१.१धृतराष्ट्र उवाच dhṛtarāṣṭra uvācaधर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः।मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय॥
dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ |māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāścaiva kimakurvata sañjaya ||
Dhritarâshtra said: On the holy plain, on the field of Kuru, gathered together, eager for battle, what did they, O Sanjaya, my people and the Pândavas?
१.२सञ्जय उवाच sañjaya uvācaदृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा।आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत्॥
dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṁ vyūḍhaṁ duryodhanastadā |ācāryamupasaṅgamya rājā vacanamabravīt ||
Sanjaya said: Having seen arrayed the army of the Pândavas, the Prince Duryodhana approached his teacher, and spake these words:
१.३पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम्।व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता॥
paśyaitāṁ pāṇḍuputrāṇāmācārya mahatīṁ camūm |vyūḍhāṁ drupadaputreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā ||
"Behold this mighty host of the sons of Pându, O teacher, arrayed by the son of Drupada, thy wise disciple.
१.४अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि।युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः॥
atra śūrā maheṣvāsā bhīmārjunasamā yudhi |yuyudhāno virāṭaśca drupadaśca mahārathaḥ ||
Heroes are these, mighty bowmen, to Bhîma and Arjuna equal in battle: Yuyudhâna, Virâta, and Drupada of the great car.
१.५धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान्।पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः॥
dhṛṣṭaketuścekitānaḥ kāśirājaśca vīryavān |purujitkuntibhojaśca śaibyaśca narapuṅgavaḥ ||
Drishtaketu, Chekitâna and the valiant King of Kâshi, Purujit and Kuntibhoja, and Shaivya, bull among men;
१.६युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान्।सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः॥
yudhāmanyuśca vikrānta uttamaujāśca vīryavān |saubhadro draupadeyāśca sarva eva mahārathāḥ ||
Yudhâmanyu the strong, and Uttamaujas the brave; Saubhadra and the Draupadeyas, all of great cars.
१.७अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम।नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते॥
asmākaṁ tu viśiṣṭā ye tānnibodha dvijottama |nāyakā mama sainyasya saṁjñārthaṁ tānbravīmi te ||
Know further all those who are our chiefs, O best of the twice-born, the leaders of my army; these I name to thee for thy information:
१.८भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः।अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च॥
bhavānbhīṣmaśca karṇaśca kṛpaśca samitiñjayaḥ |aśvatthāmā vikarṇaśca saumadattistathaiva ca ||
Thou, Lord, and Bhîshma, and Karna and Kripa, conquering in battle; Ashvatthâmâ, Vikarna, and Saumadatti also;
१.९अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः।नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः॥
anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā madarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ |nānāśastrapraharaṇāḥ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ ||
And many others, heroes, for my sake renouncing their lives, with divers weapons and missiles, and all well-skilled in war.
१.१०अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम्।पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम्॥
aparyāptaṁ tadasmākaṁ balaṁ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam |paryāptaṁ tvidameteṣāṁ balaṁ bhīmābhirakṣitam ||
Yet insufficient seems this army of ours, though marshalled by Bhîshma, while that army of theirs seems sufficient, though marshalled by Bhîma;
१.११अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः।भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि॥
ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu yathābhāgamavasthitāḥ |bhīṣmamevābhirakṣantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi ||
Therefore in the rank and file let all, standing firmly in their respective divisions, guard Bhîshma, even all ye generals.
१.१२तस्य संजनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः।सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान्॥
tasya saṁjanayanharṣaṁ kuruvṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ |siṁhanādaṁ vinadyoccaiḥ śaṅkhaṁ dadhmau pratāpavān ||
To enhearten him, the Ancient of the Kurus, the Grandsire, the glorious, blew his conch, sounding on high a lion's roar.
१.१३ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः।सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत्॥
tataḥ śaṅkhāśca bheryaśca paṇavānakagomukhāḥ |sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śabdastumulo'bhavat ||
Then conches and kettledrums, tabors and drums and cowhorns, suddenly blared forth, and the sound was tumultuous.
१.१४ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ।माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः॥
tataḥ śvetairhayairyukte mahati syandane sthitau |mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaścaiva divyau śaṅkhau pradadhmatuḥ ||
Then, stationed in their great war-chariot, yoked to white horses, Mâdhava and the son of Pându blew their divine conches.
१.१५पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनंजयः।पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः॥
pāñcajanyaṁ hṛṣīkeśo devadattaṁ dhanaṁjayaḥ |pauṇḍraṁ dadhmau mahāśaṅkhaṁ bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ ||
Pânchajanya by Hrishîkesha, and Devadatta by Dhananjaya. Vrikodara of terrible deeds blew his mighty conch, Paundra;
१.१६अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः।नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ॥
anantavijayaṁ rājā kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ |nakulaḥ sahadevaśca sughoṣamaṇipuṣpakau ||
The King Yudhishthira, the son of Kuntî, blew Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva, Sughosha and Manipushpaka.
१.१७काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः।धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः॥
kāśyaśca parameṣvāsaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ |dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaśca sātyakiścāparājitaḥ ||
And Kâshya, of the great bow and Shikhandî, the mighty car-warrior, Drishtadyumna and Virâta and Sâtyaki, the unconquered.
१.१८द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते।सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक्॥
drupado draupadeyāśca sarvaśaḥ pṛthivīpate |saubhadraśca mahābāhuḥ śaṅkhāndadhmuḥ pṛthakpṛthak ||
Drupada and the Draupadeyas, O Lord of earth, and Saubhadra, the mighty-armed, on all sides their several conches blew.
१.१९स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत्।नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन्॥
sa ghoṣo dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṁ hṛdayāni vyadārayat |nabhaśca pṛthivīṁ caiva tumulo vyanunādayan ||
That tumultuous uproar rent the hearts of the sons of Dhritarâshtra, filling the earth and sky with sound.
१.२०अथ व्यवस्थितान् दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः।प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसंपाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः॥
atha vyavasthitān dṛṣṭvā dhārtarāṣṭrānkapidhvajaḥ |pravṛtte śastrasaṁpāte dhanurudyamya pāṇḍavaḥ ||
Then, beholding the sons of Dhritarâshtra standing arrayed, and flight of missiles about to begin, he whose crest is an ape, the son of Pându, took up his bow,
१.२१अर्जुन उवाच arjuna uvācaहृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते।सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत॥
hṛṣīkeśaṁ tadā vākyamidamāha mahīpate |senayorubhayormadhye rathaṁ sthāpaya me'cyuta ||
And spake this word to Hrishîkesha, O Lord of Earth: Arjuna said: In the midst, between the two armies, stay my chariot, O Achyuta,
१.२२यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान्।कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन्रणसमुद्यमे॥
yāvadetānnirīkṣe'haṁ yoddhukāmānavasthitān |kairmayā saha yoddhavyamasminraṇasamudyame ||
That I may behold these standing, longing for battle, with whom I must strive in this outbreaking war,
१.२३योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः।धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः॥
yotsyamānānavekṣe'haṁ ya ete'tra samāgatāḥ |dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddheryuddhe priyacikīrṣavaḥ ||
And gaze on those here gathered together ready to fight, desirous of pleasing in battle the evil-minded son of Dhritarâshtra.
१.२४सञ्जय उवाच sañjaya uvācaएवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत।सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम्॥
evamukto hṛṣīkeśo guḍākeśena bhārata |senayorubhayormadhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam ||
Sanjaya said: Thus addressed by Gudâkesha, Hrishîkesha, O Bhârata, having stayed that best of chariots in the midst, between the two armies,
१.२५भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम्।उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति॥
bhīṣmadroṇapramukhataḥ sarveṣāṁ ca mahīkṣitām |uvāca pārtha paśyaitānsamavetānkurūniti ||
Over against Bhîshma, Drona and all the rulers of the world, said: "O Pârtha, behold these Kurus gathered together."
१.२६तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान्।आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा॥
tatrāpaśyatsthitānpārthaḥ pitṝnatha pitāmahān |ācāryānmātulānbhrātṝnputrānpautrānsakhīṁstathā ||
Then saw Pârtha standing there, uncles and grandfathers, teachers, mother's brothers, cousins, sons and grandsons, comrades,
१.२७श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि।तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान्॥
śvaśurānsuhṛdaścaiva senayorubhayorapi |tānsamīkṣya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvānbandhūnavasthitān ||
Fathers-in-law and benefactors also in both armies; seeing all these kinsmen thus standing arrayed, Kaunteya,
१.२८अर्जुन उवाच arjuna uvācaकृपया परयाऽऽविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत्।दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम्॥
kṛpayā parayā''viṣṭo viṣīdannidamabravīt |dṛṣṭvemaṁ svajanaṁ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṁ samupasthitam ||
Deeply moved to pity, thus uttered in sadness: Arjuna said: Seeing these my kinsmen, O Krishna, arrayed, eager to fight,
१.२९सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति।वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते॥
sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṁ ca pariśuṣyati |vepathuśca śarīre me romaharṣaśca jāyate ||
My limbs fail and my mouth is parched, my body quivers, and my hair stands on end,
१.३०गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते।न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः॥
gāṇḍīvaṁ sraṁsate hastāttvakcaiva paridahyate |na ca śaknomyavasthātuṁ bhramatīva ca me manaḥ ||
Gândîva slips from my hand, and my skin burns all over, I am not able to stand, my mind is whirling,
१.३१निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव।न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे॥
nimittāni ca paśyāmi viparītāni keśava |na ca śreyo'nupaśyāmi hatvā svajanamāhave ||
And I see adverse omens, O Keshava. Nor do I foresee any advantage from slaying kinsmen in battle.
१.३२न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च।किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा॥
na kāṅkṣe vijayaṁ kṛṣṇa na ca rājyaṁ sukhāni ca |kiṁ no rājyena govinda kiṁ bhogairjīvitena vā ||
For I desire not victory, O Krishna, nor kingdom, nor pleasures; what is kingdom to us, O Govinda, what enjoyment or even life?
१.३३येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च।त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च॥
yeṣāmarthe kāṅkṣitaṁ no rājyaṁ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca |ta ime'vasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṁstyaktvā dhanāni ca ||
Those for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyments and pleasures, they stand here in battle, abandoning life and riches—
१.३४आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः।मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा॥
ācāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrāstathaiva ca pitāmahāḥ |mātulāḥ śvaśurāḥ pautrāḥ śyālāḥ sambandhinastathā ||
Teachers, fathers, sons, as well as grandfathers, mother's brothers, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other relatives.
१.३५एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन।अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते॥
etānna hantumicchāmi ghnato'pi madhusūdana |api trailokyarājyasya hetoḥ kiṁ nu mahīkṛte ||
These I do not wish to kill, though myself slain, O Madhusûdana, even for the sake of the kingship of the three worlds; how then for earth?
१.३६निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन।पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः॥
nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrānnaḥ kā prītiḥ syājjanārdana |pāpamevāśrayedasmānhatvaitānātatāyinaḥ ||
Slaying these sons of Dhritarâshtra, what pleasure can be ours, O Janârdana? Killing these desperadoes, sin will but take hold of us.
१.३७तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान्।स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव॥
tasmānnārhā vayaṁ hantuṁ dhārtarāṣṭrānsvabāndhavān |svajanaṁ hi kathaṁ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava ||
Therefore we should not kill the sons of Dhritarâshtra, our relatives; for how, killing our kinsmen, may we be happy, O Mâdhava?
१.३८यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः।कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम्॥
yadyapyete na paśyanti lobhopahatacetasaḥ |kulakṣayakṛtaṁ doṣaṁ mitradrohe ca pātakam ||
Although these, with intelligence overpowered by greed, see no guilt in the destruction of a family, no crime in hostility to friends,
१.३९कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम्।कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन॥
kathaṁ na jñeyamasmābhiḥ pāpādasmānnivartitum |kulakṣayakṛtaṁ doṣaṁ prapaśyadbhirjanārdana ||
Why should not we learn to turn away from such a sin, O Janârdana, who see the evils in the destruction of a family?
१.४०कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः।धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत॥
kulakṣaye praṇaśyanti kuladharmāḥ sanātanāḥ |dharme naṣṭe kulaṁ kṛtsnamadharmo'bhibhavatyuta ||
In the destruction of a family the immemorial family traditions perish; in the perishing of tradition, lawlessness overcomes the whole family;
१.४१अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः।स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः॥
adharmābhibhavātkṛṣṇa praduṣyanti kulastriyaḥ |strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇasaṅkaraḥ ||
Owing to predominance of lawlessness, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupt; women corrupted, O Vârshneya, there ariseth caste confusion;
१.४२सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च।पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः॥
saṅkaro narakāyaiva kulaghnānāṁ kulasya ca |patanti pitaro hyeṣāṁ luptapiṇḍodakakriyāḥ ||
This confusion draggeth to hell the slayers of the family, and the family; for their ancestors fall, deprived of rice-balls and libations.
१.४३दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः।उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः॥
doṣairetaiḥ kulaghnānāṁ varṇasaṅkarakārakaiḥ |utsādyante jātidharmāḥ kuladharmāśca śāśvatāḥ ||
By these caste-confusing misdeeds of the slayers of the family, the everlasting caste customs and family customs are abolished.
१.४४उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन।नरकेऽनियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम॥
utsannakuladharmāṇāṁ manuṣyāṇāṁ janārdana |narake'niyataṁ vāso bhavatītyanuśuśruma ||
The abode of the men whose family customs are extinguished, O Janârdana, is everlastingly in hell. Thus have we heard.
१.४५अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम्।यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः॥
aho bata mahatpāpaṁ kartuṁ vyavasitā vayam |yadrājyasukhalobhena hantuṁ svajanamudyatāḥ ||
Alas! in committing a great sin are we engaged, we who are endeavouring to kill our kindred from greed of the pleasures of kingship.
१.४६यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः।धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत्॥
yadi māmapratīkāramaśastraṁ śastrapāṇayaḥ |dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyustanme kṣemataraṁ bhavet ||
If the sons of Dhritarâshtra, weapon in hand, should slay me, unresisting, unarmed, in the battle, that would for me be the better.
१.४७सञ्जय उवाच sañjaya uvācaएवमुक्त्वाऽर्जुनः संख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्।विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः॥
evamuktvā'rjunaḥ saṁkhye rathopastha upāviśat |visṛjya saśaraṁ cāpaṁ śokasaṁvignamānasaḥ ||
Sanjaya said: Having thus spoken on the battle-field, Arjuna sank down on the seat of the chariot, casting away his bow and arrow, his mind overborne by grief.
Sanskrit: traditional text (public domain), from the github.com/gita/gita dataset, checked by SahiVidhi verse by verse against the Devanagari of Besant's 1905 edition — encoding errors and dropped endings corrected; remaining differences are recognised variant readings. Roman transliteration generated by SahiVidhi. English: Annie Besant, The Bhagavad-Gita, 4th edition (1905) — public domain; transcription from Wikisource.
