अर्जुनविषादयोगः

दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा ।
आचार्यमुपसंगम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत्

dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṃ vyūḍhaṃ duryodhanastadā |
ācāryamupasaṃgamya rājā vacanamabravīt

Seeing the army of the Pandavas drawn up in battle order, King Duryodhana went to his teacher Drona and spoke these words.

पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् ।
व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता

paśyaitāṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāmācārya mahatīṃ camūm |
vyūḍhāṃ drupadaputreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā

Look, teacher, at this vast army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed by the son of Drupada, your own clever disciple.

अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि ।
युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः

atra śūrā maheṣvāsā bhīmārjunasamā yudhi |
yuyudhāno virāṭaśca drupadaśca mahārathaḥ

Here are heroes and mighty archers, equal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna: Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada, the great chariot-warrior.

धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान् ।
पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः

dhṛṣṭaketuścekitānaḥ kāśirājaśca vīryavān |
purujitkuntibhojaśca śaibyaśca narapuṅgavaḥ

Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana and the valiant king of Kashi; Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Shaibya, the best of men.

युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् ।
सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः

yudhāmanyuśca vikrānta uttamaujāśca vīryavān |
saubhadro draupadeyāśca sarva eva mahārathāḥ

The bold Yudhamanyu and the valiant Uttamauja, the son of Subhadra and the sons of Draupadi, all of them great chariot-warriors.

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

asmākaṃ tu viśiṣṭā ye tānnibodha dvijottama |
nāyakā mama sainyasya saṃjñārthaṃ tānbravīmi te

Now hear, best of the twice-born, of the foremost among us, the leaders of my army. I name them for your knowledge.

भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिंजयः ।
अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च

bhavānbhīṣmaśca karṇaśca kṛpaśca samitiṃjayaḥ |
aśvatthāmā vikarṇaśca saumadattistathaiva ca

Yourself and Bhishma, Karna and Kripa, ever victorious in battle; Ashvatthama, Vikarna and the son of Somadatta too.

अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः ।
नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः

anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā madarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ |
nānāśastrapraharaṇāḥ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ

And many other heroes ready to give their lives for my sake, armed with many kinds of weapons, all skilled in war.

अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् ।
पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम्

aparyāptaṃ tadasmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam |
paryāptaṃ tvidameteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhirakṣitam

Our strength, guarded by Bhishma, is beyond measure, while their strength, guarded by Bhima, is limited.

अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः ।
भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि

ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu yathābhāgamavasthitāḥ |
bhīṣmamevābhirakṣantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi

So all of you, standing firm at your appointed places at every entrance of the formation, must guard Bhishma above all.

तस्य संजनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः ।
सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान्

tasya saṃjanayanharṣaṃ kuruvṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ |
siṃhanādaṃ vinadyoccaiḥ śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau pratāpavān

Then the glorious grandsire Bhishma, eldest of the Kurus, roared like a lion and blew his conch loudly, filling Duryodhana with joy.

ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः ।
सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत्

tataḥ śaṅkhāśca bheryaśca paṇavānakagomukhāḥ |
sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śabdastumulo'bhavat

Then conches and kettledrums, tabors, drums and horns all sounded at once, and the noise was tremendous.

ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ ।
माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः

tataḥ śvetairhayairyukte mahati syandane sthitau |
mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaścaiva divyau śaṅkhau pradadhmatuḥ

Then Madhava and the son of Pandu, standing in a great chariot yoked to white horses, blew their divine conches.

पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः ।
पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः

pāñcajanyaṃ hṛṣīkeśo devadattaṃ dhanañjayaḥ |
pauṇḍraṃ dadhmau mahāśaṅkhaṃ bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ

Hrishikesha blew Panchajanya, Dhananjaya blew Devadatta, and Vrikodara, the doer of fearsome deeds, blew the great conch Paundra.

अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ।
नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ

anantavijayaṃ rājā kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ |
nakulaḥ sahadevaśca sughoṣamaṇipuṣpakau

King Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, blew Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva blew Sughosha and Manipushpaka.

काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः ।
धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः

kāśyaśca parameṣvāsaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ |
dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaśca sātyakiścāparājitaḥ

The king of Kashi, a supreme archer, Shikhandi the great chariot-warrior, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata and the unconquered Satyaki,

द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते ।
सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक्

drupado draupadeyāśca sarvaśaḥ pṛthivīpate |
saubhadraśca mahābāhuḥ śaṅkhāndadhmuḥ pṛthakpṛthak

Drupada and the sons of Draupadi, and the mighty-armed son of Subhadra, O lord of the earth, each blew his own conch on every side.

स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत् ।
नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन्

sa ghoṣo dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ hṛdayāni vyadārayat |
nabhaśca pṛthivīṃ caiva tumulo vyanunādayan

That tumultuous sound, echoing through sky and earth, tore the hearts of the sons of Dhritarashtra.

अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः ।
प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसंपाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः

atha vyavasthitāndṛṣṭvā dhārtarāṣṭrānkapidhvajaḥ |
pravṛtte śastrasaṃpāte dhanurudyamya pāṇḍavaḥ

Then, seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra standing in array as the clash of weapons was about to begin, the son of Pandu, whose banner bore Hanuman, raised his bow.

हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते ।
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत

hṛṣīkeśaṃ tadā vākyamidamāha mahīpate |
senayorubhayormadhye rathaṃ sthāpaya me'cyuta

And he spoke these words to Hrishikesha, O king: Achyuta, set my chariot between the two armies,

यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्‌धुकामानवस्थितान् ।
कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन् रणसमुद्यमे

yāvadetānnirīkṣe'haṃ yod‌dhukāmānavasthitān |
kairmayā saha yoddhavyamasmin raṇasamudyame

So that I may look at those who stand here eager to fight, and see with whom I must contend in this battle.

योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः ।
धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः

yotsyamānānavekṣe'haṃ ya ete'tra samāgatāḥ |
dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddheryuddhe priyacikīrṣavaḥ

I want to see those who have come here to fight, wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra in war.

एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत ।
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम्

evamukto hṛṣīkeśo guḍākeśena bhārata |
senayorubhayormadhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam

Addressed thus by Gudakesha, O Bharata, Hrishikesha placed that finest of chariots between the two armies,

भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् ।
उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति

bhīṣmadroṇapramukhataḥ sarveṣāṃ ca mahīkṣitām |
uvāca pārtha paśyaitānsamavetānkurūniti

In front of Bhishma, Drona and all the rulers of the earth, and said: Partha, behold these Kurus gathered here.

तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान् ।
आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा

tatrāpaśyatsthitānpārthaḥ pitṝnatha pitāmahān |
ācāryānmātulānbhrātṝnputrānpautrānsakhīṃstathā

There Partha saw, standing in both armies, fathers and grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons and friends,

श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि ।
तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान्

śvaśurānsuhṛdaścaiva senayorubhayorapi |
tānsamīkṣya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvānbandhūnavasthitān

Fathers-in-law and well-wishers. Seeing all these kinsmen in their places, the son of Kunti,

सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति ।
वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते

sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṃ ca pariśuṣyati |
vepathuśca śarīre me romaharṣaśca jāyate

My limbs give way and my mouth is parched. My body trembles and my hair stands on end.

गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते ।
न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः

gāṇḍīvaṃ sraṃsate hastāttvakcaiva paridahyate |
na ca śaknomyavasthātuṃ bhramatīva ca me manaḥ

Gandiva slips from my hand and my skin burns all over. I cannot stand steady, and my mind seems to whirl.

निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव ।
न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे

nimittāni ca paśyāmi viparītāni keśava |
na ca śreyo'nupaśyāmi hatvā svajanamāhave

Keshava, I see ill omens, and I see no good in killing my own kin in battle.

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

na kāṅkṣe vijayaṃ kṛṣṇa na ca rājyaṃ sukhāni ca |
kiṃ no rājyena govinda kiṃ bhogairjīvitena vā

I do not want victory, Krishna, nor a kingdom, nor pleasures. What use is a kingdom to us, Govinda, or enjoyment, or even life?

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

yeṣāmarthe kāṅkṣitaṃ no rājyaṃ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca |
ta ime'vasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṃstyaktvā dhanāni ca

Those for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyment and pleasures stand here in battle, ready to give up their lives and their wealth.

आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः ।
मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः संबन्धिनस्तथा

ācāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrāstathaiva ca pitāmahāḥ |
mātulāḥ śvaśurāḥ pautrāḥ śyālāḥ saṃbandhinastathā

Teachers, fathers, sons and grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives.

एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन ।
अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते

etānna hantumicchāmi ghnato'pi madhusūdana |
api trailokyarājyasya hetoḥ kiṃ nu mahīkṛte

I do not wish to kill them, Madhusudana, even if they kill me, not even for the rule of the three worlds, let alone for this earth.

निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन ।
पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः

nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrānnaḥ kā prītiḥ syājjanārdana |
pāpamevāśrayedasmānhatvaitānātatāyinaḥ

What joy could we have, Janardana, from killing the sons of Dhritarashtra? Sin alone would cling to us for slaying these aggressors.

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

tasmānnārhā vayaṃ hantuṃ dhārtarāṣṭrānsvabāndhavān |
svajanaṃ hi kathaṃ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava

So it is not right for us to kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our own kinsmen. How could we be happy, Madhava, after killing our own people?

यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः ।
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम्

yadyapyete na paśyanti lobhopahatacetasaḥ |
kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ mitradrohe ca pātakam

Even if they, their minds overpowered by greed, see no wrong in destroying a family and no sin in betraying friends,

कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम् ।
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन

kathaṃ na jñeyamasmābhiḥ pāpādasmānnivartitum |
kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ prapaśyadbhirjanārdana

Why should we not know to turn away from this sin, Janardana, we who clearly see the evil of destroying a family?

कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः ।
धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत

kulakṣaye praṇaśyanti kuladharmāḥ sanātanāḥ |
dharme naṣṭe kulaṃ kṛtsnamadharmo'bhibhavatyuta

When a family is destroyed, its ancient family dharma perishes. When dharma perishes, adharma overcomes the whole family.

अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः ।
स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसंकरः

adharmābhibhavātkṛṣṇa praduṣyanti kulastriyaḥ |
strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇasaṃkaraḥ

When adharma prevails, Krishna, the women of the family are corrupted, and when they are corrupted, Varshneya, confusion of varna arises.

संकरो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च ।
पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः

saṃkaro narakāyaiva kulaghnānāṃ kulasya ca |
patanti pitaro hyeṣāṃ luptapiṇḍodakakriyāḥ

This confusion leads both the family and its destroyers to hell, for their ancestors fall, deprived of the offerings of rice-balls and water.

दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसंकरकारकैः ।
उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः

doṣairetaiḥ kulaghnānāṃ varṇasaṃkarakārakaiḥ |
utsādyante jātidharmāḥ kuladharmāśca śāśvatāḥ

By these wrongs of the family-destroyers, which cause confusion of varna, the age-old dharma of the community and the dharma of the family are uprooted.

उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन ।
नरकेऽनियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम

utsannakuladharmāṇāṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ janārdana |
narake'niyataṃ vāso bhavatītyanuśuśruma

We have heard, Janardana, that those whose family dharma is destroyed dwell in hell for an untold time.

अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् ।
यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः

aho bata mahatpāpaṃ kartuṃ vyavasitā vayam |
yadrājyasukhalobhena hantuṃ svajanamudyatāḥ

Alas, what a great sin we are resolved to commit, ready to kill our own people out of greed for the pleasures of a kingdom.

यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः ।
धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत्

yadi māmapratīkāramaśastraṃ śastrapāṇayaḥ |
dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyustanme kṣemataraṃ bhavet

It would be better for me if the sons of Dhritarashtra, weapons in hand, killed me in battle unarmed and unresisting.