Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga

"Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, after assembling on the sacred land of Kurukshetra and desiring to fight, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do?"

"Sanjaya said: King Duryodhana, seeing the army of the Pandavas drawn up in military formation, approached his teacher Drona and spoke."

"Behold, O teacher, this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, expertly arranged by your intelligent disciple, the son of Drupada."

"In this army there are many heroic bowmen equal in fighting to Bhima and Arjuna."

"There are also great fighters like Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada."

"There are also great fighters like Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, the powerful king of Kashi, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Shaibya, all of them great warriors."

"But for your information, O best of the Brahmins, let me tell you about the distinguished leaders of my army."

"There are personalities like yourself, Bhishma, Karna, Kripa, Ashwatthama, Vikarna and the son of Somadatta, all of whom are great fighters."

"There are many other heroic warriors who are ready to give up their lives for my sake, all equipped with various weapons and skilled in warfare."

"Our strength, protected by Bhishma, is unlimited, whereas the strength of the Pandavas, protected by Bhima, is limited."

"Therefore, all of you must now give full support to Bhishma, standing at your respective strategic points of entrance into the army formation."

"Then Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kuru dynasty, blew his conchshell very loudly, making a sound like the roar of a lion, giving joy to Duryodhana."

"After that, conchshells, drums, bugles, trumpets and horns were all suddenly sounded, and the combined sound was tumultuous."

"On the other side, both Lord Krishna and Arjuna, stationed on a great chariot drawn by white horses, sounded their transcendental conchshells."

"Lord Krishna blew His conchshell, called Panchajanya; Arjuna blew his, called Devadatta; and Bhima, the voracious eater and performer of herculean tasks, blew his mighty conch, Paundra."

"King Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, blew his conchshell Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva blew the conchshells Sughosha and Manipushpaka."

"The great archer, the King of Kashi, the great fighter Shikhandi, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata and the unconquerable Satyaki also blew their respective conchshells."

"King Drupada, the sons of Draupadi, and the mighty-armed son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu) all blew their conchshells."

"The sound of these conchshells became uproarious and shattered the hearts of the sons of Dhritarashtra, echoing through both heaven and earth."

"At that time, Arjuna, whose chariot bore the flag marked with Hanuman, seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra arrayed in military formation and ready to fight, lifted his bow."

"Arjuna said: O Achyuta (Krishna), please place my chariot between the two armies."

"Let me see those who have come here to fight, and with whom I must engage in this great battle."

"I wish to see those who have assembled here to fight, wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra."

"Sanjaya said: O descendant of Bharata, having thus been addressed by Arjuna, Lord Krishna placed the magnificent chariot between the two armies."

"In the presence of Bhishma, Drona and all the rulers of the world, Lord Krishna said: O Arjuna, behold all these Kurus assembled here."

"What pleasure can we derive from killing the sons of Dhritarashtra? Only sin will accrue to us."

"Therefore, we should not kill the sons of Dhritarashtra. How can we be happy by killing our own kinsmen?"

"Although they are blinded by greed and cannot see the sin of destroying their family, why should we not know better and turn away from this sin?"

"When the family is destroyed, the eternal family traditions are lost."

"When unrighteousness prevails, the women of the family become corrupted, and from this corruption, unwanted population arises."

"I do not see any good in killing my own relatives in this battle, nor do I desire victory, kingdom, or happiness, O Krishna."

"O Govinda, what is the use of a kingdom, happiness, or even life itself when all those for whom we desire these things are standing here in battle?"

"Teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives are all present here."

"O Madhusudana, I do not wish to kill them, even if they kill me, not even for the sake of ruling the three worlds, what to speak of this earth."

"O Janardana, what pleasure will we gain by killing the sons of Dhritarashtra? Sin alone will come upon us by killing them."

"Therefore, we should not kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our own relatives. How can we be happy after killing our own people, O Madhava?"

"Even if they, whose minds are overcome by greed, do not see the fault in destroying the family and committing sin against friends."

"Why should we not consider these consequences and refrain from such sinful acts, O Janardana?"

"With the destruction of the family, the eternal family traditions perish, and with the loss of dharma, irreligion prevails."

"O Krishna, when irreligion prevails, the women of the family become corrupted, and from such corruption arises unwanted progeny."

"Such unwanted progeny leads the family and its destroyers to hell. The ancestors fall because the offerings of food and water are stopped."

"Due to these faults, the eternal family traditions and social duties are destroyed."

"O Janardana, I have heard that those whose family traditions are destroyed dwell in hell."

"Alas! We are preparing to commit a great sin, driven by the desire for royal happiness, to kill our own relatives."

"If the sons of Dhritarashtra kill me in battle while I am unarmed and do not resist, it would be better for me."

"Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus, Arjuna cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the chariot, overwhelmed with sorrow."

"Thus ends Chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita, titled 'Arjuna Vishada Yoga', describing Arjuna’s despair."