धृतराष्ट्र उवाच

धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः | मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वतसञ्जय ||

धर्मक्षेत्रे – in the field of धर्म, कुरुक्षेत्रे – at (the field called as) कुरुक्षेत्र, समवेता – assembled,  युयुत्सवः – desiring to fight, मामकाः – my (people), पाण्डवा: च एव – and the पाण्डव indeed, किम – what? अकुर्वत – did (they) do, O सञ्जय

1.1 धृतराष्ट्र said On the holy field of कुरुक्षेत्र, gathered together eager for battle, what did my people and the पांडव do, O सञ्जय?

1. Either in the title or the first word or a group of words, most धर्म texts convey the intent of the book. Use of the word धर्म is stated as a giveaway here that श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता is a text of धर्म
2. धृतराष्ट्र used the word मामका to refer to “his own” kids and पाण्डु sons as “others”. Quite unknowingly, use of words by us makes our inclinations known (while we think we are hiding these).
3. Mystical meaning – धृतराष्ट्र represents a blind person (from an आध्यात्म lens) who lives within a body (क्षेत्र) that is meant for धर्म, whose core nature is action-driven (कुरूक्षेत्र). This blind is aligned to forces that are अहंकार-driven who live life as an individuality separated from others against aspects that are universal unitive type.

सञ्जय उवाच

दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं  दुर्योधनस्तदा आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत्।।1.2।।

दृष्ट्वा – seeing, तदा तु – then (indeed), पाण्डव, अनीकं – the army, व्यूढं – in battle formation,  दुर्योधन:,  आचार्यम – (his) teacher (द्रोणः), उपसङ्गम्य – approaching, राजा – the king, वचनम – those words, अब्रवीत् – spoke

1.2   संजय said राजा  दुर्योधन, on seeing the पांडव army in battle array, approached his आचार्य (द्रोणः) and said these words:

पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम्।  व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता।।1.3।।

पश्य – please look, एतां – at this, पाण्डु – पुत्राणाम – sons of पाण्डु, आचार्य, महतीं – great, चमूम् – army,   व्यूढां – formed into battle array, द्रुपद- पुत्रेण – (by) the son of द्रुपद, तव धीमता – by your brilliant, शिष्येण – disciple

1.3   Behold, O आचार्य, this mighty army of the पांडव, arrayed by the son of द्रुपद, your intelligent शिष्य.

अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि। युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः।।1.4।।

अत्र – here (are), शूरा – heroes, महा ईष्वासा: – great archers, भीमार्जुन, समा – the equal, युधि – in battle, युयुधान – Satyaki, विराट:, च – and, द्रुपद, च – and, महारथः – the great warrior

1.4   There (in that army) are heroes, great bowmen, like भीम and अर्जुन; युयुधान,विराट & द्रुपद a mighty warrior;

धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान्। पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः।।1.5।।

धृष्टकेतु, चेकितानः, वीर्यवान् काशिराज, च – valiant king of  काशि, पुरुजित्, कुन्तिभोज,  च – and, शैब्य,  नरपुङ्गवः – the best of men

1.5   धृष्टकेत, चेकितान, the valiant काशिराज; पुरूजित, कुन्तिभोज, and शैब्य the best among men;

युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान्। सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः।।1.6।।

युधामन्यु, विक्रान्त – the powerful, उत्तमौजा, वीर्यवान् – the valiant, सौभद्रो, द्रौपदेयाश्च, सर्व एव महारथाः

1.6   युधामन्य the valiant, and उत्तमौजा the strong; and also the son of शुभद्र and the sons of द्रौपदि, all mighty warriors.

Combined as a bunch since they are similar in nature and meaning is self-evident. There is a bit of psychology here – why should दुर्योधन approach द्रोण first? Firstly, he is edgy before the war as is natural. Second, he is not sure if द्रोणः is really on his side since he likes the पांडव. So to needle him, he takes the name of द्रुपद first since he knows that द्रुपद’s son was conceived to kill द्रोण. Message is – do not be too kind to someone who has vowed to kill you. And if you are being kind, you are foolish.

अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम। नायका  मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते।।1.7।।

अस्माकं – among us, तु – whereas, विशिष्टा – (are) distinguished, ये – who, तान् निबोध – please know those, द्विजोत्तम – best among द्विज, नायका: – leaders, मम सैन्यस्य – of my army, संज्ञार्थं – for recognition, तान् न्ब्र ब्रवीमि – I mention, ते – to you, your

1.7 Know, O best of द्विज, those who are important on our side, those who are the defenders of my army, I shall name them to refresh your memory.

भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः। अश्वत्थात्मा  विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव ।।1.8।।

भवान् – Your honour, you sir, भीष्म, कर्ण, कृप:, समितिञ्जयः – the victorious at battle, अश्वत्थात्मा,  विकर्ण, सौमदत्ति – the son of सोमदत्त, तथैव – and (similarly)

1.8 Yourself, भीम & कर्ण, the victorious कृप, अश्वत्थाम, विकर्ण and जयद्रथ the son of सोमदत्त; and

अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः।नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाःसर्वे  युद्धविशारदाः।।1.9।।

अन्ये च – and others, बहवः शूरा – many heroes, मदर्थे – for me, त्यक्त – have been given up, जीविताः – whose lives, नाना – having many kinds of, शस्त्रप्रहरणाः – (hand-held) weapons and arrows, सर्वे – all,  युद्ध – in warfare, विशारदाः – (and are) experts

1.9 And there are many other heroes who are determined to give up their lives for my sake. They all are experts in using manifold शस्त्र and are dexterous in battle.

अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम्। पर्याप्त  त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम्।।1.10।।

अपर्याप्तं – (is) not overwhelmed, तद – that, अस्माकं – of ours, बलं – strength, भीष्म, अभिरक्षितम् – protected,  पर्याप्त – (is) overwhelmed, , एतेषां तु – whereas of theirs, इदं – this, बलं – strength, भीम, अभिरक्षितम् – protected

1.10 Inadequate is this force of ours, which is guarded by भीष्म, while adequate is that force of theirs, which is guarded by भीम.

अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः। भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि।।1.11

अयनेषु – (in) the lanes (of attacking your formation), च – and,  सर्वेषु – in all, यथा – in (your) respective, भागम – positions, अवस्थिताः – stationed, भीष्म एव, अभिरक्षन्तु – protect, भवन्तः – you (all), सर्व एव हि – all of)

1.11 Therefore all of you taking your places firmly in your respective divisions, guard भीष्म at all cost.

तस्य संजनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः। सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं  दध्मौ प्रतापवान्।।1.12।।

तस्य – (of) him, संजनयन्हर्षं – causing the elating, कुरु – of the कुरु, वृद्धः – elder, पितामहः – grandfather, सिंहनादं – roar of a lion, विनद्य – let out, उच्चैः – loudly, शङ्खं – (his) conch, दध्मौ – (and) blew, प्रतापवान् – powerful

1.12 Then the valiant grandsire भीष्म, senior-most of the कुरु clan, roaring like a lion, blew his conch with a view to cheer up दुर्योधन.

तत: शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च  पणवानकगोमुखाः । सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोsभवत्॥ १३ ॥

ततः – then, शङ्खा: च – conches, भेर्यश्च – kettle drums, पणव – small drums, आनक – large drums, गोमुखाः – (and) horns, सहस एव  – all at once, अभ्यहन्यन्त – were sounded, सशब्द: – the noise, स्तुमुल – tumultuous, अभवत् – was

1.13 Then suddenly conches and kettle drums, trumpets, tabors and blow horns blared forth; and the sound was terrific.

ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दनेस्थितौ। माधवः  पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौशङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः।।1.14।।

ततः – then, श्वेतै र्हयै – with white horses, युक्ते – yoked, महति – in the great, स्यन्दने – chariot, स्थितौ – (both) stood, standing, माधवः,  पाण्डवश्चैव – and अर्जुन ,  दिव्यौ – (their) divine, शङ्खौ – conches, प्रदध्मतुः – blew

1.14 Then श्रीकृष्ण and अर्जुन, stationed in their great chariot yoked with white horses, blew their divine conchs.

पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तंधनंजयः। पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ  महाशङ्खंभीमकर्मा वृकोदरः।।1.15।।

पाञ्चजन्यं – (blew his conch called) पाञ्चजन्य, हृषीकेश, देवदत्तं – (blew his conch called) देवदत्त, धनंजयः – अर्जुन , पौण्ड्रं – called पौण्ड्र, दध्मौ – blew, महाशङ्खं – (his) huge conch, भीमकर्मा – (भीम) whose deeds are frightening, वृकोदरः – the wolf-bellied

1.15 श्रीकृष्ण blew his conch, पाञ्चजन्य, अर्जुन his देवदत्त and भीम of terrible deeds his great conch पौण्ड्र.

अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रोयुधिष्ठिरः। नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ।।1.16।।

अनन्तविजय – (blew his conch called) अनन्तविजय, राजा युधिष्ठिर, कुन्तीपुत्र – son of कुन्ती, नकुल,  सहदेव,  सुघोष – (blew his conch called) सुघोष, मणिपुष्पक – and (conch called as) मणिपुष्पक

1.16 युधिष्ठिर the son of Kunti blew his conch अनन्तविजय and नकुल and सहदेव blew their conchs सुघोष and मणिपुष्पक.

काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डीच महारथः। धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्चसात्यकिश्चापराजितः।।1.17।।

द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशःपृथिवीपते। सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुःपृथक्पृथक् ।।1.18।।

परम ईष्वास काश्यश्च – the expert archer king of Kashi, शिखण्डी, महारथः – great warriors, धृष्टद्युम्न,  विराट, सात्यकि, अपराजित – one who cannot defeated

द्रुपद, द्रौपदेया – five sons of Draupadi,  सर्वशः – all, पृथिवीपते – O King (धृतराष्ट्र), महाबाहुः सौभद्र – the powerful son of Subhadra, शङ्खान – conches, दध्मुः – blew, पृथक्पृथक् – (their) individual

1.17 And the King of Kasi the supreme bowman, शिखण्डी the mighty warrior, धृष्टद्युम्न and विराट; and सात्यकि the invincible;

1.18 द्रुपद and the sons of द्रौपदी, and the strong-armed son of सुभद्र – all, O King, blew their several conchs again and again.

स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानिव्यदारयत्। नभश्च  पृथिवीं  चैव तुमुलोव्यनुनादयन्।।1.19

स – that घोषो – sound धार्तराष्ट्राणां – of the allies of धृतराष्ट्र, हृदयानि – of हृदय or heart व्यदारयत् – pierced नभश्च  -स्वर्ग पृथिवीं चैव – and पृथ्वी, तुमुलो – tumultuous, व्यनुनादयन् – reverberating between

1.19 And that tumultuous uproar, resounding through स्वर्ग and पृथ्वी, rent the hearts of धृतराष्ट्र sons

अथ व्यवस्थितान् दृष्ट्वाधार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः। प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसंपाते धनुरुद्यम्यपाण्डवः।।1.20।।

अथ – then, व्यवस्थितान् – assembled, दृष्ट्वा – seeing, धार्तराष्ट्रान् – the allies of धृतराष्ट्र, कपिध्वजः – who had flag of हनुमान who is a कपि,  प्रवृत्ते – as (the clash…) was about to begin, शस्त्रसंपाते – clash of swords, धनुरुद्यम्य – raised his bow, पाण्डवः

अर्जुन उवाच

हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाहमहीपते। सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापयमेऽच्युत।।1.21।।

अर्जुन उवाच – says अर्जुन, हृषीकेशं _ (कृष्ण), the lord of the senses,  तदा – then, वाक्यमिदम – these words, आह – said, महीपते – O King, सेनयोरुभयो – both the armies, र्मध्ये – in the middle,  मे रथं – my chariot, स्थापय – place, अच्युत – (कृष्ण) One who is free from change

यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहंयोद्धुकामानवस्थितान् || कैर्मया सहयोद्धव्यमस्मिन्रणसमुद्यमे || 1.22 ||

यावद – so that (can),  एतान् – these, निरीक्षे – examine, अहं – I, योद्धु – to do battle, कामान – wishing, अवस्थितान् – assembled, कै: सह – with (i.e. against) whom, मया – I (by me), योद्धव्यम – should fight, अस्मिन – at this, रण – of war, समुद्यमे – (at) the outset

1.20  Then अर्जुन , who had हनुमान as his ध्वज, on beholding the sons of धृतराष्ट्र in array, took up his bow, while शस्त्र were being readied to be used

1.21 And he spoke, O lord of earth, these words to श्रीकृष्ण.  अर्जुन said: Draw up my chariot, O श्रीकृष्ण, between the two armies,

1.22 So that I may have a good look at those who are standing eager to fight and know with whom I have to fight in this enterprise of war.

योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्रसमागताः। धार्तराष्ट्रस्य  दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धेप्रियचिकीर्षवः।।1.23।।

योत्स्यमानान – about to fight (those), अहं अवेक्षे – (so that) I (can) see,  य एते – who (these) अत्र – here, समागताः – have assembled, धार्तराष्ट्रस्य – son of धृतराष्ट्र viz दुर्योधन,  दुर्बुद्धे – the distorted thinking, र्युद्धे – in war, प्रिय – to please, चिकीर्षवः – wishing

1.23 I wish to see those gathered here ready to fight in this battle in order to please the son of धृतराष्ट्र who is possessed of दुर्बुद्धि.

सञ्जय उवाच

एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेनभारत। सेनयो: उभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वारथोत्तमम्।।1.24।। भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां चमहीक्षिताम्। उवाच पार्थपश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति।।1.25।।

सञ्जय उवाच – सञ्जय said, एवमुक्तो – thus told,  हृषीकेशो – (कृष्ण) the Lord of the senses, गुडाकेश – by one who has mastery over lethargy (अर्जुन),  भारत – O descendent of King भरत (viz धृतराष्ट्र), उभयो सेनयो: – both the armies, र्मध्ये – middle, स्थापयित्वा – placed, रथ – chariot, उत्तमम् – great, भीष्म, द्रोण, प्रमुखतः – in front, सर्वेषां – (of) all, च महीक्षिताम् – and (in front of these) king, पार्थ, पश्य एतान् – behold these,  समवेतान् – assembled, कुरून – Kurus, इति उवाच – (and) said this

1.24/ 1.25 सञ्जय said – Thus addressed by अर्जुन, श्रीकृष्ण drew up that best of chariots between the two armies before the view of भीष्म & द्रोण and all the other kings, O धृतराष्ट्र, and said, ‘O अर्जुन, behold these assembled Kauravas.

तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितृ़नथपितामहान्। आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातृ़न्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा।।1.26।।

श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैवसेनयोरुभयोरपि। तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयःसर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान्।।1.27।।

तत्र – there अपश्यत् – saw, स्थितान् – stationed, पार्थः – अर्जुन,  पितृ़ – fathers, अथ – now, पितामहान् – grandfathers, आचार्यान् – teachers,  मातुलान् – (maternal) uncles, भातृ़न् – brothers, पुत्रान् – sons, पौत्रान् – grandsons, सखीं: – fellow colleagues, तथा – and

श्वशुरान् – fathers in law, सुहृद च एव – and friends, सेनयोरुभयोरपि  – in both armies, तान् सर्वान् एव  – all those, समीक्ष्य – seeing, स – it, कौन्तेयः – son of Kunti (viz अर्जुन ) बन्धून – relatives, स्थितान् – stationed

1.26 Then as अर्जुन looked on, he saw standing there fathers and grand-fathers, teachers, uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons and comrades;

1.27 Fathers-in-law and dear friends in both armies. When अर्जुन saw all these relatives in array,

अर्जुन उवाच

कृपया परयाऽऽविष्टोविषीदन्निदमब्रवीत्। दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुंसमुपस्थितम्।।1.28।।

अर्जुन उवाच – अर्जुन  says, कृपया परया – with great pity अविष्ट: – being overwhelmed, विषीदन् – became sad, इदम अब्रवीत् – (and) said this, दृष्ट्वा – seeing, इमं – this, स्वजनं – own people, कृष्ण, युयुत्सुं – ready to fight, समुपस्थितम् – who have come

1.28 He was filled with deep compassion and said these words in despair. अर्जुन said: O कृष्ण, when I look on these, my relatives present here, eager for battle,

सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं चपरिशुष्यति। वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्चजायते।।1.29।।

सीदन्ति – are limp, मम – my,  गात्राणि – limbs, मुखं – face, च – and परिशुष्यति – is dry,  वेपथु: च – (is) trembling शरीरे मे – (in) my body, रोमहर्ष: च – and (my) hairs on end, जायते – is/ are, has/ have become

1.29 My limbs are weakened, my mouth gets parched, my body trembles and my hairs stand erect.

गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैवपरिदह्यते। न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीवच मे मनः।।1.30।।

गाण्डीवं – bow of अर्जुन ,  स्रंसते – slips, हस्तात् – from (my) hand, त्वक् च एव – and (my) skin, परिदह्यते – burns,  न  शक्नोमि – I am unable, अवस्थातुं च  – and to stand, भ्रमती इव – seems to spin, च मे मनः – my mind

1.30 The bow गांडीव slips from my hand and my skin is burning. I can stand no longer. My मन seems to spin.

निमित्तानि च पश्यामिविपरीतानि केशव। न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वास्वजनमाहवे।।1.31।।

निमित्तानि – omens, च – and, पश्यामि – (I am) seeing, विपरीतानि – contrary, bad, केशव – name of कृष्ण,  न च श्रेयो अनुपश्यामि – I see no good, हत्वा – killing, स्वजन – my own people आहवे – and in (this) war

1.31 I see, कृष्ण, inauspicious omens. I foresee no good in killing my स्वजन in the fight.

1st chapter is called as विषाद योग; from now on, विषाद of अर्जुन begins. दुर्योधन was nervous owing to his eagerness to win a war; he was clear that the people in front of him is an enemy. अर्जुन however suffers a nervous breakdown arising not from fear of an enemy but from having to fight against स्वजन. अध्यात्म flow always gushes out from any गुरू only as a response to a fundamentally moral problem – अध्यात्म is not to be seen as psychological counselling applied to a “lower-level” mental situation. And if it is given or conveyed to a person facing a “lower-level” mental situation, the listener will be unable to absorb it. आध्यात्म advice is however relevant when the situation is perceived at a much deeper level where normal phycological argumentation will no longer work

न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च। किं नो  राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा।।1.32।।

न काङ्क्षे – I do not desire, विजयं – victory, कृष्ण, न च राज्यं सुखानि च – and I do not see joys of king-hood, किं – What (is the use with/of), न: – to us,  राज्येन – kingdom, गोविन्द – name of कृष्ण (One who is understood through शास्त्र), भोगैर्जीवितेन वा – pleasures of living,

1.32 I desire no विजय, nor राज्य nor सुख. What have we to do with राज्य, O कृष्ण, or life of भोग?

येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च। त इमेऽवस्थिता  युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च।।1.33।।

आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः। मातुलाः  श्चशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा।।1.34।।

येषाम अर्थे – for whose sake, काङ्क्षितं – are desired, न: – we, buy us, राज्यं – kingdom, भोगाः  – enjoyment, सुखानि च – and happiness, त इमे – those same, अवस्थिता – are assembled, युद्धे – for war, प्राणां – त्यक्त्वा  – having given up, धनानि च – and wealth

आचार्याः – teachers, पितरः – fathers, पुत्रा: तथैव च पितामहाः – and grandfathers, मातुलाः – maternal uncles, श्चशुराः – fathers in law, पौत्राः – grandchildren, श्यालाः – brothers in law, सम्बन्धिन: तथा – and (other) relations

1.33 Those for whose sake we do desire राज्य, भोग and सुख, stand here in war renouncing life & wealth

1.34 Teachers, fathers, sons and also grandfathers, uncles, fathers-in-law & grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives

एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन।अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते।1.35।।

एतान् – them, हन्तुम न इच्छामि – I do not wish to kill, घ्नत: अपि – though about to kill (me),  मधुसूदन – name of कृष्ण, हेतोः अपि – even for the sake, त्रैलोक्य – over the three worlds, राज्यस्य – of dominion,  किं नु – much less, महीकृते – for (a kingdom on this) earth

1.35 These I would not slay, though they might slay me, even for the sovereignty of the three worlds – how much less for this earth O कृष्ण?

निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन। पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः।।1.36।।

निहत्य – killing, धार्तराष्ट्रान् – the sons of धृतराष्ट्र, का – what, प्रीतिः – satisfaction, स्यात् – would, जन अर्दन – (कृष्ण) One who is prayed to by people, पापम एव – only पाप, आश्रयेत् – would befall, अस्मान् – us, हत्वै – by killing, आतत आयिनः – felons

1.36 If we kill the sons of धृतराष्ट्र, what joy will be ours, O कृष्ण? पाप alone will accrue to us if we kill these murderous felons.

तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान्। स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा  सुखिनः माधव।।1.37।।

तस्मान्  – therefore, हन्तुं न अर्हा – ought not to kill, वयं – we, धार्तराष्ट्रान् – the sons of धृतराष्ट्र, स्व बान्धवान् – our own relatives, स्वजनं हि – indeed our own people कथं – how, हत्वा – killing,  सुखिनः  – happiness, माधव – name of कृष्ण

1.37 Therefore, it is not befitting that we slay our kin, the sons of धृतराष्ट्र. For if we kill our स्वजन, O कृष्ण, how indeed can we be happy?

These look like compelling arguments; however, one must note that rational arguments made from an unstable mind do not carry conviction. More such arguments will be made while कृष्ण continues to listen quietly with a smile on his face 😀

यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः। कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे चपातकम्।।1.38।।

यदि अपि – even if, एते – these, न पश्यन्ति – do not see, लोभ-उपहत – are overwhelmed by greed, चेतसः – whose minds, कुल-क्षय – (by) destroying the family, कृतं – wrought, दोषं – the problem, मित्र = friend, द्रोहे – in betraying, च पातकम् – or the crime

कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिःपापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम्। कुलक्षयकृतं दोषंप्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन।।1.39।।

कथं – how?, न ज्ञेयम – cannot know, अस्माभिः – (can) by us, we, पापाद अस्मान् – from this पाप, निवर्तितुम् – to withdraw, कुलक्षयकृतं – wrought by destroying the family, दोषं – the problem, प्रपश्यद्भि – who see clearly,  जनार्दन – name of कृष्ण

1.38 Though these people, whose minds are overpowered by greed, see no दोष in the destruction of a कुल and no दोष in treachery to मित्र,

1.39 Why should we not learn to shun this crime – we who see the पाप of ruining a कुल, O कृष्ण?

कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः। धर्मे नष्टे  कुलंकृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत।।1.40।।

कुलक्षये – when the family is destroyed, प्रणश्यन्ति – are destroyed, कुलधर्माः – family धर्म (or traditions), सनातनाः – ancient, धर्मे नष्टे – when धर्म is destroyed, कुलं कृत्स्नम – the entire family, अधर्म, अभिभवत्युत – overwhelms indeed 

1.40 With the ruin of a कुल, perish its ancient कुलधर्म, and when धर्म perishes, अधर्म overtakes the whole कुल.

अधर्माभिभावात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रिय:। स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः ।। 1.41।।

अधर्म, अभिभवात् – due to (family) being overpowered, कृष्ण,  प्रदुष्यन्ति – are debased, कुलस्त्रियः – the women of the family, स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु – when the women are debased, वार्ष्णेय – name of कृष्ण, जायते – there arises, वर्णसङ्करः – confusion of the social groups

1.41 When अधर्म prevails, O कृष्ण, the स्त्री of the कुल becomes debased (or exposed to debasement); when this happens, there arises intermixture of वर्ण.

सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च।पतन्ति  पितरो  ह्येषांलुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः।।1.42।।

सङ्कर: – confusion, नरकाय एव – leads to नरक, कुलघ्नानां – for the destroyers of the family, कुलस्य च -as well as for the family, पतन्ति – falls, पितरो – ancestors indeed, एषां – their (the kshatriya families), लुप्त – deprived of, पिण्ड उदक क्रियाः – of rice balls and water rituals

1.42 This mixing of वर्ण leads to नरक in the कुल itself and its destroyers; for the spirits of their पितर fall degraded, deprived of the ritual offerings of food & water.

दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः। उत्साद्यन्ते  जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्चशाश्वताः।।1.43।।

दोषै: – crime, एतैः – because of these, कुलघ्नानां – of the destroyers of the family, वर्णसङ्कर – confusion of social groups, कारकैः – bringing about, उत्साद्यन्ते – are destroyed, जातिधर्माः – community traditions, कुलधर्मा: च – as well as family traditions, शाश्वताः – the ancient

1.43 By the दोष of the कुल-destroyers who bring about inter-mixture of वर्ण, the ancient कुलधर्म of the कुल & वर्ण are destroyed.

उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन। नरकेऽनियतं वासोभवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम।। 1.44।।

उत्सन्न – who destroy, कुलधर्माणां – the family धर्म, मनुष्याणां – the people have, जनार्दन – name of कृष्ण, नरके – in नरक, नियतं – surely, वास: – a stay, भवती – to be (have), इति अनुशुश्रुम – we have heard that

1.44 For those whose कुलधर्म are destroyed, dwelling in नरक is ordained, O कृष्ण; thus have we heard.

अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम्। यत् राज्यसुख लोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः।।1.45।।

अहो बत – Oh!!!, महत्पापं – a great पाप, कर्तुं – to perpetrate, व्यवसिता – (we) are fixed, वयम् – we, यत् – if, राज्यसुख – for kingdom and its pleasures,  लोभेन – out of greed, हन्तुं – to kill, स्वजन – our own people, उद्यताः – are prepared

1.45 Oh! We have resolved to commit a great पाप in that we are ready to slay our स्वजन out of desire for राज्यसुख & भोग.

यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः। धार्तराष्ट्रा  रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत्।।1.46।

यदि – if, माम – me, प्रतीकारम – unresisting, अशस्त्रं – (and) unarmed, शस्त्र – पाणयः – having weapons in hand, the armed, धार्तराष्ट्रा – the sons of धृतराष्ट्र, रणे – in battle, हन्यु: were to kill, तद् – that,  मे – for me, क्षेमतरं – better भवेत् – would be

1.46 If the well-armed sons of धृतराष्ट्र should slay me in battle, unresisting and unarmed, that will be better for me.

सञ्जय उवाच

एवमुक्त्वाऽर्जुनः संख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्। विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः।।1.47।।

सञ्जय उवाच – सञ्जय  said, एवमुक्त्वा – speaking thus, अर्जुनः,  संख्ये  – the (the middle of) the battle(field), रथ – of the chariot, उपस्थ – on the seat, उपाविशत् – ‘sat’ down, विसृज्य – giving up, सशरं – with the arrows, and arrows, चापं – (his) bow, शोक – with sorrow, संविग्न – overcome, मानसः – his mind

1.47 सञ्जय said – Having spoken thus on the battle-field, अर्जुन threw aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the seat of the chariot, his heart overwhelmed with grief.

This ends the 1st Chapter named rightly as विषादयोग. It is unusual to see wailing by a man deemed highly educated (of his era), supremely confident, very powerful and who had been raring to wage the war post the immense sufferings faced all his life. More so that this is happening as the war was about to begin. This deep वेदना needs to be sufficiently empathized with to connect with the need for श्रीकृष्ण to give such a deep response. We now enter सांख्य योग, one of the longest chapter which actually sums up the entire श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता fully. But because अर्जुन struggled to grasp it, श्रीकृष्ण had to elaborate for several hundred श्लोक. Buckle up to receive Vedic Gyan and for long debates …