Swami Nirviseshananda Tirtha
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1
Swami Nirviseshananda Tirtha
King Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, having assembled in Kurukshetra, an abode of austerity and righteousness, what did my sons and those of Pandu, ambitious as they were to fight, do?
Sanjaya said: Duryodhana, the crown prince, on seeing the Pandava army in full array, went to his Teacher and said:
Look, O Teacher, at the great Pandava army, arrayed by Dhrishtadyumna, your intelligent disciple, the son of Drupada.
Here are powerful heroes, equal to Bheema and Arjuna, great fighters Yuyudhana, Virata, Drupada, valorous Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, Kashi King, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Shaibya, all best of archers, strong Yudhamanyu, unyielding Uttamaujas, Subhadra’s son, Draupadi’s children, all illustrious Maharathis (warriors with mastery in all combat skills).
Here are powerful heroes, equal to Bheema and Arjuna, great fighters Yuyudhana, Virata, Drupada, valorous Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, Kashi King, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Shaibya, all best of archers, strong Yudhamanyu, unyielding Uttamaujas, Subhadra’s son, Draupadi’s children, all illustrious Maharathis (warriors with mastery in all combat skills).
Here are powerful heroes, equal to Bheema and Arjuna, great fighters Yuyudhana, Virata, Drupada, valorous Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, Kashi King, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Shaibya, all best of archers, strong Yudhamanyu, unyielding Uttamaujas, Subhadra’s son, Draupadi’s children, all illustrious Maharathis (warriors with mastery in all combat skills).
O famous among Brahmanas (Drona), know our distinguished fighters, leading my army, as I render their names for your information.
Yourself, Bheeshma also, then Karna, Kripa, Samitinjaya too, then Ashvatthama, Vikarna and also Somadatta’s son.
And many highly skilled fighters adept in using various weapons and missiles, numerous heroic fighters – all are here to sacrifice their lives for my sake.
Our army shielded by Bheeshma is limited, insufficient. Whereas their army protected by Bheema is unlimited, sufficient.
Let all the army divisions, yourself and the rest, retaining their positions protect well Bheeshma alone.
The oldest among the Kurus, the Grandfather, the invincible Bheeshma roared like a lion and blew his conch, cheering up Duryodhana’s mind.
Immediately blared forth the conches, kettledrums, tabors, trumpets and cow-horns; it was a tumultuous sound indeed.
Thereupon Madhava (Krishna) and Arjuna (Pandu’s son), positioned in the great chariot yoking white horses, blew their divine conches.
Hrisheekesha (Krishna) blew Panchajanya; Dhananjaya (Arjuna) blew Devadatta; Vrikodara (the performer of terrific deeds, Bheema) blew his great conch Paundram.
King Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, blew Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva blew their conches Sughosha and Manipushpaka.
Kashi King – an adept bow wielder, Shikhandi – the distinguished chariot fighter, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and Satyaki – the undefeated.
O Lord of the Earth (King Dhritarashtra)! Drupada, Draupadi’s sons, and the mighty-armed son of Subhadra, blew individually their war conches.
That sound, filling and echoing in heaven and earth alike, verily rent asunder the hearts of Dhritarashtra’s army.
O Lord of the Earth (King Dhritarashtra)! When the discharge of arrows was about to begin, seeing the assembled warriors, Arjuna, from his chariot flying aloft the flag with the emblem of Lord Hanumana, lifted his bow, and spoke to Hrisheekesha (Krishna, his charioteer) thus:
Arjuna said: O Achyuta (Krishna)! In this eventful war, station my chariot between the two armies, who have come aspiring to fight their best, in a manner that I can see those whom I have to encounter.
Let me see all those who have come here for this war, wishing to please the evil-minded Duryodhana.
Sanjaya said: O Bhārata (Dhritarashtra, a king of the Bharata lineage)! Told like this by Arjuna (Gudakesha, the conqueror of sleep), Krishna (Hrisheekesha, the controller of senses), after stationing the chariot between the two armies, particularly in front of Bheeshma and Drona and all the other rulers, said: “Partha, see well the Kuru descendants assembled here.”
Sanjaya said: O Bhārata (Dhritarashtra, a king of the Bharata lineage)! Told like this by Arjuna (Gudakesha, the conqueror of sleep), Krishna (Hrisheekesha, the controller of senses), after stationing the chariot between the two armies, particularly in front of Bheeshma and Drona and all the other rulers, said: “Partha, see well the Kuru descendants assembled here.”
There Partha (Arjuna) saw standing on both sides – fathers, grandfathers, teachers, uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, likewise close associates, fathers-in-law and friends.
Seeing all the relatives stand in full array on both sides, the son of Kunti (Arjuna), overtaken by extreme sympathy and grief, spoke thus:
Arjuna said: Seeing my relatives standing eager to fight, O Krishna, my limbs are failing, mouth is getting dry; there is tremor and horripilation all over my body; Gandiva (Arjuna’s famous bow) is slipping from my fist; skin is scorching all over; I am unable to stand; my mind is whirling. Also, I see ill omens, O Keshava.
Arjuna said: Seeing my relatives standing eager to fight, O Krishna, my limbs are failing, mouth is getting dry; there is tremor and horripilation all over my body; Gandiva (Arjuna’s famous bow) is slipping from my fist; skin is scorching all over; I am unable to stand; my mind is whirling. Also, I see ill omens, O Keshava.
Arjuna said: Seeing my relatives standing eager to fight, O Krishna, my limbs are failing, mouth is getting dry; there is tremor and horripilation all over my body; Gandiva (Arjuna’s famous bow) is slipping from my fist; skin is scorching all over; I am unable to stand; my mind is whirling. Also, I see ill omens, O Keshava.
Neither do I see any lasting good by killing my own people in this war, O Krishna, nor do I aspire for victory, the kingdom and royal pleasures.
Of what use, O Govinda, is kingdom, or even pleasures of life? Those for whose sake we desire the kingdom, pleasures and happiness, they are standing here to fight, abandoning their life and wealth – teachers, parents, sons, grandfathers, uncles, fathers-in-law, grand-children, brothers-in-law and relatives
Of what use, O Govinda, is kingdom, or even pleasures of life? Those for whose sake we desire the kingdom, pleasures and happiness, they are standing here to fight, abandoning their life and wealth – teachers, parents, sons, grandfathers, uncles, fathers-in-law, grand-children, brothers-in-law and relatives.
Even if I am slain, O Madhusudana (Krishna), I would not wish to kill these people; even for the sake of the three worlds; how then for the sake of a kingdom on earth!
What satisfaction will there be for us by killing Dhritarashtra’s sons, O Janardana (Krishna)? By slaying them, though they are criminals, sin alone will accrue to us.
Therefore, we should not kill these sons of Dhritarashtra, who are our relatives. By destroying our own people, how can we become happy, O Madhava?
Although these people, overpowered by greed, fail to see the evil in destruction of lineage and the sin of hostility to friends, why not we, O Janardana, seeing the evil of causing extinction of the family, refrain from this sinful mission?
Although these people, overpowered by greed, fail to see the evil in destruction of lineage and the sin of hostility to friends, why not we, O Janardana, seeing the evil of causing extinction of the family, refrain from this sinful mission?
In the extinction of a family, the age-old rites and traditions of the family cease to be. When the traditional dharma is lost, unrighteousness and lawlessness will overtake the whole community.
When adharma predominates, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupt. Women tending to be immoral, O Varshneya (Krishna, a descendant of the Vrishni-clan), admixture of varṇas (predominant qualities in a clan) follows.
Admixture of varṇas conduces to hell for the lineage as well as the destroyers of lineage. The ancestors will then fall from their lofty domain, due to lack of the customary ‘rice-ball offering’ and allied rituals performed for the sake of departed souls.
By these misdeeds of the family-destroyers who are bent on causing admixture of varṇas, the rituals of their clan as well as the long-standing auspicious traditions of their lineages are ruined.
Those who corrupt their family morals and auspicious practices, O Janardana, are bound to live in hell for many years. This is what we have heard.
Alas! We are out to perpetrate a great sin by killing our kinsmen, solely because of our greed for enjoying the kingdom and the royal comforts.
It would be rather better for me if Dhritarashtra’s sons, armed with weapons, kill me while I stand unarmed and un-defending.
Sanjaya said: Having said this in the battlefield, Arjuna with his mind immersed in grief, sat down on the chariot seat, laying down his bow and arrow.
Om – the symbol of Brahman, tat – that singular Reality (Brahman), sat – the ever abiding presence (Brahman).
Thus ends the first chapter entitled Arjuna-viṣāda Yoga during the Srikrishna-Arjuna dialogue in Śrīmad Bhagavad Gita, constituting Yoga-śāstra, which falls within Brahmavidya as presented in the Vedic Upanishads.
Swami Nirviseshananda Tirtha
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