Chapter1 Verse - 31

 

Verse – 31:

निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव |

न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे || 31||

Transliteration:

nimittAni ca pashyAmi viparItAni keshava.

Na ca shreyo.anupashyAmi hatvA svajanamAhave..31..

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Word-by-word meaning:

निमित्तानि – Omens; च – and; पश्यामि – I see; विपरीतानि -  misfortune; केशव – Keshava; न – not;च – and; श्रेयः – good; अनुपश्यामि- foresee

हत्वा – on killing; स्वजनम् – my people; आहवे – in the battle;

Meanings:

I see many misfortunes, O Keshava, I do not foresee any good on killing my own people in the battle;

Significance:

Keshava: A name of Krishna, that means – slayer of demon Keshi ; Keshi – a demon who came to attack Krishna in the form of horse, tore into pieces by the kick of Little Krishna. Keshava also means one who torments his enemies. Keshava also means one who has long and beautiful hair. Keshava also means Lord of Shiva and Brahma. Keshava also means – ray of light, one who fills our heart which is dark due to ignorance, with the light of supreme knowledge.

न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि - One is entitled fame and svarga, when one attains renunciation by the practice of yoga and when a warrior gets slayed in battle. Here Arjuna says to Krishna – that he sees no fame when either he gets killed or when his relatives gets killed in this war.

Chapter1 - Verse 30

 

Verse 30:

गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते |

न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मन: || 30||

Transliteration:

gAndIvam samsrate hastAttvakccaiva paridahyate.

Na ca shaknomyavasthAtuM bhramatIva ca me manaH..30..

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Word-by-word meaning:

गाण्डीवं – GanDIvaM; स्रंसते – slips; हस्तात् – from my hand; तवक् -  skin; चैव – and also; परिदह्यते – burns; न – not; च -  and; शक्नोमि – possible; अवस्थातुं – to bear; भ्रमतीव – delude; च – and; मे – my; मन:- mind;

Meaning:

My GAndIva slips from my hand , am not able to bear the burning sensation of my skin , my mind is deluded.

Significance:

                               Bhagavad-Gita is a spiritual text which is also the most practical text, which comes to our rescue in our day-to-day life . Arjuna who is well known as a person who has conquered sleep, here experiences panic-attack. He intimates all symptoms of anxiety , including burning sensation of his skin, deluded mind . GAndIva which is his own bow, which he holds with pride is now slipping from his hands. 

Chapter1 Verse 28&29

 

Verse – 28&29 :

अर्जुन उवाच |

दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् || 28||

सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति |

 

वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते || 29|

Transliteration:

Arjuna uvAca

Drishtvemam svajanam kriShna yuyutsum samupasthitam ..28

sIdanti mama gAtrAni mukham ca parishuShyati.

Vepathushca sharIre me romaharShashca jAyate..29

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Word-by-word meaning:

दृष्टा – on seeing; इमम् – this;स्वजनं – relative; कृष्ण – Krishna; युयुत्सुं -  who wish to fight; समुपस्थितम् – arrayed; सीदन्ति – shivers; मम – my; गात्राणि – (body) parts; मुखं – mouth; च – and; परिशुष्यति – dries up; वेपथुश्च – sweats ; शरीरे  - body; मे – my; रोमहर्षश्च – goosebumps; जायते- occurs;

Meaning:

Arjuna says –

On seeing my relative(s) who are all arrayed up with the intention to fight, my body parts are shivering , my mouth dries up, by body sweats, I get goosebumps all over my body.

Significance:

Lamenting of Arjuna starts in this verse. On seeing the army , the warriors in both sides of the army. Arjuna lost his balance. His heart was filled with compassion and kindness. He says to Krishna that his body is showing signs . For a warrior like Arjuna, who has won innumerable battles, who has faced even Bhishma , Drona during the Virata war, the mere sight of the battle field and the warriors on both the sides gives shivering of his body. Mouth drying up is one symptom of anxiety. It is mentioned in psychology texts that – dryness of mouth will be accompanied by other symptoms like rapid pulse, sweating, restlessness , agitation. This book, as we said earlier is not a mere spiritual text but the best book on psycology. From this verse till the end of the chapter Arjuna will express his anxiety to Lord Krishna. He being the best counsellor, will listen with patience to Arjuna and will start his counselling sittings from the next chapter!

Chapter1 Verse - 27

 

Verse 27-

तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेय: सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान् |
कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् || 27||

Tranliteration:

tAnsamIkshya sa kaunteyaH sarvAnbandhUnavasthitAn.

Kripaya parayAviSTo vishIdannidamabravIt .. 27..

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Word-by-word meaning:

ता- them; समीक्ष्य – having seen clearly; स – he;कौन्तेय:- Arjuna; सर्वान् – all; बन्धून् -  the relatives; अवस्थितान् – arrayed; कृपया – by kindness; परयाविष्टो – overwhelmed by great ; विषीदन् – with sorrow; इदम्- like this; अब्रवीत् – told;

Meaning:

On seeing them, his relatives, who have arrayed there(for the battle), overwhelmed by compassion, with great sorrow, Arjuna said thus –

Significance:

Arjuna who was there in the middle of both the armies, is now filled with compassion ???? A quality which no warrior should possess in the battle field. The Ego of Arjuna which made him utter the words “place the chariot in the middle of the battle field, I need to have a view of the people with whom I should fight”, has now gone to the other extreme – Compassion ! He shows compassion not only to the warriors of his army , but also for them who are in the opposition army.

Arjuna is addressed as  “Kaunteya” – son of Kunti. Kunti is the sister of Vasudeva, who is an epitome of compassion. He even forgave Kamsa. To indicate that Arjuna has inherited that quality, but in an appropriate place, Arjuna is addressed thus. Vishidan- The word not only means grief stricken but all the signs like – shedding tears, shivering, when we are in anxiety. A mighty warrior, who has got the divine weapons, Chariot from Indra, who has Hanuman on his flag, is now overwhelmed by compassion and is suffering from grief.

Chapter1 Verse - 26

 Verse 26

तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान् पार्थ: पितृ नथ पितामहान् |

आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातृ न्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा |26|

श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि ||

Transliteration

tatrApashyatsthitAn pArthaH pitrinatha pitAmahAn.

AcAryAnmAtulAnbhrAtrinputrAnpautrAnsakhIMstathA..26

shvashurAnsuhrudashcaiva senayorubhayorapi ..

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Word-by-word meaning:

तत्र – there; अपश्यत् – saw; स्थितान् – stood; पार्थः – pArtha;पितृन् – fathers; अथ – then; पितामहान् – grand-fathers; आचार्यान् – teachers; मातुलान् -  Uncles;भ्रातृन् – brothers; पुत्रान् – sons; पौत्रान् – grand-sons; सखीम् – friend; तथा – also; श्वशुरान् – in-laws; सुह्रुदश: - good-hearted persons;च – and;एव – also;सेनयो:-उभयोः – on both sides of the armies; अपि – also.

Meaning:

There stood pArtha , between both the armies, who saw – Fathers, Grand-fathers, Teachers, Uncles, Brothers,Grand-sons, Friends, also – in-laws, Good-hearted persons, on both the sides of the armies.

Significance:

                  Arjuna, who was excited to face the opposition army, is now in between both the armies. He has a clear view of the people in both sides of the armies. Whom he addressed as ‘the people who are eager to engage in war’ is now seen as his own relatives. The attachment which he has for his kith and kin , here has started to affect Arjuna mentally.

             He could see men of different generations – Bhishma is his grand-father, Bhurishrava who is in father position to Arjuna , Salya is his Uncle, Drona and Kripa are his teachers, his sons like Abhimanyu, grand-sons of Dhritharashtra like Lakshmana, friends like Ashvattama are all now identified not as warriors but as his own people.

Chapter1 Verse - 25

 

Verse – 25

भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखत: सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् |

उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति || 25||

Transliteration:

BhIshmadronapramukhataH sarveShAm ca mahIkshithAm.

uvAca pArtha pashyaitAnsamavetAnkurUniti..25..

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Word-by-word meaning:

भीष्म-द्रोण – BhIshma and Dronacarya; प्रमुखत: - facing; सर्वेषां – all the;च – and; महीक्षिताम् – rulers of earth; उवाच – said; पार्थ- pArtha; पश्य - look ; एतान् –at them; समवेतान् – who have gathered;कुरून् – descendants of Kuru; इति – thus;

Meaning:

(Placing the chariot in between both the armies) Facing the great warriors – Bhishma, Drona, and all the mighty rulers of Earth, Shri Krishna said – O PArtha! Look at those Kurus,who have gathered here.

Significance:

PArtha: In this verse Arjuna is addressed as PArtha, the son of Pritha. Pritha is the name of Kunti. She was named as Kunti after she was adopted by king Kunti Bhoja.

Kuru : The sons of Dhritharashtra is addressed as Krurs, the descendants of kuru or those who belong to Kuru clan. Dhritharashtra and his sons never included sons of Kunti as Kurus. They were always known as PAndavas.

            Krishna here wants Arjuna to have a look at the army of the Kaurava-s too, where his most dearest person Bhishma is his opponent. Bhishma always had a special love for Arjuna, he being a archer surely he should face his grand-father, Bhishma in this war. Same with Acarya Drona, who is his Guru. Krishna prepares Arjuna for the war by placing the chariot between the armies.

Chapter1 Verse - 24

 

Verse – 24

सञ्जय उवाच |
एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत |

सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् || 24||

Transliteration

Sanjaya UvAca

Evamukto hriShikesho guDAkeshena bhArata.

Senayorubhayormadhye sthApayitvA rathottamam..24..

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Word-by-word Meaning:

Sanjaya said

एवमुक्तो – Having said this; हृषीकेशो – Hrishikesha; गुडाकेशेन – by GudaKesa; भारत – Bharata; सेनयोः - उभयोः मध्ये – between the two armies; स्थापयित्वा – kept(placed); रथ - उत्तमम् – the best of the chariots;

Meaning:

Been told thus by Gudakesa, Hrishikesha , drove and placed the chariot in the middle of both the armies.

Significance:

Gudakesa: a name for Arjuna, which means ‘one who have conquered sleep’. Arjuna can go without sleep even for days. This name also means one who has overcome ignorance. Mere association of the supreme leads to the destruction of ignorance, mAya.

Bharata: Here Sanjaya addresses Dhritharashtra as “Bharata”- a descendant of Bharata, to remind him that it is now his responsibility to protect the next generation from this dreadly war.

Chapter1 Verse - 23

 

Verse – 23

योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागता: |

धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षव: || 23|

Transliteration:

yotsyamAnAnavikshe.aham ya yte.atra samAgatAH.

dhArtarAshtrasya durbuddheryuddhe priyacikIrShavaH..23..

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Word-by-word meaning:

योत्स्यमानान – who are here to fight;  अवेक्षेऽहं – let me see;य – who; एते - these people;  अत्र –here समागता: - gathered; धार्तराष्ट्रस्य – Of the sons of Dhritharashtra; दुर्बुद्धे: - by the evil intention; युद्धे – in this war; प्रियचिकीर्षव: -  wishing to please.

Meaning:

I like to see, those who are here wishing to please, by taking the side of the Sons of Dhritharashta, who are here with evil intentions.

Significance:

                     Arjuna’s mental state is indicated in this verse. Arjuna being confident, wishes to have a glimpse of the warriors on both sides. Arjuna here says that he wishes to see the warriors who are present in the war field, who are here in the side of Kauravas. He expresses his thought that – those warriors are here to please Duryodhana, प्रियम् कर्तुम् इच्छवः- प्रियचिकीर्ष्वः. Seems he forgot Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, who are in the side of Kauravas as they are bound by duty. Arjuna’s Ego is now risen, which the Lord will eventually set right in due course of the divine conversation.

Chapter1 Verse - 21&22

 

Verse 20 and 21

अर्जुन उवाच |
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत || 21||
यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् |
कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन् रणसमुद्यमे || 22||

Transliteration

Arjuna uvAca

Senayor ubhayor madhye ratham sthApaya me.acuta..21..

yAvadetAnnirIkshe.aham yoddhukamAnavasthitAn.

kairmayA saha yoddhavyamasmin ranasamudyame..22..

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word by word meaning

अर्जुन – Arjuna; उवाच – said; सेनयोः -  of (both) the armies; उभयोः – of both sides(of the armies);र्मध्ये – middle of ;रथं – chariot; स्थापय – place;मे-my; अच्युत – Acyuta; यावद – how much;एतान् – they;निरीक्षे – (want to)see; अहं -  I;योद्धु - कामान् – who wish to fight;अवस्थितान् – standing(arrayed); कै: - (with) whom; मया – by me; सह – with;योद्धव्यम् – should fight;अस्मिन् – in this; रणसमुद्यमे – war field;

Meaning:

Arjuna said: O Acyuta ! Place my chariot between both the armies. Let me see those people who are arrayed here for the battle and with whom should I engage the war .

Significance:

                   Having seen the mindset of Duryodhana in previous verses, this verse indicates the mindset of Arjuna. He is now excited and wants to see both the armies at a glance. He also wishes to see the warriors on both the armies. Arjuna’s Ego is also shown by the word ‘मया’ , the result of which will be seen in later verses. And he wanted to treat his senses – by seeing the armies ( a treat to his eyes), the sound of the instruments ( treat to his ears). A person gets attached to worldly things through his senses. This attachment will lead to happiness and eventually to misery, unfortunately Arjuna succumbed to this gratification of his senses in the warfield, which is again inappropriate.

                   Arjuna addresses Krishna as’ acyuta’. One meaning of Acyuta  – a person who never falls , i.e, a person who never falls from his qualities. Krishna, who is Vishnu himself, has never been conditioned by Maya, he was with the same qualities all throughout his avataram. Acyuta – also means immovable. Acyuta – also means, One who does not have the transformations like -birth, childhood, youth, matured life, old age and death. Krishna is beyond these and he is the one who can rescue us from this samsara sAgaram. Acyuta -also means , that which is fixed.

Chapter1 Verse - 20

 

Verse 20

 

अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान् कपिध्वज: |
प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डव: |
हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते ||20||

Transliteration

atha vyavasthitAn drishtvA dhArtarAshtrAn kapidhvajaH

pravritte shastrasampAte dhanurudyamya pAndavaH

Hrishikesham tadA vAkyam idamAha mahIpate..20..

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word by word meaning

 अथ – then; व्यवस्थितान् – the people who are there for a purpose;दृष्ट्वा- seeing; धार्तराष्ट्रान् – the sons of Dhritharashtra; कपिध्वज: - the one with Hanuman(monkey) in his flag; प्रवृत्ते – (when he was about to) engage; शस्त्रसम्पाते -  to release the weapons; धनुरुद्यम्य – having taken bow in his arms; पाण्डव: - Arjuna; हृषीकेशं – to Hrishikesha;तदा – then;वाक्यम्-  the sentence; इदमाह – said; महीपते – ruler of earth॥२०॥

Meaning:

Then on seeing the people, who have gathered there for a purpose, Arjuna, the Son of Pandu, who has Hanuman in his flag, who is ready to release the weapon, on taking the bow in his arms, uttered this sentence to Hrishikesha.

Significance:

                         Just at the moment when the Kaurava army was getting back the momentum, Arjuna raised his invincible bow, Gandiva , and uttered these words to Krishna. The word “kapi-dvaja – is mentioned here as another indication of victory to the pAndava-s. Hanuman is a personification of strength. Hanuman, has performed mighty tasks for Sri Rama. Having Hanuman in the flag indicates that pAndava-s has the blessings of this mighty Hero.

                   There is a legend attached to this : Once during a conversation between Shri Krishna and Arjuna. Arjuna boasted of hs archery skills. He even wondered why Monkeys struggled a lot during the period of Ramayana to build a bridge, while he can build a much more stronger bridge with his arrows in a very little time with very little effort. Krishna wanted to teach Arjuna a lesson. So he asked Arjuna to construct a bridge with his arrows. He too did so. Shri Krishna called Hanuman and asked to test the strength of the bridge. Hanuman stepped on the bridge by uttering  “Jai ShriRam”, the bridge broke down into pieces. Now Shri Krishna gave another chance to Arjuna, he built the bridge of arrows by uttering “Jai ShriKrishna” , when Hanuman stepped on it the bridge did not break. Arjuna realised the power comes not from his skill but from the Name of the Supreme. Hanuman blessed Arjuna and promised him that he will shower his blessing by taking the place in his flag.

Chapter1 Verse - 19

 

Verse – 19

स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत् |

नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलोऽभ्यनुनादयन् || 19|

Transliteration:

sa ghosho dhArtarAshtrAnAm hrudayAni vyadArayat .

nabhashca prithvIm caiva tumulo.abhyanunadayan ..19..

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Word-by-word meaning:

स -  that; घोषो – sound; धार्तराष्ट्राणां – (of) the sons of Dhritharashtra; हृदयानि – hearts (of); व्यदारयत् -  pierced; नभश्च -  Sky and; पृथिवीं – Earth; चैव – and also; तुमुलो -  Tumultuous; अभ्यनुनादयन् – resounded;

Meaning:

The tumultuous sound reverberated across the Sky and Earth; and pierced the hearts of (your sons) sons of Dhritharashtra;

Significance:

                  Yet another verse, where the fear of Duryodhana and his allies is indicated. While talking of the reactions of PAndavas, to Dhritharashtra whose only concern is the victory of his own sons, Sanjaya’s words were full of positivity where as while describing the reactions of Kauravas, he uses the words – commotion, fear, etc. Kauravas are more fierce than the army of pAndava-s. But their conscience did not allow them to show that fierceness , instead it brought out emotions like fear, insecurity in the war field, which is most inappropriate for a Kshatriya.

                         In the case of PAndava-s it is the opposite. They felt protected by righteousness . The sound produced by the conch-shells are more spirited and louder. The sound provided a way to show their determination to win the war. Even the Tumultuous sound did not create anxiety amidst PAndavas , where in the mere sound of Conch-Shells created anxiety among the Kaurava army. The anxiety is a sign of the fear of the army that  they lost the battle already.

                         An important life lesson is taught in a simple way in this verse – When we are true to our conscience we can win over any situation, how difficult it may be.