Chapter Summary
The first chapter of the Bhagavad Gita introduces the scene of the great Kurukshetra war. As the two armies stand ready for battle, Arjuna, the mighty Pandava warrior, asks his charioteer, Lord Krishna, to drive his chariot between the two armies. Upon seeing his own kinsmen, teachers, and friends in the opposing army, Arjuna is overwhelmed with grief and compassion. He expresses his profound reluctance to fight, citing the sinful reactions of killing his relatives and the destruction of the dynasty.
Verses
Verse 1.1
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच |
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः |
मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ||
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca |
dharma-kṣetre kuru-kṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ |
māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva kim akurvata sañjaya ||
Translation: Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, after my sons and the sons of Pandu assembled in the place of pilgrimage at Kurukshetra, desiring to fight, what did they do?
Verse 1.2
सञ्जय उवाच |
दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा |
आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ||
sañjaya uvāca |
dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṁ vyūḍhaṁ duryodhanas tadā |
ācāryam upasaṅgamya rājā vacanam abravīt ||
Translation: Sanjaya said: On observing the Pandava army standing in military formation, King Duryodhana approached his teacher (Drona) and spoke these words.
Verse 1.28
अर्जुन उवाच |
दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् |
सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति ||
arjuna uvāca |
dṛṣṭvemaṁ sva-janaṁ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṁ samupasthitam |
sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṁ ca pariśuṣyati ||
Translation: Arjuna said: My dear Krishna, seeing my friends and relatives present before me in such a fighting spirit, I feel the limbs of my body quivering and my mouth drying up.