The Bhagwad Gita
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The Bhagwad Gita - Dayanand Verma
1
CHAPTER
The Sorrow of Arjuna
[ARJUNA VISHAD YOGA]
It is a recent practice to introduce the main topic of a chapter along with the title of a chapter, but in ancient times, it was customary to mention the subject of a chapter in its conclusion. The line summarizing a chapter is known as the pushpika.
In the pushpika of the first chapter the subject has been mentioned as The Sorrow of Arjuna
(Arjuna Vishad Yoga). Let us first discuss the prevalent meaning of the word yoga in this title.
Yoga
The word yoga has been often repeated in the Gita. The narrator of this discourse, Shri Krishna, is also called Yogeshwara Krishna. Usually the meaning of the word yoga is taken from Patanjali’s Yoga-Darshana. According to Patanjali, yoga is keeping the instincts of the mind under control. Some people describe the union of the soul with the ‘ultimate’ as yoga. In the Gita it has been used to indicate a broader meaning.
In Chapter 2, sloka 48, Shri Krishna has said Yoga is the state of maintaining equanimity in the face of success and failure
. In the same chapter in sloka 50, it is described as proficiency of action
. This proficiency can be achieved only when there is complete focus on one subject. When a dancer is immersed in his/her dance, when an author withdraws his/her attention from everything extraneous and concentrate on the writing at hand, when the scientist is completely lost in his/her investigations, they are all in the highest state of yoga.
If you delve deeper into the meanings of the word, you will learn that yoga is neutral. The adjective attached to that word renders its different meanings. Being absorbed in the worship is (Bhaktiyoga) the Yoga of Devotion. Losing oneself in good actions is (Karmayoga) the Yoga of Actions and withdrawing attention from all else while perusing any particular subject with, compelling curiosity is (Jnanayoga) the Yoga of Knowledge. To sum up, being single-mindedly absorbed in any subject is — yoga. It is only with concentration that one becomes increasingly proficient in whatever s/he does.
Let us now consider the title of this chapter. It is called the Yoga of the Sorrow of Arjuna (Arjuna Vishad yoga). The word Sorrow
or Distress
do not fit with the word yoga. Hence, there is a new meaning applied to the word yoga here. It means the main subject or topic. We shall interpret in the same manner the word yoga in the pushpika of each of the chapters here, that is, we shall look upon it as the main subject of the chapter.
In the early part of Chapter 1, we find the descriptions of the two armies. The main subject is the sorrow of Arjuna. In today’s parlance we may interpret Arjuna’s sorrow or distress as depression.
IMPORTANCE OF THIS CHAPTER
Shri Krishna does not utter a single word in this chapter. It is only Arjuna who pours out his emotions and on finding no response from Shri Krishna, finally lays down his bow and arrow and retire to the rear of the chariot.
A valiant warrior, thus abandoning the determination to fight even before the start of the war sets up the stage for the sermon of Gita. Shri Krishna has touched upon every aspect of life with a view to draw Arjuna out of his depression.
èk`rjk"Vª mokpA
èkeZ{ks=ks oqQ#{ks=ks leosrk ;q;qRlo%A
ekedk% ik.Mok'pSo fdeoqQoZr lat;AA1AA
dhrtarāṣṭra uvācha dharmakṣetre kuruksetre samavetā yuyutsavāḥ māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāśchaiva kimakurvata sanjaya: 1
Meaning: Dhritarashtra said, oh, Sanjaya, what did my and Pandu’s sons do when they gathered on the sacred battlefield of Kurukshetra with the intention to wage a war?: 1
Commentary: Kurukshetra has been described as the sacred battlefield in this sloka. It has been named the sacred field because Kuru kings themselves had ploughed the land and made it fertile. They believed that anyone who died on that piece of land reaches heaven.
lat; mokp
n`"V~ok rq ik.Mokuhad O;w
vkpk;ZeqilaxE; jktk opueczohr~AA2AA
sanjaya uvācha
dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇdavānikam vyudharh duryodhanastadā āchāryamupasamgamya rājā vachanamabravit: 2
Meaning: Sanjaya said at that time, King Duryodhana had a look at the Pandava army which stood ready in the strategic position. Then going straight to Acharya Drona he said: 2
Commentary: Here, Sanjaya has referred to Duryodhana as King
although it was Dhritarashtra who was the ruling king. Thereby, he indicates that he was only the ceremonial head and Duryodhana actually called the shots.
i';Srka ik.Mqiq=kk.kkekpk;Z egrha pewe~A
O;w
paśyaitāṁ pāṇduputrāṇamāchārya mahatiṁ chamūm vyūdhām drupadaputreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhimatā: 3
Meaning: Oh, Acharya, just look at this huge army of the Pandavas. It is standing in readiness according to the strategic arrangement planned by the son of Drupada who is your intelligent pupil: 3
Commentary: Bhishma was the general of the Kaurava army while the leader of the Pandava army was Dhrishtadyumna. According to this sloka, instead of going to the commander of the Kaurava army, Druyodhana went to Acharya Drona. He referred to Dhrishtadyumna not directly by his name but called him the son of Drupada
and your intelligent pupil
. Thereby, intending to arouse in Dronacharya’s mind his old time animosity with King Drupada. This hostility which was provoked by the following incident:
Prince Drupada and young Drona were fellow disciples and good friends. In the course of time, Drupada ascended the throne of Panchala Desha but Drona continued to live in poverty.. Once unable to bear his poverty stricken existence, he had approached his friend now King Drupada. He reminded the king of their old friendship, he sought help from him. But intoxicated by authority, Drupada refused to accept Drona as his friend and insulted him. As a result Drona was seized with the feeling of vengeance.
Drona too got his chance. He was appointed as the teacher to train the Kauravas and the Pandavas in the art of military warfare. When their training was completed, Drona with his pupils, invaded the Kingdom of Drupada. He conquered it, but later freed him and returned half the kingdom to him.
On the other hand King Drupada summoned brahmins to avenge this humiliation. He made arrangements for a yajna on the advice of the brahmins. The purpose of the yajna was to have such a progeny who would be able to slay Drona. From the sacrificial pit of the yajna emerged Dhrishtadyumna and a girl called Krishna who was better known as Draupadi.
Drona extended a particular fondness for Arjuna. With a view to impress the guru, Duryodhana went to him and not to Bheeshma. He referred to Dhrishtadyumna not by his name but as Drupada’s son
and your intelligent pupil
and thus flung at him a sarcastic remark that Dhrishtadyumna who is born to take his life, was first his pupil, but now the Pandavas made him the commander-in-chief. The indirect implication of this remark is that in his simplicity, Drona took on the son of his arch enemy as his pupil. Now he stands in the enemy camp, and Drona has prepared a sure ground for his own death. Therefore, he should not nurture any soft feelings for the Pandavas.
In the slokas that follow, Duryodhana is describing the great warriors in the Pandava camp.
v=k 'kwjk egs"oklk HkhektqZulek ;qfèkA
;q;qèkkuks fojkV'p nqzin'p egkjFk%AA4AA
atra śūrā maheṣvāsā bhimārjunasamā yudhi yuyudhāno viratāścha drupadaścha mahārathaḥ : 4
èk`"VosQrq'osfdrku% dkf'kjkt'p oh;Zoku~A
iq#ftRoqQfUrHkkst'p 'kSC;'p ujiqaxo%AA5AA
dhṛṣṭaketuśchekitānaḥ kāśirājaścha viryavāṇ purujitkuntibhojaścha saibyaścha narapungavah : 5
;qèkkeU;q'p foØkUr mÙkekStk'p oh;Zoku~A
lkSHknzks nzkSiksns;k'p loZ ,o egkjFk%AA6AA
yudhāmanyuścha vikrānta uttamujāścha viryavāṇ saubhadro draupadeyāścha sarva eva mahārathāḥ : 6
Meaning: In the Pandava army, there are a large number of valiant warriors, great archers and warriors like Yuyudhamna, Satyaki, Virata, Maharathi Drupada, Dhrishtaketu, Chekitan, brave Kashiraja, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, great Shaibya, valiant Yudhamnyu, powerful Uttamauja, Subhadra’s son Abhimanyu and Draupadi’s sons, all comparable to Bhima and Arjuna and all are the great warriors: 4-6.
vLekda rq fof'k"Vk ;s rkfUucksèk f}tksÙkeA
uk;dk ee lSU;L; laKkFkZ rkUczohfe rsAA7AA
asmākam tu viśiṣṭā ye tānnibodha dvijottama nāyakā mama sainyasya samjñārtham tānbravimi te: 7
Meaning: Oh, the highest among the brahmins, let me now recount to you the leading warriors in the Kaurava army: 7
HkokUHkh"e'p d.kZ'p d`i'p lfefr×t;%A
v'oRFkkek fod.kZ'p lkSenfÙkLrFkSo pAA8AA
bhavānbhiṣmaścha karnaścha kṛpaścha samitiñjayaḥ aśvatthāmā vikarnaścha saumadattistathaiṿa cha : 8
Meaning: One of them is your own good self, then Bheeshma Pitamaha and Karna. Also, there are Ashwathama, Vikarna and the victorious Kripacharya as well as Somadatta’s son Bhurishrava: 8
vU;s p cgo% 'kwjk enFksZ RDrthfork%A
ukuk'kL=kizgj.kk% losZ ;q¼fo'kkjnk%AA9AA
anye cha bahavaḥ śurā madarthe tyaktajivitāḥ nānāśastrapraharaṇāḥ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ : 9
Meaning: There are countless other brave warriors who have come fully armed forgetting their attachments for my sake. All of them are very well-versed in warfare: 9
vi;kZIra rnLekda cya Hkh"ekfHkjf{kre~A
i;kZIra fRonesrs"kka cya HkhekfHkjf{kre~AA10AA
aparyāptam tadasmākaṁ balam bhiṣmābhirakṣitam paryāptaṁ tvidameteṣāṁ bālam bhimābhirakṣitam: 10
Meaning: Our army, is protected by Bheeshma Pitamaha and it is adequately equipped in every way. It is not the same with the army of the Pandavas which is protected by Bheema: 10
v;uskq p losZ
kq ;FkkHkkxeofLFkr%A
Hkh"eesokfHkj{kUrq HkoUr% loZ ,o fgAA11AA
ayaneṣu cha sarveṣu yathābhāgamavasthitāḥ bhiṣmamevābhirakṣantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi: 11
Meaning: Hence, all of you should stand firm on your respective positions and protect Bheeshma from all sides: 11
Commentary: After introducing his heroic warriors, Duryodhana commands all of them, including Drona, to protect Bheeshma, the commander in chief. Duryodhana particularly feared about Bheeshma’s safety because the Pandava army included Shikhandi (Drupada’s son) who was born as a woman to take a revenge. Bheeshma had taken a vow never to aim his arrow at a woman. Duryodhana was worried that if by chance Bheeshma came face to face with Shikhandi, he would not raise his weapons and in that case, the Pandavas would be able to slay Bheeshma easily. Though Bheeshma had been granted the power to die at will, in other words, he would not die as long as he did not embrace death by choice. But, if the general fell wounded, it could bring down the morale of the army. Hence, Duryodhana had been warning his army that Shikhandi should not be allowed to come anywhere near Bheeshma.
rL; latu;Ug"kZ oqQ#o`¼% firkeg%A
flagukna fou|ksPpS% 'ka[ka nèekS izrkioku~AA12AA
tasya sañjanayanharṣanm kuruvrddhah pitāmahaḥ siṁhanādaṁ vinadyochchaiḥ śankham dadhmau pratāpavān : 12
Meaning: Listening to Duryodhana’s address to Dronacharya, the grand-old valiant Bheeshma of the Kaurava army, blew the conch with full force that sounded like the roar of a lion. This filled Duryodhana’s heart with tremendous joy: 12
rr% 'ka[kk'p Hks;Z'p i.kokudxkseq[kk%A
lglSokH;gU;Ur l 'kCn%rqeqyks½Hkor~AA13AA
tatah śaňkhāṣrcha bheryascha panavanakagomukhah sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śabdastumulo’bhavat: 13
Meaning: This was followed by the simultaneous blowing of conches, beating of drums, trumpets, etc. and a very loud terrifying echo rose through the battlefield: 13
rr% 'osrSgZ;S;qZDrs egfr Lu;Unus fLFkrkSA
ekèko% ik.Mo'pSo fnO;kS 'ka[kkS iznèerq%AA14AA
tatah śvetairhayairyukte mahati snayandane sthitau mādhavah pāndavaśchaiva divyau śaňkhau pradadhmatuh : 14
Meaning: After that Shri Krishna and Arjuna who were seated in the chariot harnessed with white horses blew their divine conches: 14
ik×ptU;a âf"kosQ'kks nsonÙka èkuat;%A
ikS.Mªa nèekS egk'ka[ka HkhedekZ o`dksnj%AA15AA
pāñchajanyam hṛṣikeśo devadattam dhañañjayaḥ pauṇḍraṁ dadhmau mahāśankhaṁ bhimakarmā vṛkodaraḥ : 15
Meaning: Shri Krishna blew his conch Panchajanya and Arjuna blew his one named Devadatta. Bheema who has prone to indulge in terrifying acts, blew the great conch Paundra: 15
Commentary: It should be emphasized here that on the Kaurava side, it was Bheeshma who blew the conch first and on the Pandava side, it was done by Shri Krishna.
Bheeshma was the commander-in-chief of the Kaurava army. By blowing the conch first, he proclaimed the war as it were. Shri Krishna, however was not the commander-in-chief of the Pandava army, He was only Arjuna’s charioteer. Nevertheless, the first blew the conch on the Pandavas’ side and accepted the challenge on behalf of them. This emphasizes Shri Krishna’s major role in the Kurukshetra war.
vuUrfot;a jktk oqQUrhiq=kks ;qfèkf"Bj%A
uoqQy% lgnso'p lq?kkskef.kiq
idkSAA16AA
anantavijayam rājā kuntiputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ nakulaḥ sahadevaścha sughoṣamaṇipuṣpakau: 16
Meaning: Kunti’s son, King Yudhishthira blew the Anantavijaya. Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughosha and Manipushpaka respectively: 16
Commentary: By using the prefix King
for Yudhishthira, Sanjaya conveyed it to Dhritarashtra that although Yudhishthira did not rule any kingdom at the time, he was rightfully the king.
dk';'p ijes"okl% f'k[k.Mh p egkjFk%A
èk`"V|qEuks fojkV'p lkR;fd'pkijkftr%AA17AA
kāśyaścha parameṣvāsaḥ sikhaṇdi cha mahārathah dhṛṣṭadyumno virātaścha sātyakiścḥāparājitah : 17
nzqinks nzkSins;k'p loZ'kk% i`fFkohirsA
lkSHknz'p egkckgq% 'ka[kkUnèeq% i`Fkd~ i`Fkd~AA18AA
drupado draupadeyāścha sarvaśah prthivipate saubhadraścha mahābāhuh śankhāndadhmuh pṛthak pṛthak : 18
Meaning: The great archer Kashiraja, maharathi Shikhandi, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, invincible Satyaki, Drupada, Draupadi’s sons and Subhadra’s son strong-armed Abhimanyu, all of them blew their respective conches: 17-18.
l ?kkskks èkkrZjk
Vªk.kka ân;kfu O;nkj;r~A
uHk'p i`fFkoha pSo rqeyks O;uqukn;u~AA19AA
sa ghoṣo dhārtarāṣtrānām hṛdayani vyadarayaṭ nabhaścha pṛthiviṁ chaiva tumulo vyanunādayan : 19
Meaning: The collective sound created by all these conches and instruments echoed and resounded through the earth and the sky and tore the hearts of Dhritarashtra’s sons: 19
vFk O;ofLFkrkUn`V~ok èkkrZjk
VªkUdfièot%A
izo`Ùks 'kL=klEikrs èkuq#|E; ik.Mo%AA20AA
atha vyavasthitāndṛṣṭvā dhartarāṣṭrān kapidhvajaḥ pravṛtte sastrasampāte dhanurudyamya pāṇḍavaḥ: 20
â"khosQ'ka rnk okD;fenekg eghirsA
vtqZu mokpA
lu;ks#Hk;kseZè;s jFka LFkki; es¿P;qrAA21AA
hṛsikesaṁ tadā vākyamidamāha mahipate
arjuna uvācha
sanyorubhayormadhye ratham sthāpaya me’chyuta :.21
;konsrkfUujh{ks¿ga ;ksn~èkqdkekuofLFkrku~A
oSQeZ;k lg ;ks¼O;efLeu~ j.kleq|esAA22AA
yāvadetānnirikṣe’haṁ yoddhukāmānavasthitān kairmayā saha yoddhavyamasmin raṇasamudyame: 22
Meaning: Oh, King Dhritarashtra, after that, seeing that the sons of Dhritarashtra standing in the battlefield in an orderly manner and ready to fight, Kapidhwaja Arjuna said to Hrishikesha Shri Krishna: Oh, Achyuta, take my chariot right between the two armies so that I can see all the heroes who have come to fight in this battle and with whom I have to fight
: 20-22.
Commentary: In those days, each maharathi (warrior) used to have his own emblem on the flag fluttering on his chariot, so that from a distance it could be clear who was the warrior riding a particular chariot. Arjuna’s chariot flag had the emblem of a monkey. That is why Arjuna has been addressed as Kapidhwaja the one with the emblem of monkey on his flag.
Hrishikesha means the one who has controlled his senses. That is why Arjuna has used that adjective for Shri Krishna. He has also referred to Shri Krishna as Achyuta, meaning one who is steadfast in his decisions.
;ksRL;ekukuos{ks¿ga ; ,rs¿=k lekxrk%A
èkkrZjkVªL; nqcqZ¼s;qZ¼s fiz;fpdh
kZo%AA23AA
yotsyamānānavekṣe’ham ya ete’tra samāgatah dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddheryuddhe priyachikirṣavah : 23
Meaning: (Arjuna said) I would like to have a look at all the kings in the Kaurava’s army who are wishing all good for the evil-minded Duryodhana: 23
Commentary: The reason Arjuna is curious to know about the warriors of the opposite camp is that the war was to be waged against his cousins. In that war, kings on both the sides were related to each other; and the war had made them choose between the two brothers disregarding their old relationships. Arjuna thought it was essential to have an idea of the enemy camp before the war began.
lat; mokp
,oeqDrks â"khosQ'kks xqMkosQ'ksu HkkjrA
lsu;ks#Hk;kseZè;s LFkkif;Rok jFkksÙkee~AA24AA
sanjaya uvācha
evamukto hṛṣikeṣo gudākeśena bhārata
senayorubhayormadhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam : 24
Hkhenzks.kizeq[kr% losZ
kka p eghf{krke~A
mokp ikFkZ i';SrkUleosrkUoqQ:fufrAA25AA
bhismadroṇapramukhatah sarvesam cha mahiksitam
uvācha pārtha pasyaitānsamavetānkuruniti: 25
Meaning: Said Sanjaya, "Oh, Dhritarashtra, as instructed by Arjuna, Hrishikesha Shri Krishna drew his chariot between the two armies in front of Bheeshma, Dronacharya and all other kings and said, Oh, Partha, look at all these Kauravas gathered here: 24, 25.
Commentary: Arjuna has been addressed as Partha because the childhood name of his mother Kunti was Pritha. Therefore, all the three sons of Kunti — Yudhishthira, Bheema and Arjuna can be called Pritha-putra or Partha. But largely this epithet has been confined to Arjuna.
THE MAIN SUBJECT OF THE CHAPTER
According to the description so far, there is no distress at all in Arjuna’s mind. Raising his bow, he has already said to Shri Krishna that he wants to have a look at all the warriors on the side of the evil minded Duryodhana so that he could access who were the warriors with whom he has to fight. Arjuna’s reaction at the sight of them is the main subject of this chapter.
r=kki';fRLFkrkUikFkZ% fir`uFk firkegku~ A
vkpk;kZUekrqykUHkzkr`Uiq=kkUikS=kkUl[khaLrFkkAA26AA
tatrāpaśyatsthitānpārthah pirtrinatha pitāmahāṇ āchāryānmātulānbhrāṭrinputrānpautransakhimstathā : 26
'oq'kqjkUlqân'opo lsu;ks#Hk;ksjfiA
rkUleh{; l dkSUrs;% lokZUcUèkwuofLFkrku~AA27AA
śvaśurān suhrdaśchaiva senayorubhayorapi tansamiksva sa kaunteyah sarvānbanbandhunavasthitān : 27
vtqZu mokpA
d`i;k ij;kfoVks fo
khnkfUunczohr~A
n`V~osea Lotua d`
.k ;q;qRlqa leqifLFkre~AA28AA
arjuna uvācha
kṛpayā parayāviṣṭo viṣīdannidamabravīt
drṣtvemam svajanam kṛṣṇa yuyutsum samupasthitam : 28
lhnfUr ee xk=kkf.k eq[kap ifj';q";frA
osiFkq'p 'kjhjs es jkseg"kZ'p tk;rsAA29AA
sidanti mama gatrāṇi mukham cha pariśuṣyati vepathuścha śarire me romaharaṣaścha jāyate ; 29
xk.Mhoa L=kalrs gLrkÙoDpSo ifjná;rsA
u p 'kØksE;oLFkkrqa Hkzerho p es eu%AA30AA
gaṇdivam stramsate hastattvakchaiva paridahyate na cha śakromyavasthātùm bhramativa cha me manah : 30
Meaning: After that he looked at both the armies. He found they were all his relatives, his elders, Pitamaha, respected teachers, uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, friends, father-in-law and all his kith and kin. Looking at them, Kunti’s son Arjuna said in a very pathetic and afflicted voice: Oh, Krishna! my limbs are trembling at the sight of all my kinsmen standing together determined to fight. My mouth is getting parched, my body is shivering and the hairs on my body are standing on their ends.
My gandiva is sliding from my hand. I feel my skin is scorching. My mind is in turmoil and I am unable to stand: 26-30.
Commentary: This state of Arjuna’s mind can be called distress or depression. Man reaches such a state when he finds himself caught in a situation from which he sees no way out. At such moments, one finds himself in emotional turmoil.
fufeÙkkfu p i';kfe foijhrkfu osQ'koA
u p Js;ks¿uqi';kfe gRok LotuekgosAA31AA
nimittāni cha paśyāmi viparitāni keśava na cha śreyo’nupaśyāmi hatvā svajanamāhave: 31
Meaning: Oh, Keshava, I am finding indications to the contrary. I do not see how I can accrue any good by killing my own brethren in this war: 31.
u dka{ks fot;a d`".k u p jkT;a lq[kkfu pA
fda uks jkT;su xksfoUn fda HkksxSthZforsu okAA32AA
na kāṅkṣe vijayam kṛiṣṇa na cha rajyam sukhāni cha kim no rājyena govinda kiṁ bhogairjivitena vā: 32
Meaning: Oh, Krishna, I crave for neither victory, nor kingdom or happiness. Oh, Govinda, of what use to us are this kingdom, pleasures and life?: 32
;s"kkeFksZ dkaf{kra uks jkT;a Hkksx% lq[kkfu pA
r bes¿ofLFkrk ;q¼s izk.kkaLR;DRok èkukfu pAA33AA
yeṣāmarthe kāṅkṣitaṁ no rājyam bhogāh sukhāni cha ta ime’vasthitā yuddhe prāṇāmstyaktvā dhanāni cha : 33
Meaning: Those brethren of mine for whom we can wish kingdom, pleasures and happiness, are now ready to fight in this war, staking their lives and their wealth: 33
vkpk;kZ% firj% iq=kkLrFkSo p firkegk%A
ekrqyk% 'o'kqjk% ikS=kk% ';kyk% lEcfUèkuLrFkkAA34AA
āchāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrastathaiva cha pitāmahāḥ mātulāḥ śvasurāḥ pautrāḥ śyalāḥ samhandhinastathā : 34
Meaning: They are all my relatives — elders, paternal uncles, sons, grandfathers, fathers-in-law, maternal uncles, grandsons, brothers-in-law and many others: 34
,rkUu gUrqfePNkfe ?urks¿fi eèkqlwnuA
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