Arjuna Viṣāda Yoga

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच। धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः। मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāścaiva kimakurvata sañjaya

What did my (people) and the Pāṇḍavas do, O Sañjaya! when they assembled together on the holy field of Kurukṣetra , desirous to do battle?

सञ्जय उवाच। दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा। आचार्यमुपसंगम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

sañjaya uvāca dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṃ vyūḍhaṃ duryodhanastadā ācāryamupasaṃgamya rājā vacanamabravīt

Seeing the army of the Pāṇḍavas drawn up in battle-array the prince Duryodhana approached the preceptor

पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम्। व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ॥

paśyaitāṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāmācārya mahatīṃ camūm vyūḍhāṃ drupadaputreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā

and spoke (these) words: 'O preceptor! observe this grand army of the sons of Pāṇḍu drawn up in battle-array by your talented pupil the son of Drupada. In it are heroes (bearing) large bows

अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि। युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ॥

atra śūrā maheṣvāsā bhīmārjunasamā yudhi yuyudhāno virāṭaśca drupadaśca mahārathaḥ

the equals of Bhīma and Arjuna in battle—(namely) Yuyudhāna Virāṭa and Drupada the master of a great car and Dhṛṣṭaketu

धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान्। पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुंगवः ॥

dhṛṣṭaketuścekitānaḥ kāśirājaśca vīryavān purujitkuntibhojaśca śaibyaśca narapuṃgavaḥ

Cekitāna and the valiant king of Kāsī Purujit and Kuntibhoja

युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान्। सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ॥

yudhāmanyuśca vikrānta uttamaujāśca vīryavān saubhadro draupadeyāśca sarva eva mahārathāḥ

and that eminent man Śaibya the heroic Yudhāmanyu, the valiant Uttamaujas, the son of Subhadrā , and the sons of Draupadī—all masters of great cars. And now, O best of Brāhmaṇas!

अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम। नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते ॥

asmākaṃ tu viśiṣṭā ye tānnibodha dvijottama nāyakā mama sainyasya saṃjñārthaṃ tānbravīmi te

learn who are most distinguished among us, and are leaders of my army. I will name them to you, in order that you may know them well. Yourself, and Bhīṣma, and Karṇa , and Kṛpa the victor of (many) battles Aśvatthāman

भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः। अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ॥

bhavānbhīṣmaśca karṇaśca kṛpaśca samitiñjayaḥ aśvatthāmā vikarṇaśca saumadattistathaiva ca

and Vikarṇa and also the son of Somadatta

अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः। नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ॥

anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā madarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ nānāśastrapraharaṇāḥ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ

and many other brave men who have given up their lives for me who fight with various weapons, (and are) all dexterous in battle.

अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम्। पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ॥

aparyāptaṃ tadasmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam paryāptaṃ tvidameteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhirakṣitam

Thus our army which is protected by Bhīṣma is unlimited

अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः। भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ॥

ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu yathābhāgamavasthitāḥ bhīṣmamevābhirakṣantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi

while this army of theirs which is protected by Bhīma is very limited. And therefore do ye all, occupying respectively the positions assigned to you, protect Bhīṣma only.'

तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः। सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ॥

tasya sañjanayanharṣaṃ kuruvṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ siṃhanādaṃ vinadyoccaiḥ śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau pratāpavān

Then his powerful grandsire Bhīṣma the oldest of the Kauravas roaring aloud like a lion blew his conch, (thereby) affording delight to Duryodhana. And then all at once

ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः। सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥

tataḥ śaṅkhāśca bheryaśca paṇavānakagomukhāḥ sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śabdastumulo.abhavat

conchs and kettledrums and tabors

ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ। माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः ॥

tataḥ śvetairhayairyukte mahati syandane sthitau mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaścaiva divyau śaṅkhau pradadhmatuḥ

and trumpets were played upon and there was a tumultuous din. Then, too, Mādhava and the son of Pāṇḍu (Arjuna), seated in a grand chariot to which white steeds were yoked, blew their heavenly conchs.

पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः। पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः ॥

pāñcajanyaṃ hṛṣīkeśo devadattaṃ dhanañjayaḥ pauṇḍraṃ dadhmau mahāśaṅkhaṃ bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ

Hṛṣīkeśa blew the Pāñcajanya, and Dhanañjaya the Devadatta, and Bhīma, (the doer) of fearful deeds, blew the great conch Pauṇḍra . King Yudhiṣṭhira

अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ ॥

anantavijayaṃ rājā kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ nakulaḥ sahadevaśca sughoṣamaṇipuṣpakau

the son of Kuntī blew the Anantavijaya and Nakula and Sahadeva (respectively) the Sughoṣa and Maṇipuṣpaka. And the king of Kāśī too who has an excellent bow and Sikhaṇḍin the master of a great car and Dhṛṣṭadyumna

काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः। धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ॥

kāśyaśca parameṣvāsaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaśca sātyakiścāparājitaḥ

Virāṭa

द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते। सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक् ॥

drupado draupadeyāśca sarvaśaḥ pṛthivīpate saubhadraśca mahābāhuḥ śaṅkhāndadhmuḥ pṛthakpṛthak

and the unconquered Sātyaki and Drupada and the sons of Draupadī and the son of Subhadrā of mighty arms blew conchs severally from all sides

स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत्। नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलोऽभ्यनुनादयन् (or लोव्यनु) ॥

sa ghoṣo dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ hṛdayāni vyadārayat nabhaśca pṛthivīṃ caiva tumulo.abhyanunādayan (lo vyanu)

O king of the earth! That tumultuous din rent the hearts of all (the people) of Dhṛtarāṣṭra's (party)

अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान् कपिध्वजः। प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः। हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते ॥

atha vyavasthitāndṛṣṭvā dhārtarāṣṭrān kapidhvajaḥ pravṛtte śastrasampāte dhanurudyamya pāṇḍavaḥ

causing reverberations throughout heaven and earth. Then seeing (the people of ) Dhṛtarāṣṭra's party regularly marshalled the son of Pāṇḍu whose standard is the ape raised his bow after the discharge of missiles had commenced

अर्जुन उवाच। सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ॥

hṛṣīkeśaṃ tadā vākyamidamāha mahīpate arjuna uvāca senayorubhayormadhye rathaṃ sthāpaya me.acyuta

and O king of the earth! spake these words to Hṛṣīkeśa: 'O undegraded one! station my chariot between the two armies while I observe those who stand here desirous to engage in battle and with whom in the labours of this struggle I must do battle. I will observe those who are assembled here and who are about to engage in battle, wishing to do service in battle to the evil-minded son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.' Thus addressed by Guḍākeśa, O descendant of Bharata!

यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान्। कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन् रणसमुद्यमे ॥

yāvadetānnirikṣe.ahaṃ yoddhukāmānavasthitān kairmayā saha yoddhavyamasmin raṇasamudyame

Hṛṣīkeśa stationed that excellent chariot between the two armies in front of Bhīṣma and Droṇa and of all the kings of the earth

योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः। धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः ॥

yotsyamānānavekṣe.ahaṃ ya ete.atra samāgatāḥ dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddheryuddhe priyacikīrṣavaḥ

and said O son of Pṛthā! look at these assembled Kauravas.'

सञ्जय उवाच। एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत। सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ॥

sañjaya uvāca evamukto hṛṣīkeśo guḍākeśena bhārata senayorubhayormadhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam

There the son of Pṛthā saw in both armies fathers and grandfathers preceptors maternal uncles brothers

भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम्। उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति ॥

bhīṣmadroṇapramukhataḥ sarveṣāṃ ca mahīkṣitām uvāca pārtha paśyaitānsamavetānkurūniti

sons

तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान्। आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा ॥

tatrāpaśyatsthitānpārthaḥ pitṝnatha pitāmahān ācāryānmātulānbhrātṛnputrānpautrānsakhīṃstathā

grandsons

श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि। तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान् ॥

śvaśurānsuhṛdaścaiva senayorubhayorapi tānsamīkṣya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvānbandhūnavasthitān

companions fathers-in-law as well as friends. And seeing all those kinsmen standing (there) the son of Kuntī was overcome by excessive pity

कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत्। अर्जुन उवाच। दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् ॥

kṛpayā parayāviṣṭo viṣīdannidamabravīt arjuna uvāca dṛṣṭvemaṃ svajanaṃ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṃ samupasthitam

and spake thus despondingly. Seeing these kinsmen, O Kṛṣṇa ! standing (here) desirous to engage in battle, my limbs droop down my mouth is quite dried up a tremor comes on my body

सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति। वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते ॥

sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṃ ca pariśuṣyati vepathuśca śarīre me romaharṣaśca jāyate

and my hairs stand on end

गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते। न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ॥

gāṇḍīvaṃ sraṃsate hastāttvakcaiva paridahyate na ca śaknomyavasthātuṃ bhramatīva ca me manaḥ

the Gāṇḍīva (bow) slips from my hand my skin burns intensely. I am unable, too, to stand up my mind whirls round, as it were

निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव। न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे ॥

nimittāni ca paśyāmi viparītāni keśava na ca śreyo.anupaśyāmi hatvā svajanamāhave

O Keśava! I see adverse omens and I do not perceive any good (to accrue) after killing (my) kinsmen in the battle.

न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च। किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा ॥

na kāṅkṣe vijayaṃ kṛṣṇa na ca rājyaṃ sukhāni ca kiṃ no rājyena govinda kiṃ bhogairjīvitena vā

I do not wish for victory, O Kṛṣṇa! nor sovereignty, nor pleasures: what is sovereignty to us, O Govinda ! what enjoyments, and even life? Even those

येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च। त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ॥

yeṣāmarthe kāṅkṣitaṃ no rājyaṃ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca ta ime.avasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṃstyaktvā dhanāni ca

for whose sake we desire sovereignty enjoyments and pleasures are standing here for battle abandoning life and wealth-preceptors fathers

आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः। मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा ॥

ācāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrāstathaiva ca pitāmahāḥ mātulāḥ śvaśurāḥ pautrāḥ śyālāḥ sambandhinastathā

sons as well as grandfathers maternal uncles fathers-in-law grandsons brothers-in-law as also (other) relatives.

एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन। अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते ॥

etānna hantumicchāmi ghnato.api madhusūdana api trailokyarājyasya hetoḥ kiṃ nu mahīkṛte

These I do not wish to kill though they kill (me) O destroyer of Madhu! even for the sake of sovereignty over the three worlds how much less then for this earth (alone)?

निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन। पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ॥

nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrānnaḥ kā prītiḥ syājjanārdana pāpamevāśrayedasmānhatvaitānātatāyinaḥ

What joy shall be ours, O Janārdana ! after killing Dhṛtarāṣṭra's sons? Killing these felons we shall only incur sin.

तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान्। स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ॥

tasmānnārhā vayaṃ hantuṃ dhārtarāṣṭrānsvabāndhavān svajanaṃ hi kathaṃ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava

Therefore it is not proper for us to kill our own kinsmen the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. For how O Mādhava! shall we be happy after killing our own relatives?

यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः। कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ॥

yadyapyete na paśyanti lobhopahatacetasaḥ kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ mitradrohe ca pātakam

Although having their consciences corrupted by avarice they do not see the evils flowing from the extinction of a family and the sin in treachery to friends still

कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम्। कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ॥

kathaṃ na jñeyamasmābhiḥ pāpādasmānnivartitum kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ prapaśyadbhirjanārdana

O Ganārdana! should not we

कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः। धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ॥

kulakṣaye praṇaśyanti kuladharmāḥ sanātanāḥ dharme naṣṭe kulaṃ kṛtsnamadharmo.abhibhavatyuta

who do see the evils flowing from the extinction of a family learn to refrain from that sin? On the extinction of a family

अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः। स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः ॥

adharmābhibhavātkṛṣṇa praduṣyanti kulastriyaḥ strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇasaṅkaraḥ

the eternal rites of families are destroyed. Those rites being destroyed, impiety predominates over the whole family. In consequence of the predominance of impiety, O Kṛṣṇa! the women of the family become corrupt and the women becoming corrupt, O descendant of Vṛṣṇi! intermingling of castes results

सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च। पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः ॥

saṅkaro narakāyaiva kulaghnānāṃ kulasya ca patanti pitaro hyeṣāṃ luptapiṇḍodakakriyāḥ

that intermingling necessarily leads the family and the destroyers of the family to hell for when the ceremonies of (offering) the balls of food and water (to them) fail, their ancestors fall down (to hell). By these transgressions of the destroyers of families which occasion interminglings of castes

दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः। उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ॥

doṣairetaiḥ kulaghnānāṃ varṇasaṅkarakārakaiḥ utsādyante jātidharmāḥ kuladharmāśca śāśvatāḥ

the eternal rites of castes and rites

उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन। नरके नियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम (or नरकेऽनियतं) ॥

utsannakuladharmāṇāṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ janārdana narake niyataṃ vāso bhavatītyanuśuśruma

of families are subverted. And O Janārdana! we have heard that men whose family-rites are subverted

अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम्। यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ॥

aho bata mahatpāpaṃ kartuṃ vyavasitā vayam yadrājyasukhalobhena hantuṃ svajanamudyatāḥ

must necessarily live in hell. Alas! we are engaged in committing a heinous sin, seeing that we are making efforts for killing our own kinsmen out of greed of the pleasures of sovereignty.

यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः। धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ॥

yadi māmapratīkāramaśastraṃ śastrapāṇayaḥ dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyustanme kṣemataraṃ bhavet

If the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, weapon in hand, should kill me in battle, me weaponless and not defending (myself), that would be better for me.

सञ्जय उवाच। एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः सङ्ख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्। विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः ॥

sañjaya uvāca evamuktvārjunaḥ saṅkhye rathopastha upāviśat visṛjya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ śokasaṃvignamānasaḥ

Having spoken thus, Arjuna cast aside his bow together with the arrows, on the battle-field, and sat down in (his) chariot, with a mind agitated by grief.