Srimad Bhagawad Gita Chapter 1 - Plain English

Meaning
dhRRitaraashhTraH uvaaca — King Dhṛtarāṣṭra said; dharma-kshhEtrE — in the place of pilgrimage; kuru-kshhEtrE — in the place named Kurukṣetra; samavEtaaH — assembled; yuyutsavaH — desiring to fight; maamakaaH — my party (sons); paaNDavaaH — the sons of Pāṇḍu; ca — and; Eva — certainly; kim — what; akurvata — did they do; sanjaya — O Sañjaya.

Translation
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: O Sañjaya, after my sons and the sons of Pāṇḍu assembled in the place of pilgrimage at Kurukṣetra, desiring to fight, what did they do?

shlOkaH
sanjaya uvaacha
dRRishhTvaa tu paaNDavaaneekaM vyooDhaM duryOdhanastadaa ।
aachaaryamupasangamya raajaa vachanamabraveet ॥ 2 ॥

Meaning
sanjayaH uvaaca — Sañjaya said; dRRishhTvaa — after seeing; tu — but; paaNDava-aneekam — the soldiers of the Pāṇḍavas; vyooDham — arranged in a military phalanx; duryOdhanaH — King Duryodhana; tadaa — at that time; aacaaryam — the teacher; upasangamya — approaching; raajaa — the king; vacanam — words; abraveet — spoke.

Translation
Sañjaya said: O King, after looking over the army arranged in military formation by the sons of Pāṇḍu, King Duryodhana went to his teacher and spoke the following words.

shlOkaH
pashyaitaaM paaNDuputraaNaamaachaarya mahateeM chamoom ।
vyooDhaaM drupadaputrENa tava shishhyENa dheemataa ॥ 3 ॥

Meaning
pashya — behold; Etaam — this; paaNDu-putraanaam — of the sons of Pāṇḍu; aacaarya — O teacher; mahateem — great; camoom — military force; vyooDhaam — arranged; drupada-putrENa — by the son of Drupada; tava — your; shishhyENa — disciple; dhee-mataa — very intelligent.

Translation
O my teacher, behold the great army of the sons of Pāṇḍu, so expertly arranged by your intelligent disciple the son of Drupada.

shlOkaH
atra shooraa mahEshhvaasaa bheemaarjunasamaa yudhi ।
yuyudhaanO viraaTashcha drupadashcha mahaarathaH ॥ 4 ॥

Meaning
atra — here; shooraaH — heroes; mahaa-ishhu-aasaaH — mighty bowmen; bheema-arjuna — to Bhīma and Arjuna; samaaH — equal; yudhi — in the fight; yuyudhaanaH — Yuyudhāna; viraaTaH — Virāṭa; ca — also; drupadaH — Drupada; ca — also; mahaa-rathaH — great fighter.

Translation
Here in this army are many heroic bowmen equal in fighting to Bhīma and Arjuna: great fighters like Yuyudhāna, Virāṭa and Drupada.

shlOkaH
dhRRishhTakEtushchEkitaanaH kaashiraajashcha veeryavaan ।
purujitkuntibhOjashcha shaibyashcha narapungavaH ॥ 5 ॥

Meaning
dhRRishhTakEtuH — Dhṛṣṭaketu; cEkitaanaH — Cekitāna; kaashiraajaH — Kāśirāja; ca — also; veerya-vaan — very powerful; purujit — Purujit; kuntibhOjaH — Kuntibhoja; ca — and; shaibyaH — Śaibya; ca — and; nara-pungavaH — hero in human society.

Translation
There are also great heroic, powerful fighters like Dhṛṣṭaketu, Cekitāna, Kāśirāja, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Śaibya.

shlOkaH
yudhaamanyushcha vikraanta uttamaujaashcha veeryavaan ।
saubhadrO draupadEyaashcha sarva Eva mahaarathaaH ॥ 6 ॥

Meaning
yudhaamanyuH — Yudhāmanyu; ca — and; vikraantaH — mighty; uttamaujaaH — Uttamaujā; ca — and; veerya-vaan — very powerful; saubhadraH — the son of Subhadrā; draupadEyaaH — the sons of Draupadī; ca — and; sarvE — all; Eva — certainly; mahaa-rathaaH — great chariot fighters.

Translation
There are the mighty Yudhāmanyu, the very powerful Uttamaujā, the son of Subhadrā and the sons of Draupadī. All these warriors are great chariot fighters.

shlOkaH
asmaakaM tu vishishhTaa yE taannibOdha dvijOttama ।
naayakaa mama sainyasya saMjjhNaartha taanbraveemi tE ॥ 7 ॥

Meaning
asmaakam — our; tu — but; vishishhTaaH — especially powerful; yE — who; taan — them; nibOdha — just take note of, be informed; dvija-uttama — O best of the brāhmaṇas; naayakaaH — captains; mama — my; sainyasya — of the soldiers; saṁjjhNaa-artham — for information; taan — them; braveemi — I am speaking; tE — to you.

Translation
But for your information, O best of the brāhmaṇas, let me tell you about the captains who are especially qualified to lead my military force.

shlOkaH
bhavaanbheeshhmashcha karNashcha kRRipashcha samitiMjayaH ।
ashvatthaamaa vikarNashcha saumadattistathaiva cha ॥ 8 ॥

Meaning
bhavaan — your good self; bheeshhmaH — Grandfather Bhīṣma; ca — also; karNaH — Karṇa; ca — and; kRRipaH — Kṛpa; ca — and; samitim-jayaH — always victorious in battle; ashvatthaamaa — Aśvatthāmā; vikarNaH — Vikarṇa; ca — as well as; saumadattiH — the son of Somadatta; tathaa — as well as; Eva — certainly; ca — also.

Translation
There are personalities like you, Bhīṣma, Karṇa, Kṛpa, Aśvatthāmā, Vikarṇa and the son of Somadatta called Bhūriśravā, who are always victorious in battle.

shlOkaH
anyE cha bahavaH shooraa madarthE tyaktajeevitaaH ।
naanaashastrapraharaNaaH sarvE yuddhavishaaradaaH ॥ 9 ॥

Meaning
anyE — others; ca — also; bahavaH — in great numbers; shooraaH — heroes; mat-arthE — for my sake; tyakta-jeevitaaH — prepared to risk life; naanaa — many; shastra — weapons; praharaNaaH — equipped with; sarvE — all of them; yuddha-vishaaradaaH — experienced in military science.

Translation
There are many other heroes who are prepared to lay down their lives for my sake. All of them are well equipped with different kinds of weapons, and all are experienced in military science.

shlOkaH
aparyaapta‍M tadasmaakaM balaM bheeshhmaabhirakshhitam ।
paryaapta‍M tvidamEtEshhaaM balaM bheemaabhirakshhitam ॥ 10 ॥

Meaning
aparyaaptam — immeasurable; tat — that; asmaakam — of ours; balam — strength; bheeshhma — by Grandfather Bhīṣma; abhirakshhitam — perfectly protected; paryaaptam — limited; tu — but; idam — all this; EtEshhaam — of the Pāṇḍavas; balam — strength; bheema — by Bhīma; abhirakshhitam — carefully protected.

Translation
Our strength is immeasurable, and we are perfectly protected by Grandfather Bhīṣma, whereas the strength of the Pāṇḍavas, carefully protected by Bhīma, is limited.

shlOkaH
ayanEshhu cha sarvEshhu yathaabhaagavamasthitaaH ।
bheeshhmamEvaabhirakshhantu bhavantaH sarva Eva hi ॥ 11 ॥

Meaning
ayanEshhu — in the strategic points; ca — also; sarvEshhu — everywhere; yathaa-bhaagam — as differently arranged; avasthitaaH — situated; bheeshhmam — unto Grandfather Bhīṣma; Eva — certainly; abhirakshhantu — should give support; bhavantaH — you; sarvE — all respectively; Eva hi — certainly.

Translation
All of you must now give full support to Grandfather Bhīṣma, as you stand at your respective strategic points of entrance into the phalanx of the army.

shlOkaH
tasya sanjanayanharshhaM kuruvRRiddhaH pitaamahaH ।
siMhanaadaM vinadyOchcha‍aiH shankhaM dadhmau prataapavaan ॥ 12 ॥

Meaning
tasya — his; sanjanayan — increasing; harshham — cheerfulness; kuru-vRRiddhaH — the grandsire of the Kuru dynasty (Bhīṣma); pitaamahaH — the grandfather; siṁha-naadam — roaring sound, like that of a lion; vinadya — vibrating; uccaiH — very loudly; shankham — conchshell; dadhmau — blew; prataapa-vaan — the valiant.

Translation
Then Bhīṣma, the great valiant grandsire of the Kuru dynasty, the grandfather of the fighters, blew his conchshell very loudly, making a sound like the roar of a lion, giving Duryodhana joy.

shlOkaH
tataH shankhaashcha bhEryashcha paNavaanakagOmukhaaH ।
sahasaivaabhyahanyanta sa shabdastumulO.abhavat ॥ 13 ॥

Meaning
tataH — thereafter; shankhaaH — conchshells; ca — also; bhEryaH — large drums; ca — and; paNava-aanaka — small drums and kettledrums; gO-mukhaaH — horns; sahasaa — all of a sudden; Eva — certainly; abhyahanyanta — were simultaneously sounded; saH — that; shabdaH — combined sound; tumulaH — tumultuous; abhavat — became.

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

shlOkaH
tataH shvEtairhayairyuktE mahati syandanE sthitau ।
maadhavaH paaNDavashchaiva divyau shankhau pradadhmatuH ॥ 14 ॥

Meaning
tataH — thereafter; shvEtaiH — with white; hayaiH — horses; yuktE — being yoked; mahati — in a great; syandanE — chariot; sthitau — situated; maadhavaH — Kṛṣṇa (the husband of the goddess of fortune); paaNDavaH — Arjuna (the son of Pāṇḍu); ca — also; Eva — certainly; divyau — transcendental; shankhau — conchshells; pradadhmatuH — sounded.

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

shlOkaH
paanchajanyaM hRRishheekEshO dEvadattaM dhananjayaH ।
pauNDraM dadhmau mahaashankhaM bheemakarmaa vRRikOdaraH ॥ 15 ॥

Meaning
paancajanyam — the conchshell named Pāñcajanya; hRRishheeka-eeshaH — Hṛṣīkeśa (Kṛṣṇa, the Lord who directs the senses of the devotees); dEvadattam — the conchshell named Devadatta; dhanam-jayaH — Dhanañjaya (Arjuna, the winner of wealth); pauNDram — the conch named Pauṇḍra; dadhmau — blew; mahaa-shankham — the terrific conchshell; bheema-karmaa — one who performs herculean tasks; vRRika-udaraH — the voracious eater (Bhīma).

Translation
Lord Kṛṣṇa blew His conchshell, called Pāñcajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhīma, the voracious eater and performer of herculean tasks, blew his terrific conchshell, called Pauṇḍra.

shlOkaH
anantavijayaM raajaa kunteeputrO yudhishhThiraH ।
nakulaH sahadEvashcha sughOshhamaNipushhpakau ॥ 16 ॥
kaashyashcha paramEshhvaasaH shikhaNDee cha mahaarathaH ।
dhRRishhTadyumna‍O viraaTashcha saatyakiS‍chaaparaajitaH ॥ 17 ॥
drupadO draupadEyaashcha sarvashaH pRRithiveepatE ।
saubhadrashcha mahaabaahuH shankhaandadhmuH pRRithakpRRithak ॥ 18 ॥

Meaning
ananta-vijayam — the conch named Ananta-vijaya; raajaa — the king; kuntee-putraH — the son of Kuntī; yudhishhThiraH — Yudhiṣṭhira; nakulaH — Nakula; sahadEvaH — Sahadeva; ca — and; sughOshha-maNipushhpakau — the conches named Sughoṣa and Maṇipuṣpaka; kaashyaH — the King of Kāśī (Vārāṇasī); ca — and; parama-ishhu-aasaH — the great archer; shikhaNDee — Śikhaṇḍī; ca — also; mahaa-rathaH — one who can fight alone against thousands; dhRRishhTadyumnaH — Dhṛṣṭadyumna (the son of King Drupada); viraaTaH — Virāṭa (the prince who gave shelter to the Pāṇḍavas while they were in disguise); ca — also; saatyakiH — Sātyaki (the same as Yuyudhāna, the charioteer of Lord Kṛṣṇa); ca — and; aparaajitaH — who had never been vanquished; drupadaH — Drupada, the King of Pāñcāla; draupadEyaaH — the sons of Draupadī; ca — also; sarvashaH — all; pRRithivee-patE — O King; saubhadraH — Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadrā; ca — also; mahaa-baahuH — mighty-armed; shankhaan — conchshells; dadhmuH — blew; pRRithak pRRithak — each separately.

Translation
King Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Kuntī, blew his conchshell, the Ananta-vijaya, and Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughoṣa and Maṇipuṣpaka. That great archer the King of Kāśī, the great fighter Śikhaṇḍī, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Virāṭa, the unconquerable Sātyaki, Drupada, the sons of Draupadī, and others, O King, such as the mighty-armed son of Subhadrā, all blew their respective conchshells.

shlOkaH
sa ghOshhO dhaartaraashhTraaNaaM hRRidayaani vyadaarayat ।
nabhashcha pRRithiveeM chaiva tumulO.abhyanunaadayan ॥ 19 ॥

Meaning
saH — that; ghOshhaH — vibration; dhaartaraashhTraaNaam — of the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; hRRidayaani — hearts; vyadaarayat — shattered; nabhaH — the sky; ca — also; pRRithiveem — the surface of the earth; ca — also; Eva — certainly; tumulaH — uproarious; abhyanunaadayan — resounding.

Translation
The blowing of these different conchshells became uproarious. Vibrating both in the sky and on the earth, it shattered the hearts of the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

shlOkaH
atha vyavasthitaandRRishhTvaa dhaartaraashhTraankapidhvajaH ।
pravRRittE shastrasampaatE dhanurudyamya paaNDavaH ।
hRRishheekEshaM tadaa vaakyamidamaaha maheepatE ॥ 20 ॥

Meaning
atha — thereupon; vyavasthitaan — situated; dRRishhTvaa — looking upon; dhaartaraashhTraan — the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; kapi-dhvajaH — he whose flag was marked with Hanumān; pravRRittE — while about to engage; shastra-sampaatE — in releasing his arrows; dhanuH — bow; udyamya — taking up; paaNDavaH — the son of Pāṇḍu (Arjuna); hRRishheekEsham — unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; tadaa — at that time; vaakyam — words; idam — these; aaha — said; mahee-patE — O King.

Translation
At that time Arjuna, the son of Pāṇḍu, seated in the chariot bearing the flag marked with Hanumān, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows. O King, after looking at the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra drawn in military array, Arjuna then spoke to Lord Kṛṣṇa these words.

shlOkaH
arjuna uvaacha
sEnayOrubhayOrmadhyE rathaM sthaapaya mE.achyuta ।
yaavadEtaannireekshhE.ahaM yOd‍dhukaamaanavasthitaan ॥ 21 ॥
kairmayaa saha yOddhavyamasmin‍raNasamudyamE ॥ 22 ॥

Meaning
arjunaH uvaaca — Arjuna said; sEnayOH — of the armies; ubhayOH — both; madhyE — between; ratham — the chariot; sthaapaya — please keep; mE — my; acyuta — O infallible one; yaavat — as long as; Etaan — all these; nireekshhE — may look upon; aham — I; yOddhu-kaamaan — desiring to fight; avasthitaan — arrayed on the battlefield; kaiH — with whom; mayaa — by me; saha — together; yOddhavyam — have to fight; asmin — in this; raNa — strife; samudyamE — in the attempt.

Translation
Arjuna said: O infallible one, please draw my chariot between the two armies so that I may see those present here, who desire to fight, and with whom I must contend in this great trial of arms.

shlOkaH
yOtsyamaanaanavEkshhE.ahaM ya EtE.atra samaagataaH ।
dhaartaraashhTrasya durbuddhEryuddhE priyachikeershhavaH ॥ 23 ॥

Meaning
yOtsyamaanaan — those who will be fighting; avEkshhE — let me see; aham — I; yE — who; EtE — those; atra — here; samaagataaH — assembled; dhaartaraashhTrasya — for the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; durbuddhEH — evil-minded; yuddhE — in the fight; priya — well; cikeershhavaH — wishing.

Translation
Let me see those who have come here to fight, wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

shlOkaH
sanjaya uvaacha
EvamuktO hRRishheekEshO guDaakEshEna bhaarata ।
sEnayOrubhayOrmadhyE sthaapayitvaa rathOttamam ॥ 24 ॥

Meaning
sanjayaH uvaaca — Sañjaya said; Evam — thus; uktaH — addressed; hRRishheekEshaH — Lord Kṛṣṇa; guDaakEshEna — by Arjuna; bhaarata — O descendant of Bharata; sEnayOH — of the armies; ubhayOH — both; madhyE — in the midst; sthaapayitvaa — placing; ratha-uttamam — the finest chariot.

Translation
Sañjaya said: O descendant of Bharata, having thus been addressed by Arjuna, Lord Kṛṣṇa drew up the fine chariot in the midst of the armies of both parties.

shlOkaH
bheeshhmadrONapramukhataH sarvEshhaaM cha maheekshhitaam ।
uvaacha paartha pashyaitaansamavEtaankuruniti ॥ 25 ॥

Meaning
bheeshhma — Grandfather Bhīṣma; drONa — the teacher Droṇa; pramukhataH — in front of; sarvEshhaam — all; ca — also; mahee-kshhitaam — chiefs of the world; uvaaca — said; paartha — O son of Pṛthā; pashya — just behold; Etaan — all of them; samavEtaan — assembled; kuroon — the members of the Kuru dynasty; iti — thus.

Translation
In the presence of Bhīṣma, Droṇa and all the other chieftains of the world, the Lord said, “Just behold, Pārtha, all the Kurus assembled here.”

shlOkaH
tatraapashyatsthitaanpaarthaH pitRReenatha pitaamahaan।
aachaaryaanmaatulaanbhraatRReenputraanpautraansakheeMstathaa।
shvasha‍uraansuhRRidashchaiva sEnayOrubhayOrapi ॥ 26 ॥

Meaning
tatra — there; apashyat — he could see; sthitaan — standing; paarthaH — Arjuna; pitRReen — fathers; atha — also; pitaamahaan — grandfathers; aacaaryaan — teachers; maatulaan — maternal uncles; bhraatRReen — brothers; putraan — sons; pautraan — grandsons; sakheen — friends; tathaa — too; shvashuraan — fathers-in-law; suhRRidaH — well-wishers; ca — also; Eva — certainly; sEnayOH — of the armies; ubhayOH — of both parties; api — including.

Translation
There Arjuna could see, within the midst of the armies of both parties, his fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, friends, and also his fathers-in-law and well-wishers.

shlOkaH
taansameekshhya sa kauntEyaH sarvaanbandhoonavasthitaan ।
kRRipayaa parayaavishhTO vishheedannidamabraveet ॥ 27 ॥

Meaning
taan — all of them; sameekshhya — after seeing; saH — he; kauntEyaH — the son of Kuntī; sarvaan — all kinds of; bandhoon — relatives; avasthitaan — situated; kRRipayaa — by compassion; parayaa — of a high grade; aavishhTaH — overwhelmed; vishheedan — while lamenting; idam — thus; abraveet — spoke.

Translation
When the son of Kuntī, Arjuna, saw all these different grades of friends and relatives, he became overwhelmed with compassion and spoke thus.

shlOkaH
arjuna uvaacha
dRRishhTvEmaM svajanaM kRRishhNa yuyutsuM samupasthitam ।
seedanti mama gaatraaNi mukhaM cha parisha‍ushhyati ॥ 28 ॥

Meaning
arjunaH uvaaca — Arjuna said; dRRishhTvaa — after seeing; imam — all these; sva-janam — kinsmen; kRRishhNa — O Kṛṣṇa; yuyutsum — all in a fighting spirit; samupasthitam — present; seedanti — are quivering; mama — my; gaatraaNi — limbs of the body; mukham — mouth; ca — also; parishushhyati — is drying up.

Translation
Arjuna said: My dear Kṛṣṇa, 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.

shlOkaH
vEpathushcha shareerE mE rOmaharshhashcha jaayatE ।
gaaNDeevaM sraMsatE hastaattvakcha‍aiva paridahyatE ॥ 29 ॥

Meaning
vEpathuH — trembling of the body; ca — also; shareerE — on the body; mE — my; rOma-harshhaH — standing of hair on end; ca — also; jaayatE — is taking place; gaaNDeevam — the bow of Arjuna; sraṁsatE — is slipping; hastaat — from the hand; tvak — skin; ca — also; Eva — certainly; paridahyatE — is burning.

Translation
My whole body is trembling, my hair is standing on end, my bow Gāṇḍīva is slipping from my hand, and my skin is burning.

shlOkaH
na cha shakna‍OmyavasthaatuM bhramateeva cha mE manaH ।
nimittaani cha pashyaami vipareetaani kEshava ॥ 30 ॥

Meaning
na — nor; ca — also; shaknOmi — am I able; avasthaatum — to stay; bhramati — forgetting; iva — as; ca — and; mE — my; manaH — mind; nimittaani — causes; ca — also; pashyaami — I see; vipareetaani — just the opposite; kEshava — O killer of the demon Keśī (Kṛṣṇa).

Translation
I am now unable to stand here any longer. I am forgetting myself, and my mind is reeling. I see only causes of misfortune, O Kṛṣṇa, killer of the Keśī demon.

shlOkaH
na cha shrEyO.anupashyaami hatvaa svajanamaahavE ।
na kaankshhE vijayaM kRRishhNa na cha raajyaM sukhaani cha ॥ 31 ॥

Meaning
na — nor; ca — also; shrEyaH — good; anupashyaami — do I foresee; hatvaa — by killing; sva-janam — own kinsmen; aahavE — in the fight; na — nor; kaankshhE — do I desire; vijayam — victory; kRRishhNa — O Kṛṣṇa; na — nor; ca — also; raajyam — kingdom; sukhaani — happiness thereof; ca — also.

Translation
I do not see how any good can come from killing my own kinsmen in this battle, nor can I, my dear Kṛṣṇa, desire any subsequent victory, kingdom or happiness.

shlOkaH
kiM nO raajyEna gOvinda kiM bhOgairjeevitEna vaa ।
yEshhaamarthE kaan‍‍kshhitaM nO raajyaM bhOgaaH sukhaani cha ॥ 32 ॥
ta imE.avasthitaa yuddhE praaNaaMstyaktvaa dhanaani cha ।
aachaaryaaH pitaraH putraastathaiva cha pitaamahaaH ॥ 33 ॥
maatulaaH shvasha‍uraaH pautraaH shyaalaaH sambandhinastathaa ।
Etaanna hantumichChaami ghna‍tO.api madhusoodana ॥ 34 ॥
api trailOkyaraajyasya hEtOH kiM nu maheekRRitE ।
nihatya dhaartaraashhTraannaH kaa preetiH syaajja‍naardana ॥ 35 ॥

Meaning
kim — what use; naH — to us; raajyEna — is the kingdom; gOvinda — O Kṛṣṇa; kim — what; bhOgaiH — enjoyment; jeevitEna — living; vaa — either; yEshhaam — of whom; arthE — for the sake; kaankshhitam — is desired; naH — by us; raajyam — kingdom; bhOgaaH — material enjoyment; sukhaani — all happiness; ca — also; tE — all of them; imE — these; avasthitaaH — situated; yuddhE — on this battlefield; praaNaan — lives; tyaktvaa — giving up; dhanaani — riches; ca — also; aacaaryaaH — teachers; pitaraH — fathers; putraaH — sons; tathaa — as well as; Eva — certainly; ca — also; pitaamahaaH — grandfathers; maatulaaH — maternal uncles; shvashuraaH — fathers-in-law; pautraaH — grandsons; shyaalaaH — brothers-in-law; sambandhinaH — relatives; tathaa — as well as; Etaan — all these; na — never; hantum — to kill; icchaami — do I wish; ghnataH — being killed; api — even; madhusoodana — O killer of the demon Madhu (Kṛṣṇa); api — even if; trai-lOkya — of the three worlds; raajyasya — for the kingdom; hEtOH — in exchange; kim nu — what to speak of; mahee-kRRitE — for the sake of the earth; nihatya — by killing; dhaartaraashhTraan — the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; naH — our; kaa — what; preetiH — pleasure; syaat — will there be; janaardana — O maintainer of all living entities.

Translation
O Govinda, of what avail to us are a kingdom, happiness or even life itself when all those for whom we may desire them are now arrayed on this battlefield? O Madhusūdana, when teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives are ready to give up their lives and properties and are standing before me, why should I wish to kill them, even though they might otherwise kill me? O maintainer of all living entities, I am not prepared to fight with them even in exchange for the three worlds, let alone this earth. What pleasure will we derive from killing the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra?

shlOkaH
paapamEvaashrayEdasmaanhatvaitaanaatataayinaH ।
tasmaannaarhaa vayaM hantuM dhaartaraashhTraansabaandhavaan ।
svajanaM hi kathaM hatvaa sukhinaH syaama maadhava ॥ 36 ॥

Meaning
paapam — vices; Eva — certainly; aashrayEt — must come upon; asmaan — us; hatvaa — by killing; Etaan — all these; aatataayinaH — aggressors; tasmaat — therefore; na — never; arhaaH — deserving; vayam — we; hantum — to kill; dhaartaraashhTraan — the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; sa-baandhavaan — along with friends; sva-janam — kinsmen; hi — certainly; katham — how; hatvaa — by killing; sukhinaH — happy; syaama — will we become; maadhava — O Kṛṣṇa, husband of the goddess of fortune.

Translation
Sin will overcome us if we slay such aggressors. Therefore it is not proper for us to kill the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and our friends. What should we gain, O Kṛṣṇa, husband of the goddess of fortune, and how could we be happy by killing our own kinsmen?

shlOkaH
yadyapyEtE na pashyanti lObhOpahatachEtasaH ।
kulakshhayakRRitaM dOshhaM mitradrOhE cha paatakam ॥ 37 ॥
kathaM na jjhNEyamasmaabhiH paapaadasmannivartitum ।
kulakshhayakRRitaM dOshhaM prapashyadbha‍irjanaardana ॥ 38 ॥

Meaning
yadi — if; api — even; EtE — they; na — do not; pashyanti — see; lObha — by greed; upahata — overpowered; cEtasaH — their hearts; kula-kshhaya — in killing the family; kRRitam — done; dOshham — fault; mitra-drOhE — in quarreling with friends; ca — also; paatakam — sinful reactions; katham — why; na — should not; jjhNEyam — be known; asmaabhiH — by us; paapaat — from sins; asmaat — these; nivartitum — to cease; kula-kshhaya — in the destruction of a dynasty; kRRitam — done; dOshham — crime; prapashyadbhiH — by those who can see; janaardana — O Kṛṣṇa.

Translation
O Janārdana, although these men, their hearts overtaken by greed, see no fault in killing one’s family or quarreling with friends, why should we, who can see the crime in destroying a family, engage in these acts of sin?

shlOkaH
kulakshhayE praNashyanti kuladharmaaH sanaatanaaH ।
dharmE nashhTE kulaM kRRitsnamadharmO.abhibhavatyuta ॥ 39 ॥

Meaning
kula-kshhayE — in destroying the family; praNashyanti — become vanquished; kula-dharmaaH — the family traditions; sanaatanaaH — eternal; dharmE — religion; nashhTE — being destroyed; kulam — family; kRRitsnam — whole; adharmaH — irreligion; abhibhavati — transforms; uta — it is said.

Translation
With the destruction of the dynasty, the eternal family tradition is vanquished, and thus the rest of the family becomes involved in irreligion.

shlOkaH
adharmaabhibhavaatkRRishhNa pradushhyanti kulastriyaH ।
streeshhu dushhTaasu vaarshhNEya jaayatE varNasankaraH ॥ 40 ॥

Meaning
adharma — irreligion; abhibhavaat — having become predominant; kRRishhNa — O Kṛṣṇa; pradushhyanti — become polluted; kula-striyaH — family ladies; streeshhu — by the womanhood; dushhTaasu — being so polluted; vaarshhNEya — O descendant of Vṛṣṇi; jaayatE — comes into being; varNa-sankaraH — unwanted progeny.

Translation
When irreligion is prominent in the family, O Kṛṣṇa, the women of the family become polluted, and from the degradation of womanhood, O descendant of Vṛṣṇi, comes unwanted progeny.

shlOkaH
sankarO narakaayaiva kulaghna‍aanaaM kulasya cha ।
patanti pitarO hyEshhaaM luptapiNDOdakakriyaaH ॥ 41 ॥

Meaning
sankaraH — such unwanted children; narakaaya — make for hellish life; Eva — certainly; kula-ghnaanaam — for those who are killers of the family; kulasya — for the family; ca — also; patanti — fall down; pitaraH — forefathers; hi — certainly; Eshhaam — of them; lupta — stopped; piNDa — of offerings of food; udaka — and water; kriyaaH — performances.

Translation
An increase of unwanted population certainly causes hellish life both for the family and for those who destroy the family tradition. The ancestors of such corrupt families fall down, because the performances for offering them food and water are entirely stopped.

shlOkaH
dOshhairEtaiH kulaghna‍aanaaM varNasankarakaarakaiH ।
utsaadyantE jaatidharmaaH kuladharmaashcha shaashvataaH ॥ 42 ॥

Meaning
dOshhaiH — by such faults; EtaiH — all these; kula-ghnaanaam — of the destroyers of the family; varNa-sankara — of unwanted children; kaarakaiH — which are causes; utsaadyantE — are devastated; jaati-dharmaaH — community projects; kula-dharmaaH — family traditions; ca — also; shaashvataaH — eternal.

Translation
By the evil deeds of those who destroy the family tradition and thus give rise to unwanted children, all kinds of community projects and family welfare activities are devastated.

shlOkaH
utsannakuladharmaaNaaM manushhyaaNaaM janaardana ।
narakE niyataM vaasO bhavateetyanusha‍ushruma ॥ 43 ॥

Meaning
utsanna — spoiled; kula-dharmaaNaam — of those who have the family traditions; manushhyaaNaam — of such men; janaardana — O Kṛṣṇa; narakE — in hell; niyatam — always; vaasaH — residence; bhavati — it so becomes; iti — thus; anushushruma — I have heard by disciplic succession.

Translation
O Kṛṣṇa, maintainer of the people, I have heard by disciplic succession that those whose family traditions are destroyed dwell always in hell.

shlOkaH
ahO bata mahatpaapaM kartuM vyavasitaa vayam ।
yadraajyasukhalObhEna hantuM svajanamudyataaH ॥ 44 ॥

Meaning
ahO — alas; bata — how strange it is; mahat — great; paapam — sins; kartum — to perform; vyavasitaaH — have decided; vayam — we; yat — because; raajya-sukha-lObhEna — driven by greed for royal happiness; hantum — to kill; sva-janam — kinsmen; udyataaH — trying.

Translation
Alas, how strange it is that we are preparing to commit greatly sinful acts. Driven by the desire to enjoy royal happiness, we are intent on killing our own kinsmen.

shlOkaH
yadi maamaprateekaaramashastraM shastrapaaNayaH ।
dhaartaraashhTraa raNE hanyustanmE kshhEmataraM bhavEt ॥ 45 ॥

Meaning
yadi — even if; maam — me; aprateekaaram — without being resistant; ashastram — without being fully equipped; shastra-paaNayaH — those with weapons in hand; dhaartaraashhTraaH — the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; raNE — on the battlefield; hanyuH — may kill; tat — that; mE — for me; kshhEma-taram — better; bhavEt — would be.

Translation
Better for me if the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, weapons in hand, were to kill me unarmed and unresisting on the battlefield.

shlOkaH
sanjaya uvaacha
EvamuktvaarjunaH saMkhyE rathOpastha upaavishat ।
visRRijya sasharaM chaapaM shOkasaMvigna‍maanasaH ॥ 46 ॥

Meaning
sanjayaH uvaaca — Sañjaya said; Evam — thus; uktvaa — saying; arjunaH — Arjuna; sankhyE — in the battlefield; ratha — of the chariot; upasthE — on the seat; upaavishat — sat down again; visRRijya — putting aside; sa-sharam — along with arrows; caapam — the bow; shOka — by lamentation; saṁvigna — distressed; maanasaH — within the mind.

Translation
Sañjaya said: Arjuna, having thus spoken on the battlefield, cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the chariot, his mind overwhelmed with grief.

Browse Related Categories: