu     pāṇḍava-anīkam      vyūḍham                             duryodhanaḥ       tadā
on observing    but    the Pandava army    standing in a military formation    King Duryodhan    then
āchāryam    upasaṅgamya    rājā        vachanam    abravīt
teacher     approached     the king    words       spoke
---

Sanjaya said: King Duryodhana, upon seeing the Pandava army in battle array, approached his teacher Drona and said these words.

Verse 3

paśhyaitāṁ pāṇḍu-putrāṇām āchārya mahatīṁ chamūm
vyūḍhāṁ drupada-putreṇa tava śhiṣhyeṇa dhīmatā

paśhya    etām    pāṇḍu-putrāṇām          āchārya              mahatīm    chamūm
behold    this    of the sons of Pandu    respected teacher    mighty     army
vyūḍhām                            drupada-putreṇa                  tava       śhiṣhyeṇa    dhī-matā
arrayed in a military formation    son of Drupad, Dhrishtadyumna    by your    disciple     intelligent
---

Behold, O teacher, this mighty army of the Pandavas, arrayed by the son of Drupada, your intelligent disciple.

Verse 4

atra śhūrā maheṣhvāsā bhīmārjuna-samā yudhi
yuyudhāno virāṭaśhcha drupadaśhcha mahā-rathaḥ

atra    śhūrāḥ               mahā-iṣhu-āsāḥ    bhīma-arjuna-samāḥ          yudhi
here    powerful warriors    great bowmen      equal to Bheem and Arjun    in military prowess
yuyudhānaḥ    virāṭaḥ    cha    drupadaḥ    cha     mahā-rathaḥ
Yuyudhan      Virat      and    Drupad      also    warriors who could single handedly match the strength of ten thousand ordinary warriors
---

There (in that army) are heroes, great bowmen, such as Bhima and Arjuna; Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada, a mighty warrior;

Verse 5

dhṛiṣhṭaketuśhchekitānaḥ kāśhirājaśhcha vīryavān
purujit kuntibhojaśhcha śhaibyaśhcha nara-puṅgavaḥ

dhṛiṣhṭaketuḥ    chekitānaḥ    kāśhirājaḥ    cha    vīrya-vān
Dhrishtaketu     Chekitan      Kashiraj      and    heroic
purujit    kuntibhojaḥ    cha    śaibyaḥ    cha    nara-puṅgavaḥ
Purujit    Kuntibhoj      and    Shaibya    and    best of men
---

Dhrstaketu, Cekitana, the valiant king of Kasi, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Saibya, the best among men;

Verse 6

yudhāmanyuśhcha vikrānta uttamaujāśhcha vīryavān
saubhadro draupadeyāśhcha sarva eva mahā-rathāḥ

yudhāmanyuḥ    cha    vikrāntaḥ     uttamaujāḥ    cha    vīrya-vān
Yudhamanyu     and    courageous    Uttamauja     and    gallant
saubhadraḥ             draupadeyāḥ             cha    sarve    eva       mahā-rathāḥ
the son of Subhadra    the sons of Draupadi    and    all      indeed    warriors who could single handedly match the strength of ten thousand ordinary warriors
---

Yudhamanyu, the valiant one, and Uttamaujas, the strong one; and also the son of Subhadra, as well as the sons of Draupadi, all mighty warriors.

Verse 7

asmākaṁ tu viśhiṣhṭā ye tānnibodha dwijottama
nāyakā mama sainyasya sanjñārthaṁ tānbravīmi te

asmākam    tu     viśhiṣhṭāḥ    ye     tān     nibodha        dwija-uttama
ours       but    special       who    them    be informed    best of Brahmnis
nāyakāḥ               mama    sainyasya    sanjñā-artham      tān     bravīmi      te
principal generals    our     of army      for information    them    I recount    unto you
---

Know, O best of Brahmanas, those who are important on our side—those who are the commanders of my army. I shall name them to refresh your memory.

Verse 8

bhavānbhīṣhmaśhcha karṇaśhcha kṛipaśhcha samitiñjayaḥ
aśhvatthāmā vikarṇaśhcha saumadattis tathaiva cha

bhavān      bhīṣhmaḥ    cha    karṇaḥ    cha    kṛipaḥ    cha    samitim-jayaḥ
yourself    Bheeshma    and    Karna     and    Kripa     and    victorious in battle
aśhvatthāmā    vikarṇaḥ    cha    saumadattiḥ    tathā    eva     cha
Ashvatthama    Vikarna     and    Bhurishrava    thus     even    also
---

Yourself, Bhisma, Karna, the victorious Krpa, Asvatthama, Vikarna, and Jayadratha, the son of Somadatta;

Verse 9

anye cha bahavaḥ śhūrā madarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ
nānā-śhastra-praharaṇāḥ sarve yuddha-viśhāradāḥ

anye      cha     bahavaḥ    śhūrāḥ             mat-arthe      tyakta-jīvitāḥ
others    also    many       heroic warriors    for my sake    prepared to lay down their lives
nānā-śhastra-praharaṇāḥ                   sarve    yuddha-viśhāradāḥ
equipped with various kinds of weapons    all      skilled in the art of warfare
---

And there are many other heroes who are determined to give up their lives for my sake. They are all experts in using manifold missiles and dexterous in battle.

Verse 10

aparyāptaṁ tadasmākaṁ balaṁ bhīṣhmābhirakṣhitam
paryāptaṁ tvidameteṣhāṁ balaṁ bhīmābhirakṣhitam

aparyāptam    tat     asmākam    balam       bhīṣhma                  abhirakṣhitam
unlimited     that    ours       strength    by Grandsire Bheeshma    safely marshalled
paryāptam    tu     idam    eteṣhām    balam       bhīma    abhirakṣhitam
limited      but    this    their      strength    Bheem    carefully marshalled
---

Our force is inadequate, guarded by Bhisma, while their force is adequate, guarded by Bhima.

Verse 11

ayaneṣhu cha sarveṣhu yathā-bhāgamavasthitāḥ
bhīṣhmamevābhirakṣhantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi

ayaneṣhu                   cha     sarveṣhu    yathā-bhāgam              avasthitāḥ
at the strategic points    also    all         in respective position    situated
bhīṣhmam                 eva     abhirakṣhantu    bhavantaḥ    sarve    eva hi
to Grandsire Bheeshma    only    defend           you          all      even as
---

Therefore, all of you, taking your places firmly in your respective divisions, should guard Bhisma at all costs.

Verse 12

tasya sañjanayan harṣhaṁ kuru-vṛiddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ
siṁha-nādaṁ vinadyochchaiḥ śhaṅkhaṁ dadhmau pratāpavān

tasya    sañjanayan    harṣham    kuru-vṛiddhaḥ                                       pitāmahaḥ
his      causing       joy        the grand old man of the Kuru dynasty (Bheeshma)    grandfather
sinha-nādam    vinadya     uchchaiḥ       śhaṅkham       dadhmau    pratāpa-vān
lion’s roar    sounding    very loudly    conch shell    blew       the glorious
---

Then the valiant grandsire Bhisma, the senior-most of the Kuru clan, roared like a lion and blew his conch with the intention of cheering up Duryodhana.

Verse 13

tataḥ śhaṅkhāśhcha bheryaśhcha paṇavānaka-gomukhāḥ
sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śhabdastumulo ’bhavat

tataḥ         śhaṅkhāḥ    cha    bheryaḥ    cha    paṇava-ānaka             go-mukhāḥ
thereafter    conches     and    bugles     and    drums and kettledrums    trumpets
sahasā      eva       abhyahanyanta    saḥ     śhabdaḥ    tumulaḥ         abhavat
suddenly    indeed    blared forth     that    sound      overwhelming    was
---

Then suddenly conchs, kettle drums, trumpets, tabors, and blow horns blared forth, and the sound was terrific.

Verse 14

tataḥ śhvetairhayairyukte mahati syandane sthitau
mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaśhchaiva divyau śhaṅkhau pradadhmatuḥ

tataḥ    śhvetaiḥ    hayaiḥ    yukte    mahati      syandane    sthitau
then     by white    horses    yoked    glorious    chariot     seated
mādhavaḥ                                                         pāṇḍavaḥ    cha    eva     divyau    śhaṅkhau        pradadhmatuḥ
Shree Krishna, the husband of the goddess of fortune, Lakshmi    Arjun       and    also    Divine    conch shells    blew
---

Then Sri Krishna and Arjuna, stationed in their great chariot yoked with white horses, blew their divine conchs.

Verse 15

pāñchajanyaṁ hṛiṣhīkeśho devadattaṁ dhanañjayaḥ
pauṇḍraṁ dadhmau mahā-śhaṅkhaṁ bhīma-karmā vṛikodaraḥ

pāñchajanyam                         hṛiṣhīka-īśhaḥ                                    devadattam                         dhanam-jayaḥ
the conch shell named Panchajanya    Shree Krishna, the Lord of the mind and senses    the conch shell named Devadutta    Arjun, the winner of wealth
pauṇḍram                   dadhmau    mahā-śhaṅkham    bhīma-karmā                         vṛika-udaraḥ
the conch named Paundra    blew       mighty conch     one who performs herculean tasks    Bheem, the voracious eater
---

Sri Krishna blew his conch, Pancajanya, Arjuna his Devadatta, and Bhima of terrible deeds blew his great conch, Paundra.

Verse 16

anantavijayaṁ rājā kuntī-putro yudhiṣhṭhiraḥ
nakulaḥ sahadevaśhcha sughoṣha-maṇipuṣhpakau

ananta-vijayam                 rājā    kuntī-putraḥ    yudhiṣhṭhiraḥ
the conch named Anantavijay    king    son of Kunti    Yudhishthir
nakulaḥ    sahadevaḥ    cha    sughoṣha-maṇipuṣhpakau
Nakul      Sahadev      and    the conche shells named Sughosh and Manipushpak
---

King Yudhisthira, the son of Kunti, blew his conch, Anantavijaya, and Nakula and Sahadeva blew their conchs, Sughosa and Manipuspaka.

Verse 17

kāśhyaśhcha parameṣhvāsaḥ śhikhaṇḍī cha mahā-rathaḥ
dhṛiṣhṭadyumno virāṭaśhcha sātyakiśh chāparājitaḥ

kāśhyaḥ          cha    parama-iṣhu-āsaḥ        śhikhaṇḍī    cha     mahā-rathaḥ
King of Kashi    and    the excellent archer    Shikhandi    also    warriors who could single handedly match the strength of ten thousand ordinary warriors
dhṛiṣhṭadyumnaḥ    virāṭaḥ    cha    sātyakiḥ    cha    aparājitaḥ
Dhrishtadyumna     Virat      and    Satyaki     and    invincible
---

And the King of Kasi, the supreme bowman, Sikandi the mighty warrior, Dhrstadyumna, and Virata; and Satyaki, the invincible;

Verse 18

drupado draupadeyāśhcha sarvaśhaḥ pṛithivī-pate
saubhadraśhcha mahā-bāhuḥ śhaṅkhāndadhmuḥ pṛithak pṛithak

drupadaḥ    draupadeyāḥ                  cha    sarvaśhaḥ    pṛithivī-pate
Drupad      the five sons of Draupadi    and    all          Ruler of the earth
saubhadraḥ                        cha     mahā-bāhuḥ          śhaṅkhān        dadhmuḥ    pṛithak pṛithak
Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadra    also    the mighty-armed    conch shells    blew       individually
---

Drupada and the sons of Draupadi, as well as the strong-armed son of Subhadra—all, O King, blew their respective conchs again and again.

Verse 19

sa ghoṣho dhārtarāṣhṭrāṇāṁ hṛidayāni vyadārayat
nabhaśhcha pṛithivīṁ chaiva tumulo nunādayan

saḥ     ghoṣhaḥ    dhārtarāṣhṭrāṇām           hṛidayāni    vyadārayat
that    sound      of Dhritarashtra’s sons    hearts       shattered
nabhaḥ     cha    pṛithivīm    cha    eva          tumulaḥ           abhyanunādayan
the sky    and    the earth    and    certainly    terrific sound    thundering
---

And that tumultuous uproar, reverberating through heaven and earth, rent the hearts of Dhrtarastra's sons.

Verse 20

atha vyavasthitān dṛiṣhṭvā dhārtarāṣhṭrān kapi-dhwajaḥ
pravṛitte śhastra-sampāte dhanurudyamya pāṇḍavaḥ

atha         vyavasthitān    dṛiṣhṭvā    dhārtarāṣhṭrān          kapi-dwajaḥ
thereupon    arrayed         seeing      Dhritarashtra’s sons    the Monkey Bannered
pravṛitte            śhastra-sampāte       dhanuḥ    udyamya      pāṇḍavaḥ
about to commence    to use the weapons    bow       taking up    Arjun, the son of Pandu
---

Then Arjuna, whose banner crest was Hanuman, on beholding the sons of Dhrtarastra arrayed, took up his bow, while missiles were beginning to fly.

Verse 21

hṛiṣhīkeśhaṁ tadā vākyam idam āha mahī-pate
arjuna uvācha
senayor ubhayor madhye rathaṁ sthāpaya me ’chyuta

hṛiṣhīkeśham        tadā            vākyam    idam     āha     mahī-pate
to Shree Krishna    at that time    words     these    said    King
arjunaḥ uvācha
Arjun said
senayoḥ    ubhayoḥ    madhye           ratham     sthāpaya    me    achyuta
armies     both       in the middle    chariot    place       my    Shree Krishna, the infallible One
---

And he spoke, O Lord of the Earth, these words to Sri Krishna: Arjuna said, “Draw up my chariot, O Krishna, between the two armies.

Verse 22

yāvadetān nirīkṣhe ’haṁ yoddhu-kāmān avasthitān
kairmayā saha yoddhavyam asmin raṇa-samudyame

yāvat         etān     nirīkṣhe    aham    yoddhu-kāmān      avasthitān
as many as    these    look        I       for the battle    arrayed
kaiḥ         mayā     saha        yoddhavyam    asmin      raṇa-samudyame
with whom    by me    together    must fight    in this    great combat
---

So that I may have a good look at those who are standing, eager to fight, and know with whom I must fight in this enterprise of war.

Verse 23

yotsyamānān avekṣhe ’haṁ ya ete ’tra samāgatāḥ
dhārtarāṣhṭrasya durbuddher yuddhe priya-chikīrṣhavaḥ

yotsyamānān                     avekṣhe aham       ye     ete      atra    samāgatāḥ
those who have come to fight    I desire to see    who    those    here    assembled
dhārtarāṣhṭrasya          durbuddheḥ     yuddhe          priya-chikīrṣhavaḥ
of Dhritarashtra’s son    evil-minded    in the fight    wishing to please
---

I wish to see those gathered here ready to fight in this battle in order to please the evil-minded son of Dhrtarashtra.

Verse 24

sañjaya uvācha
evam ukto hṛiṣhīkeśho guḍākeśhena bhārata
senayor ubhayor madhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam

sañjayaḥ uvācha
Sanjay said
evam    uktaḥ        hṛiṣhīkeśhaḥ                             guḍākeśhena                         bhārata
thus    addressed    Shree Krishna, the Lord of the senses    by Arjun, the conqueror of sleep    descendant of Bharat
senayoḥ    ubhayoḥ    madhye     sthāpayitvā     ratha-uttamam
armies     the two    between    having drawn    magnificent chariot
---

Sanjaya said: Thus addressed by Arjuna, Sri Krishna drew up the best of chariots between the two armies, in full view of Bhisma, Drona, and all the other kings, O Dhrtarastra. He then said, "O Arjuna, behold these assembled Kauravas."

Verse 25

bhīṣhma-droṇa-pramukhataḥ sarveṣhāṁ cha mahī-kṣhitām
uvācha pārtha paśhyaitān samavetān kurūn iti

bhīṣhma               droṇa          pramukhataḥ        sarveṣhām    cha    mahī-kṣhitām
Grandsire Bheeshma    Dronacharya    in the presence    all          and    other kings
uvācha    pārtha                      paśhya    etān     samavetān    kurūn                  iti
said      Arjun, the son of Pritha    behold    these    gathered     descendants of Kuru    thus
---

Sanjaya said: Thus addressed by Arjuna, Sri Krishna drew up the best of chariots between the two armies, in full view of Bhisma, Drona, and all the other kings, O Dhrtarastra. He then said, "O Arjuna, behold these assembled Kauravas."

Verse 26

tatrāpaśhyat sthitān pārthaḥ pitṝīn atha pitāmahān
āchāryān mātulān bhrātṝīn putrān pautrān sakhīṁs tathā

tatra    apaśhyat    sthitān      pārthaḥ    pitṝīn     atha          pitāmahān
there    saw         stationed    Arjun      fathers    thereafter    grandfathers
āchāryān    mātulān            bhrātṝīn    putrān    pautrān      sakhīn     tathā
teachers    maternal uncles    brothers    sons      grandsons    friends    also
---

Then, as Arjuna looked on, he saw standing there fathers, grandfathers, teachers, uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and comrades.

Verse 27

śhvaśhurān suhṛidaśh chaiva senayor ubhayor api
tān samīkṣhya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvān bandhūn avasthitān

śhvaśhurān        suhṛidaḥ        cha    eva       senayoḥ    ubhayoḥ           api
fathers-in-law    well-wishers    and    indeed    armies     in both armies    also
tān      samīkṣhya    saḥ     kaunteyaḥ                  sarvān    bandhūn      avasthitān
these    on seeing    they    Arjun, the son of Kunti    all       relatives    present
---

Fathers-in-law and dear friends in both armies, when Arjuna saw all these kinsmen arrayed,

Verse 28

kṛipayā parayāviṣhṭo viṣhīdann idam abravīt
arjuna uvācha
dṛiṣhṭvemaṁ sva-janaṁ kṛiṣhṇa yuyutsuṁ samupasthitam

kṛipayā          parayā    āviṣhṭaḥ       viṣhīdan       idam    abravīt
by compassion    great     overwhelmed    deep sorrow    this    spoke
arjunaḥ uvācha
Arjun said
dṛiṣhṭvā     imam     sva-janam    kṛiṣhṇa    yuyutsum          samupasthitam
on seeing    these    kinsmen      Krishna    eager to fight    present
---

He was filled with deep compassion and said these words in despair:

Verse 29

sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṁ cha pariśhuṣhyati
vepathuśh cha śharīre me roma-harṣhaśh cha jāyate

sīdanti      mama    gātrāṇi    mukham    cha    pariśhuṣhyati
quivering    my      limbs      mouth     and    is drying up
vepathuḥ      cha    śharīre        me    roma-harṣhaḥ                      cha     jāyate
shuddering    and    on the body    my    standing of bodily hair on end    also    is happening
---

My limbs have weakened, my mouth has become parched, my body is trembling, and my hairs are standing on end.

Verse 30

gāṇḍīvaṁ sraṁsate hastāt tvak chaiva paridahyate
na cha śhaknomy avasthātuṁ bhramatīva cha me manaḥ

gāṇḍīvam       sraṁsate       hastāt            tvak    cha    eva       paridahyate
Arjun’s bow    is slipping    from (my) hand    skin    and    indeed    is burning all over
na     cha    śhaknomi    avasthātum       bhramati iva     cha    me    manaḥ
not    and    am able     remain steady    whirling like    and    my    mind
---

The bow Gandiva slips from my hand and my skin is burning. I can no longer stand. My mind seems to be reeling.

Verse 31

nimittāni cha paśhyāmi viparītāni keśhava
na cha śhreyo ’nupaśhyāmi hatvā sva-janam āhave

nimittāni    cha    paśhyāmi    viparītāni    keśhava
omens        and    I see       misfortune    Shree Krishna, killer of the Keshi demon
na     cha     śhreyaḥ    anupaśhyāmi    hatvā           sva-janam    āhave
not    also    good       I foresee      from killing    kinsmen      in battle
---

I see, Kṛṣṇa, inauspicious omens. I foresee no good in slaying my kinsmen in battle.

Verse 32

na kāṅkṣhe vijayaṁ kṛiṣhṇa na cha rājyaṁ sukhāni cha
kiṁ no rājyena govinda kiṁ bhogair jīvitena vā

na     kāṅkṣhe        vijayam    kṛiṣhṇa    na     cha        rājyam     sukhāni      cha
nor    do I desire    victory    Krishna    nor    as well    kingdom    happiness    also
kim     naḥ      rājyena       govinda                                                                 kim      bhogaiḥ      jīvitena    vā
what    to us    by kingdom    Krishna, he who gives pleasure to the senses, he who is fond of cows    what?    pleasures    life        or
---

I desire no victory, nor empire, nor pleasures. What have we to do with empire, O Krishna, or enjoyment, or even life?

Verse 33

yeṣhām arthe kāṅkṣhitaṁ no rājyaṁ bhogāḥ sukhāni cha
ta ime ’vasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṁs tyaktvā dhanāni cha

yeṣhām       arthe    kāṅkṣhitam     naḥ      rājyam     bhogāḥ       sukhāni      cha
for whose    sake     coveted for    by us    kingdom    pleasures    happiness    also
te      ime      avasthitāḥ    yuddhe        prāṇān    tyaktvā      dhanāni    cha
they    these    situated      for battle    lives     giving up    wealth     also
---

Those for whose sake we desire empire, enjoyment, and pleasures, stand here in war, renouncing life and wealth.

Verse 34

āchāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrās tathaiva cha pitāmahāḥ
mātulāḥ śhvaśhurāḥ pautrāḥ śhyālāḥ sambandhinas tathā

āchāryāḥ    pitaraḥ    putrāḥ    tathā      eva       cha     pitāmahāḥ
teachers    fathers    sons      as well    indeed    also    grandfathers
mātulāḥ            śhvaśhurāḥ        pautrāḥ      śhyālāḥ            sambandhinaḥ    tathā
maternal uncles    fathers-in-law    grandsons    brothers-in-law    kinsmen         as well
---

Teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other kinsmen—all these are to be regarded as one's own self.

Verse 35

etān na hantum ichchhāmi ghnato ’pi madhusūdana
api trailokya-rājyasya hetoḥ kiṁ nu mahī-kṛite

etān     na     hantum     ichchhāmi    ghnataḥ    api            madhusūdana
these    not    to slay    I wish       killed     even though    Shree Krishna, killer of the demon Madhu
api            trai-lokya-rājyasya           hetoḥ              kim nu              mahī-kṛite
even though    dominion over three worlds    for the sake of    what to speak of    for the earth
---

I would not slay them, even if they might slay me, for the sovereignty of the three worlds—how much less for this earth, O Krsna?

Verse 36

nihatya dhārtarāṣhṭrān naḥ kā prītiḥ syāj janārdana
pāpam evāśhrayed asmān hatvaitān ātatāyinaḥ

nihatya       dhārtarāṣhṭrān               naḥ    kā      prītiḥ      syāt             janārdana
by killing    the sons of Dhritarashtra    our    what    pleasure    will there be    he who looks after the public, Shree Krishna
pāpam    eva          āśhrayet          asmān    hatvā         etān         ātatāyinaḥ
vices    certainly    must come upon    us       by killing    all these    aggressors
---

If we were to kill the sons of Dhrtarastra, what joy would be ours, O Krsna? Sin alone would accrue to us if we killed these murderous felons.

Verse 37

tasmān nārhā vayaṁ hantuṁ dhārtarāṣhṭrān sa-bāndhavān 
sva-janaṁ hi kathaṁ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava

tasmāt    na       arhāḥ      vayam    hantum     dhārtarāṣhṭrān               sva-bāndhavān
hence     never    behoove    we       to kill    the sons of Dhritarashtra    along with friends
sva-janam    hi           katham    hatvā         sukhinaḥ    syāma             mādhava
kinsmen      certainly    how       by killing    happy       will we become    Shree Krishna, the husband of Yogmaya
---

Therefore, it is not befitting for us to slay our kin, the sons of Dhrtarastra. For if we kill our kinsmen, O Krsna, how can we be happy?

Verse 38

yady apy ete na paśhyanti lobhopahata-chetasaḥ
kula-kṣhaya-kṛitaṁ doṣhaṁ mitra-drohe cha pātakam

yadi api       ete     na     paśhyanti    lobha    upahata        chetasaḥ
even though    they    not    see          greed    overpowered    thoughts
kula-kṣhaya-kṛitam                 doṣham    mitra-drohe                        cha    pātakam
in annihilating their relatives    fault     to wreak treachery upon friends    and    sin
---

Though these people, whose minds are overpowered by greed, see no evil in the destruction of a clan and no sin in treachery to friends,

Verse 39

kathaṁ na jñeyam asmābhiḥ pāpād asmān nivartitum
kula-kṣhaya-kṛitaṁ doṣhaṁ prapaśhyadbhir janārdana

katham    na     jñeyam             asmābhiḥ    pāpāt       asmāt    nivartitum
why       not    should be known    we          from sin    these    to turn away
kula-kṣhaya             kṛitam    doṣham    prapaśhyadbhiḥ    janārdana
killing the kindered    done      crime     who can see       he who looks after the public, Shree Krishna
---

Why should we not learn to shun this crime—we who see the evil of ruining a clan, O Krishna?

Verse 40

kula-kṣhaye praṇaśhyanti kula-dharmāḥ sanātanāḥ
dharme naṣhṭe kulaṁ kṛitsnam adharmo ’bhibhavaty uta

kula-kṣhaye                        praṇaśhyanti      kula-dharmāḥ         sanātanāḥ
in the destruction of a dynasty    are vanquished    family traditions    eternal
dharme      naṣhṭe          kulam     kṛitsnam     adharmaḥ      abhibhavati    uta
religion    is destroyed    family    the whole    irreligion    overcome       indeed
---

With the ruin of a clan, its ancient traditions perish, and when traditions perish, lawlessness overtakes the whole clan.

Verse 41

adharmābhibhavāt kṛiṣhṇa praduṣhyanti kula-striyaḥ
strīṣhu duṣhṭāsu vārṣhṇeya jāyate varṇa-saṅkaraḥ

adharma       abhibhavāt       kṛiṣhṇa          praduṣhyanti      kula-striyaḥ
irreligion    preponderance    Shree Krishna    become immoral    women of the family
strīṣhu     duṣhṭāsu          vārṣhṇeya                jāyate      varṇa-saṅkaraḥ
of women    become immoral    descendant of Vrishni    are born    unwanted progeny
---

When lawlessness prevails, O Krsna, the women of the clan become corrupted; when women become corrupted, there arises an intermixing of classes.

Verse 42

saṅkaro narakāyaiva kula-ghnānāṁ kulasya cha
patanti pitaro hy eṣhāṁ lupta-piṇḍodaka-kriyāḥ

saṅkaraḥ             narakāya    eva       kula-ghnānām                        kulasya          cha
unwanted children    hellish     indeed    for those who destroy the family    of the family    also
patanti    pitaraḥ      hi        eṣhām    lupta          piṇḍodaka-kriyāḥ
fall       ancestors    verily    their    deprived of    performances of sacrificial offerings
---

This mixing of classes leads to hell for the clan itself and its destroyers; for the spirits of their ancestors fall degraded, deprived of the ritual offerings of food and water.

Verse 43

doṣhair etaiḥ kula-ghnānāṁ varṇa-saṅkara-kārakaiḥ
utsādyante jāti-dharmāḥ kula-dharmāśh cha śhāśhvatāḥ

doṣhaiḥ               etaiḥ    kula-ghnānām                       varṇa-saṅkara       kārakaiḥ
through evil deeds    these    of those who destroy the family    unwanted progeny    causing
utsādyante    jāti-dharmāḥ                            kula-dharmāḥ         cha    śhāśhvatāḥ
are ruined    social and family welfare activities    family traditions    and    eternal
---

By the sins of the clan-destroyers who bring about intermixing of classes, the ancient traditions of the clans and classes are destroyed.

Verse 44

utsanna-kula-dharmāṇāṁ manuṣhyāṇāṁ janārdana
narake ‘niyataṁ vāso bhavatītyanuśhuśhruma

utsanna      kula-dharmāṇām             manuṣhyāṇām             janārdana
destroyed    whose family traditions    of such human beings    he who looks after the public, Shree Krishna
narake     aniyatam      vāsaḥ    bhavati    iti     anuśhuśhruma
in hell    indefinite    dwell    is         thus    I have heard from the learned
---

For those whose clan laws are destroyed, dwelling in hell is ordained, O Krishna; thus, we have heard.

Verse 45

aho bata mahat pāpaṁ kartuṁ vyavasitā vayam
yad rājya-sukha-lobhena hantuṁ sva-janam udyatāḥ

aho     bata    mahat    pāpam    kartum        vyavasitāḥ      vayam
alas    how     great    sins     to perform    have decided    we
yat        rājya-sukha-lobhena                         hantum     sva-janam    udyatāḥ
because    driven by the desire for kingly pleasure    to kill    kinsmen      intending
---

Alas! We have resolved to commit a great sin, for we are ready to slay our kin out of desire for sovereignty and enjoyment.

Verse 46

yadi mām apratīkāram aśhastraṁ śhastra-pāṇayaḥ
dhārtarāṣhṭrā raṇe hanyus tan me kṣhemataraṁ bhavet

yadi    mām    apratīkāram    aśhastram    śhastra-pāṇayaḥ
if      me     unresisting    unarmed      those with weapons in hand
dhārtarāṣhṭrāḥ               raṇe                  hanyuḥ        tat     me       kṣhema-taram    bhavet
the sons of Dhritarashtra    on the battlefield    shall kill    that    to me    better          would be
---

If the well-armed sons of Dhrtarastra should slay me in battle, unresisting and unarmed, that would be better for me.

Verse 47

sañjaya uvācha
evam uktvārjunaḥ saṅkhye rathopastha upāviśhat
visṛijya sa-śharaṁ chāpaṁ śhoka-saṁvigna-mānasaḥ

sañjayaḥ uvācha
Sanjay said
evam uktvā       arjunaḥ    saṅkhye               ratha upasthe     upāviśhat
speaking thus    Arjun      in the battlefield    on the chariot    sat
visṛijya         sa-śharam            chāpam     śhoka         saṁvigna      mānasaḥ
casting aside    along with arrows    the bow    with grief    distressed    mind
---

Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus on the battlefield, Arjuna threw aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the chariot seat, his heart overwhelmed with grief.


Gita: Chap 01

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