Verse 1
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
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Verse 2
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
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Verse 3
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
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Verse 4
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
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Verse 5
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
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Verse 6
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
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Verse 7
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
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Verse 8
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
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Verse 9
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
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Verse 10
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
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Verse 11
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
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Verse 12
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
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Verse 13
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
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Verse 14
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
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Verse 15
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
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Verse 16
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
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Verse 17
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
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Verse 18
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
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Verse 19
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
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Verse 20
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
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Verse 21
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
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Verse 22
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
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Verse 23
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
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Verse 24
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
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Verse 25
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
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Verse 26
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
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Verse 27
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
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Verse 28
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
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Verse 29
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
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Verse 30
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
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Verse 31
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
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Verse 32
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
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Verse 33
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
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Verse 34
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
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Verse 35
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
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Verse 36
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
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Verse 37
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
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Verse 38
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
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Verse 39
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
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Verse 40
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
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Verse 41
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
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Verse 42
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
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Verse 43
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
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Verse 44
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
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Verse 45
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
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Verse 46
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
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Verse 47
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
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