Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1: Arjun Visada Yoga

Verse 1

Sanskrit Verse

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच

धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः।

मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय।।1.1।।

Transliteration

dhṛitarāśhtra uvācha

dharma-kṣhetre kuru-kṣhetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ

māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāśhchaiva kimakurvata sañjaya

Swami Sivananda's translation

Dhritarashtra said, “What did my people and the sons of Pandu do when they had assembled together, eager for battle, on the holy plain of Kurukshetra, O Sanjaya?”

Verse 2

Sanskrit Verse

सञ्जय उवाच

दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा।

आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत्।।1.2।।

Transliteration

sañjaya uvācha

dṛiṣhṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṁ vyūḍhaṁ duryodhanastadā

āchāryamupasaṅgamya rājā vachanamabravīt

Swami Sivananda's translation

Sanjaya said: Having seen the army of the Pandavas drawn up in battle array, King Duryodhana approached his teacher, Drona, and spoke these words.

Verse 3

Sanskrit Verse

पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम्।

व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता।।1.3।।

Transliteration

paśhyaitāṁ pāṇḍu-putrāṇām āchārya mahatīṁ chamūm

vyūḍhāṁ drupada-putreṇa tava śhiṣhyeṇa dhīmatā

Swami Sivananda's translation

Behold, O Teacher! This mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed by the son of Drupada, thy wise disciple.

Verse 4

Sanskrit Verse

अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि।

युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः।।1.4।।

Transliteration

atra śhūrā maheṣhvāsā bhīmārjuna-samā yudhi

yuyudhāno virāṭaśhcha drupadaśhcha mahā-rathaḥ

Swami Sivananda's translation

Here are heroes, mighty archers, equal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna, Yuyudhana (Satyaki), Virata, and Drupada—all mighty warriors.

Verse 5

Sanskrit Verse

धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान्।

पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः।।1.5।।

Transliteration

dhṛiṣhṭaketuśhchekitānaḥ kāśhirājaśhcha vīryavān

purujit kuntibhojaśhcha śhaibyaśhcha nara-puṅgavaḥ

yudhāmanyuśhcha vikrānta uttamaujāśhcha vīryavān

Swami Sivananda's translation

Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, the valiant king of Kasi, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Saibya—the best of men.

Verse 6

Sanskrit Verse

युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान्।

सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः।।1.6।।

Transliteration

saubhadro draupadeyāśhcha sarva eva mahā-rathāḥ

Swami Sivananda's translation

The strong Yudhamanyu and the brave Uttamaujas, the son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadra and Arjuna), and the sons of Draupadi, all of them great charioteers (great heroes).”

Verse 7

Sanskrit Verse

अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम।

नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते।।1.7।।

Transliteration

asmākaṁ tu viśhiṣhṭā ye tānnibodha dwijottama

nāyakā mama sainyasya sanjñārthaṁ tānbravīmi te

Swami Sivananda's translation

Know also, O best among the twice-born! the names of those who are the most distinguished amongst ourselves, the leaders of my army; these I name to you for your information.

Verse 8

Sanskrit Verse

भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः।

अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च।।1.8।।

Transliteration

bhavānbhīṣhmaśhcha karṇaśhcha kṛipaśhcha samitiñjayaḥ

aśhvatthāmā vikarṇaśhcha saumadattis tathaiva cha

Swami Sivananda's translation

“Thou thyself, Bhishma, Karna, Kripa, the victorious in war, Asvatthama, Vikarna, and Bhurisrava, the son of Somadatta—all these are ready for battle.”

Verse 9

Sanskrit Verse

अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः।

नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः।।1.9।।

Transliteration

anye cha bahavaḥ śhūrā madarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ

nānā-śhastra-praharaṇāḥ sarve yuddha-viśhāradāḥ

Swami Sivananda's translation

And also many other heroes, ready to give up their lives for my sake, armed with various weapons and missiles, all well-skilled in battle.

Verse 10

Sanskrit Verse

अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम्।

पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम्।।1.10।।

Transliteration

aparyāptaṁ tadasmākaṁ balaṁ bhīṣhmābhirakṣhitam

paryāptaṁ tvidameteṣhāṁ balaṁ bhīmābhirakṣhitam

Swami Sivananda's translation

Our army, marshalled by Bhishma, is insufficient, whereas theirs, marshalled by Bhima, is sufficient.

Verse 11

Sanskrit Verse

अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः।

भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि।।1.11।।

Transliteration

ayaneṣhu cha sarveṣhu yathā-bhāgamavasthitāḥ

bhīṣhmamevābhirakṣhantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi

Swami Sivananda's translation

Therefore, do all of you, stationed in your respective positions in the several divisions of the army, protect Bhishma alone.

Verse 12

Sanskrit Verse

तस्य संजनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः।

सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान्।।1.12।।

Transliteration

tasya sañjanayan harṣhaṁ kuru-vṛiddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ

siṁha-nādaṁ vinadyochchaiḥ śhaṅkhaṁ dadhmau pratāpavān

Swami Sivananda's translation

His glorious grandsire, the oldest of the Kauravas, roared like a lion to cheer Duryodhana and blew his conch.

Verse 13

Sanskrit Verse

ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः।

सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत्।।1.13।।

Transliteration

tataḥ śhaṅkhāśhcha bheryaśhcha paṇavānaka-gomukhāḥ

sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śhabdastumulo ’bhavat

Swami Sivananda's translation

Then, suddenly, conches, kettledrums, tabors, drums, and cow horns blared forth from the Kaurava side, and the sound was tremendous.

Verse 14

Sanskrit Verse

ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ।

माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः।।1.14।।

Transliteration

tataḥ śhvetairhayairyukte mahati syandane sthitau

mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaśhchaiva divyau śhaṅkhau pradadhmatuḥ

Swami Sivananda's translation

Then, Madhava (Krishna) and the son of Pandu (Arjuna), seated in the magnificent chariot yoked with white horses, blew divine conches.

Verse 15

Sanskrit Verse

पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनंजयः।

पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः।।1.15।।

Transliteration

pāñchajanyaṁ hṛiṣhīkeśho devadattaṁ dhanañjayaḥ

pauṇḍraṁ dadhmau mahā-śhaṅkhaṁ bhīma-karmā vṛikodaraḥ

Swami Sivananda's translation

Hrishikesha blew the Panchajanya, Arjuna blew the Devadatta, and Bhima, the wolf-bellied doer of terrible deeds, blew the great conch Paundra.

Verse 16

Sanskrit Verse

अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः।

नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ।।1.16।।

Transliteration

anantavijayaṁ rājā kuntī-putro yudhiṣhṭhiraḥ

nakulaḥ sahadevaśhcha sughoṣha-maṇipuṣhpakau

Swami Sivananda's translation

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

Verse 17

Sanskrit Verse

काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः।

धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः।।1.17।।

Transliteration

kāśhyaśhcha parameṣhvāsaḥ śhikhaṇḍī cha mahā-rathaḥ

dhṛiṣhṭadyumno virāṭaśhcha sātyakiśh chāparājitaḥ

Swami Sivananda's translation

The king of Kasi, an excellent archer, Sikhandi, the mighty car-warrior, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and Satyaki, the unconquered.

Verse 18

Sanskrit Verse

द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते।

सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक्।।1.18।।

Transliteration

drupado draupadeyāśhcha sarvaśhaḥ pṛithivī-pate

saubhadraśhcha mahā-bāhuḥ śhaṅkhāndadhmuḥ pṛithak pṛithak

Swami Sivananda's translation

Drupada and the sons of Draupadi, O Lord of the Earth, and the son of Subhadra, the mighty-armed, blew their conches each separately.

Verse 19

Sanskrit Verse

स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत्।

नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन्।।1.19।।

Transliteration

sa ghoṣho dhārtarāṣhṭrāṇāṁ hṛidayāni vyadārayat

nabhaśhcha pṛithivīṁ chaiva tumulo nunādayan

Swami Sivananda's translation

The tumultuous sound rent the hearts of Dhritarashtra’s party, reverberating through both heaven and earth.

Verse 20

Sanskrit Verse

अथ व्यवस्थितान् दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः।

प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसंपाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः।।1.20।।

Transliteration

atha vyavasthitān dṛiṣhṭvā dhārtarāṣhṭrān kapi-dhwajaḥ

pravṛitte śhastra-sampāte dhanurudyamya pāṇḍavaḥ

hṛiṣhīkeśhaṁ tadā vākyam idam āha mahī-pate

Swami Sivananda's translation

Then, seeing the people of Dhritarashtra’s party standing arrayed and the discharge of weapons about to begin, Arjuna, the son of Pandu whose ensign was a monkey, took up his bow and said the following to Krishna, O Lord of the Earth.

Verse 21

Sanskrit Verse

अर्जुन उवाच

हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते।

सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत।।1.21।।

Transliteration

arjuna uvācha

senayor ubhayor madhye rathaṁ sthāpaya me ’chyuta

Swami Sivananda's translation

Arjuna said, “O Krishna, place my chariot in the middle between the two armies, so that I may behold those who stand here, desirous to fight, and know with whom I must fight when the battle is about to commence.”

Verse 22

Sanskrit Verse

यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान्।

कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन्रणसमुद्यमे।।1.22।।

Transliteration

yāvadetān nirīkṣhe ’haṁ yoddhu-kāmān avasthitān

kairmayā saha yoddhavyam asmin raṇa-samudyame

Swami Sivananda's translation

Arjuna said, “O Krishna, place my chariot in the middle between the two armies, so that I may behold those who stand here, desirous to fight, and know with whom I must fight when the battle is about to commence.”

Verse 23

Sanskrit Verse

योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः।

धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः।।1.23।।

Transliteration

yotsyamānān avekṣhe ’haṁ ya ete ’tra samāgatāḥ

dhārtarāṣhṭrasya durbuddher yuddhe priya-chikīrṣhavaḥ

Swami Sivananda's translation

For I desire to observe those who are assembled here to fight, wishing to please in battle the evil-minded Duryodhana—the son of Dhritarashtra.

Verse 24

Sanskrit Verse

संजय उवाच

एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत।

सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम्।।1.24।।

Transliteration

sañjaya uvācha

evam ukto hṛiṣhīkeśho guḍākeśhena bhārata

senayor ubhayor madhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam

Swami Sivananda's translation

Sanjaya said, Thus addressed by Arjuna, Krishna stationed the best of chariots, O Dhritarashtra, in the midst of the two armies.

Verse 25

Sanskrit Verse

भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम्।

उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति।।1.25।।

Transliteration

bhīṣhma-droṇa-pramukhataḥ sarveṣhāṁ cha mahī-kṣhitām

uvācha pārtha paśhyaitān samavetān kurūn iti

Swami Sivananda's translation

In front of Bhishma and Drona, and all the rulers of the earth, he said: “O Arjuna, son of Pritha, behold these Kurus gathered together.”

Verse 26

Sanskrit Verse

तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितृ़नथ पितामहान्।

आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातृ़न्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा।।1.26।।

Transliteration

tatrāpaśhyat sthitān pārthaḥ pitṝīn atha pitāmahān

āchāryān mātulān bhrātṝīn putrān pautrān sakhīṁs tathā

śhvaśhurān suhṛidaśh chaiva senayor ubhayor api

Swami Sivananda's translation

Then, Arjuna (son of Pritha) saw there (in the armies) stationed fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and friends.

Verse 27

Sanskrit Verse

श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि।

तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान्।।1.27।।

Transliteration

tān samīkṣhya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvān bandhūn avasthitān

kṛipayā parayāviṣhṭo viṣhīdann idam abravīt

Swami Sivananda's translation

He saw fathers-in-law and friends in both the armies. The son of Kunti, Arjuna, seeing all those kinsmen thus standing arrayed, spoke sorrowfully, deeply filled with pity.

Verse 28

Sanskrit Verse

अर्जुन उवाच

कृपया परयाऽऽविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत्।

दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम्।।1.28।।

Transliteration

arjuna uvācha

dṛiṣhṭvemaṁ sva-janaṁ kṛiṣhṇa yuyutsuṁ samupasthitam

Swami Sivananda's translation

Arjuna said, “O Krishna, seeing my kinsmen arrayed here, eager to fight,

Verse 29

Sanskrit Verse

सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति।

वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते।।1.29।।

Transliteration

sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṁ cha pariśhuṣhyati

vepathuśh cha śharīre me roma-harṣhaśh cha jāyate

Swami Sivananda's translation

My limbs fail, my mouth is parched, my body quivers, and my hair stands on end.

Verse 30

Sanskrit Verse

गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते।

न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः।।1.30।।

Transliteration

gāṇḍīvaṁ sraṁsate hastāt tvak chaiva paridahyate

na cha śhaknomy avasthātuṁ bhramatīva cha me manaḥ

Swami Sivananda's translation

The Gandiva slips from my hand, and my skin burns all over; I am unable to stand, and my mind is reeling, as it were.

Verse 31

Sanskrit Verse

निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव।

न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे।।1.31।।

Transliteration

nimittāni cha paśhyāmi viparītāni keśhava

na cha śhreyo ’nupaśhyāmi hatvā sva-janam āhave

Swami Sivananda's translation

And I see ill omens, O Kesava. I do not see any good in slaying my kinsmen in battle.

Verse 32

Sanskrit Verse

न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च।

किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा।।1.32।।

Transliteration

na kāṅkṣhe vijayaṁ kṛiṣhṇa na cha rājyaṁ sukhāni cha

kiṁ no rājyena govinda kiṁ bhogair jīvitena vā

Swami Sivananda's translation

I desire not victory, O Krishna, nor kingdom, nor pleasures.

What use is dominion to us, O Krishna, or pleasures or even life?

Verse 33

Sanskrit Verse

येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च।

त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च।।1.33।।

Transliteration

yeṣhām arthe kāṅkṣhitaṁ no rājyaṁ bhogāḥ sukhāni cha

ta ime ’vasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṁs tyaktvā dhanāni cha

Swami Sivananda's translation

Those for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyments, and pleasures stand here in battle, having renounced life and wealth.

Verse 34

Sanskrit Verse

आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः।

मातुलाः श्चशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा।।1.34।।

Transliteration

āchāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrās tathaiva cha pitāmahāḥ

mātulāḥ śhvaśhurāḥ pautrāḥ śhyālāḥ sambandhinas tathā

Swami Sivananda's translation

Teachers, fathers, sons, and grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other relatives—

Verse 35

Sanskrit Verse

एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन।

अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते।।1.35।।

Transliteration

etān na hantum ichchhāmi ghnato ’pi madhusūdana

api trailokya-rājyasya hetoḥ kiṁ nu mahī-kṛite

Swami Sivananda's translation

These I do not wish to kill, O Krishna, even though they kill me, for the sake of dominion over the three worlds; leave alone killing them for the sake of the earth.”

Verse 36

Sanskrit Verse

निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन।

पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः।।1.36।।

Transliteration

nihatya dhārtarāṣhṭrān naḥ kā prītiḥ syāj janārdana

pāpam evāśhrayed asmān hatvaitān ātatāyinaḥ

Swami Sivananda's translation

By killing these sons of Dhritarashtra, what pleasure could be ours, O Janardana? Only sin would accrue to us from killing these felons.

Verse 37

Sanskrit Verse

तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान्।

स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव।।1.37।।

Transliteration

tasmān nārhā vayaṁ hantuṁ dhārtarāṣhṭrān sa-bāndhavān

sva-janaṁ hi kathaṁ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava

Swami Sivananda's translation

Therefore, we should not kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our relatives; for how can we be happy by killing our own kin, O Madhava (Krishna)?

Verse 38

Sanskrit Verse

यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः।

कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम्।।1.38।।

Transliteration

yady apy ete na paśhyanti lobhopahata-chetasaḥ

kula-kṣhaya-kṛitaṁ doṣhaṁ mitra-drohe cha pātakam

Swami Sivananda's translation

Though they, with intelligence overpowered by greed, see no evil in the destruction of families and no sin in hostility to friends,

Verse 39

Sanskrit Verse

कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम्।

कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन।।1.39।।

Transliteration

kathaṁ na jñeyam asmābhiḥ pāpād asmān nivartitum

kula-kṣhaya-kṛitaṁ doṣhaṁ prapaśhyadbhir janārdana

Swami Sivananda's translation

Why should we not, who clearly see the evil in the destruction of families, learn to turn away from this sin, O Janardana (Krishna)?

Verse 40

Sanskrit Verse

कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः।

धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत।।1.40।।

Transliteration

kula-kṣhaye praṇaśhyanti kula-dharmāḥ sanātanāḥ

dharme naṣhṭe kulaṁ kṛitsnam adharmo ’bhibhavaty uta

Swami Sivananda's translation

In the destruction of a family, the immemorial religious rites of that family perish; on the destruction of spirituality, impiety indeed, overwhelms the whole family.

Verse 41

Sanskrit Verse

अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः।

स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः।।1.41।।

Transliteration

adharmābhibhavāt kṛiṣhṇa praduṣhyanti kula-striyaḥ

strīṣhu duṣhṭāsu vārṣhṇeya jāyate varṇa-saṅkaraḥ

Swami Sivananda's translation

O Krishna, by the prevalence of impiety, the women of the family become corrupt; and, when women are corrupted, O Varshenya (descendant of Vrishni), intermingling of castes arises.

Verse 42

Sanskrit Verse

सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च।

पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः।।1.42।।

Transliteration

saṅkaro narakāyaiva kula-ghnānāṁ kulasya cha

patanti pitaro hy eṣhāṁ lupta-piṇḍodaka-kriyāḥ

Swami Sivananda's translation

Confusion of castes leads to hell for the slayers of the family, for their forebears fall, deprived of the offerings of rice-balls and libations of water.

Verse 43

Sanskrit Verse

दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः।

उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः।।1.43।।

Transliteration

doṣhair etaiḥ kula-ghnānāṁ varṇa-saṅkara-kārakaiḥ

utsādyante jāti-dharmāḥ kula-dharmāśh cha śhāśhvatāḥ

Swami Sivananda's translation

By these evil deeds of the destroyers of the family, which cause confusion of castes, the eternal religious rites of the caste and the family are destroyed.

Verse 44

Sanskrit Verse

उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन।

नरकेऽनियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम।।1.44।।

Transliteration

utsanna-kula-dharmāṇāṁ manuṣhyāṇāṁ janārdana

narake ‘niyataṁ vāso bhavatītyanuśhuśhruma

Swami Sivananda's translation

We have heard, O Janardana, that those men in whose families the religious practices have been destroyed are inevitably destined to dwell in hell for an unknown period.

Verse 45

Sanskrit Verse

अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम्।

यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः।।1.45।।

Transliteration

aho bata mahat pāpaṁ kartuṁ vyavasitā vayam

yad rājya-sukha-lobhena hantuṁ sva-janam udyatāḥ

Swami Sivananda's translation

Alas! We are involved in a great sin, for we are prepared to kill our kinsmen, out of greed for the pleasures of a kingdom.

Verse 46

Sanskrit Verse

यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः।

धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत्।।1.46।।

Transliteration

yadi mām apratīkāram aśhastraṁ śhastra-pāṇayaḥ

dhārtarāṣhṭrā raṇe hanyus tan me kṣhemataraṁ bhavet

Swami Sivananda's translation

If the sons of Dhritarashtra, with weapons in hand, should slay me in battle, unresisting and unarmed, that would be better for me.

Verse 47

Sanskrit Verse

सञ्जय उवाच

एवमुक्त्वाऽर्जुनः संख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्।

विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः।।1.47।।

Transliteration

sañjaya uvācha

evam uktvārjunaḥ saṅkhye rathopastha upāviśhat

visṛijya sa-śharaṁ chāpaṁ śhoka-saṁvigna-mānasaḥ

Swami Sivananda's translation

Sanjaya said, Having thus spoken in the midst of the battlefield, Arjuna cast away his bow and arrow and, his mind overwhelmed with sorrow, sat down on the seat of the chariot.


Reference: Bhagavad Gita