Bhagawad Geeta : Chapter 1

Chapter  1 Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra

As the opposing armies stand poised for battle, Arjuna, the strong warrior, sees his close relatives, teachers and friends in both armies ready to fight and sacrifice their lives. Overcome by sorrow and pity, Arjuna fails in strength, his mind becomes confused, and he gives up his determination to fight.

                                                                                               chapter 1

                                                  ध्रितराष्ट्र   उवाच                

धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः  । 
मामकाः पण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय  ।। 1।।

"Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, following my sons and the sons of Pandu assembled in the place of pilgrimage at Kurukshetra, desiring to fight, what did they do?" .

                          

                               सञ्जय  उवाच

                   दृष्ट्वा  तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं  दुर्योधनस्तदा ।

                   आचार्यमुपसंगम्य  राजा  वचनमब्रवीत्     ।।2।।

"Sanjaya said:  after looking over the army arranged in military structure by the sons of Pandu, King              Duryodhana went to his teacher and spoke the following words."

                                           पस्यैतां  पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य  महतीं  चमूम् ।
                                           व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव  शिष्येण  धीमता        ।। 3।।

"O my teacher, see the huge army of the sons of Pandu, so expertly arranged by your intelligent student the son of Drupada."

                     अत्र  शूरा  महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा   युधि  ।

                     युयुधानो  विराटश्च  द्रुपदश्च  महारथः        ।। 4।।

"Here in this army are many heroic bowmen equal to Bhima and Arjuna in fighting: as great fighters like satyaki, Virata and mighty chariot warrior Drupada."

                                     ध्रिष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजाश्च  वीर्यवान ।
                                     पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च  शैब्यश्च   नरपुंगवः     ।।5।।

                                      युधामन्युश्च  विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च  वीर्यवान ।
                                      सौभद्रो  द्रौपदेयाश्च  सर्व  एव  महारथाः            ।।6।। 

"Dhrishtaketu, Cekitana,powerful Kasiraja, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and noblest man Saibya,

 mighty Yudhamanyu, the very powerful Uttamauja,abhimanu  the son of Subhadra ,and the five  sons of Draupadi. All these warriors are great chariot fighters." 

अस्माकं  तू  विशिष्टा  ये  तन्निबोध  िव्दजोत्तम ।

  नायका मम   सैन्यस्य सञ्ज्ञार्थं  तान्  ब्रवीमि  ते      ।।7।।

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


                                          भवान् भीष्मश्च  कर्णश्च  कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः।
                                          अश्वत्थामा  विकर्णश्च  सौमदत्तिस्तथैव   च    ।।8।।

"There are personalities like you, Bhishma, Karna, always victorious in battle Kripacharya, Asvatthama, Vikarna and the son of Somadatta called Bhurisrava."


                                             अन्ये च  बहवः  शूरा मदर्थे  त्यक्तजीविताः ।
                                             नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे  युद्धविशारदाः          ।।9।।

"There are many other heroes who are ready 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."

                     अपर्याप्तं  तदस्माकं बलं  भीष्माभिरक्षितम् ।

                     पर्याप्तं  त्विदमेतेषां बलं  भीष्माभिरक्षितम् ।।10।।

"Our  army  perfectly protected by the  strength of Grandfather Bhishma is unlimited, whereas the strength of the Pandavas, carefully protected by Bhima, is limited."

                                         अयनेषु  च  सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः        ।।
                                         भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः  सर्व  एव  हि   ।।11।।

"All of you must certainly fully protect to Grandfather Bhishma, as you stand at your respective strategic points of entrance into the phalanx of the army."

  

तस्य  संजनयन्  हर्षं  कुरुवृद्धः  पितामहः ।।
 सिंहनादं  विनध्योच्चैः शंख  दध्मौ  प्रतापवान् ।।12।।

 

"Then Bhishma, the great valiant grandsire of the Kuru dynasty, blew his conch shell very loudly, making a sound like the roar of a lion, giving Duryodhana joy."



                       ततः  शंखाश्च    भेर्यश्च  पणवानकगोमुखाः  ।।
                       सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त  स  शब्दस्तुमुलोsभवत्   ।।13।।


"After that, the conch-shells, drums, bugles, trumpets and horns were all suddenly sounded, and the combined sound was tumultuous."

                                             ततः  श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति  स्यन्दने  स्थितौ ।।
                                             माधवः  पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ  शंखौ  प्रदध्मतुः ।।14।।

"After that, both Lord Krishana and Arjuna, stationed on a great chariot harnessed by white horses, sounded their transcendental conch-shells."


                       पांचजन्यं  ह्र्षीकेशो देवदत्तं  धनंजयः    ॥
                       पौण्डं  दध्मौ  महाशंख भीमकर्मा  वृकोदरः॥15॥

 
"Lord Krishna blew His conch-shell Pancajanya; Arjuna blew his conch-shell  Devadatta; and Bhima, the  performer of herculean tasks, blew his terrific conch-shell Paundra."

                                           अनन्तविजयं  राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो  युधिष्ठिरः॥
                                            नकुलः  सहदेवश्च  सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ     ॥16॥ 

"King Yudhisthira, the son of Kunti, blew his conch-shell, the Ananta-vijaya, and Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughosa and Manipuspaka."

                                      काश्यश्च  परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी  च  महारथः   ॥
                                      धृष्टध्युम्नो  विराटश्च  सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ॥17॥
                                      द्रुपदो  द्रौपदेयाश्च  सर्वशः  पृथिवीपते             ॥
                                      सौभद्रश्च   महाबाहुः शंखान्दध्मुः  पृथक्पृथक् ॥18॥

"That great archer the King of Kasi, the mighty chariot warrior Sikhandi, Dhrishtadhyumna, King Virata, the unbeatable Satyaki, King Drupada, five sons of Draupadi, and abhimanyu ,  the mighty-armed son of Subhadra,o king,they all blew their respective conch-shells from all the site."

सा  घोषो  धार्तराष्टाणां हृदयानि  व्यदारयत् ॥
       नभश्च   पृथिवीं  चैव तुमुलो  व्यनुनादयन्   ॥19॥

"that terrible sound , resounding  in the sky and on the earth, it shattered the hearts of the sons of Dhritarashtra."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        continued in page 2...............................