Chapter 1

Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: O Sañjaya, having gathered on the holy field of Kurukṣetra, eager for battle, what did my sons and the Pāṇḍavas do?

Sañjaya said: Having seen the Pāṇḍava army arranged in military formation, Duryodhana then approached his teacher Droṇa and spoke these words:

O teacher, behold this mighty army of the Pāṇḍavas, arrayed by the son of Drupada, your intelligent disciple.

In that army are heroes and great archers, equal to Bhīma and Arjuna in battle; there are mighty warriors like Yuyudhāna, Virāṭa, and Drupada.

There are Dhṛṣṭaketu, Cekitāna, and the valiant king of Kāśī, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Śaibyā, the best among men.

There are the mighty Yudhāmanyu, the strong Uttamaujā, the son of Subhadrā, as well as the sons of Draupadī, all of whom are mighty warriors.

O best of brāhmaṇas, now hear about our distinguished warriors. For your understanding, I shall tell you the leaders of my army.

There are yourself, Bhīṣma, Karṇa, the victorious Kṛpa, Aśvatthāmā, Vikarṇa, and the son of Somadatta.

There are also many other heroes who have offered their lives for my sake, all wielding various weapons and experienced in the art of warfare.

This force of our army marshalled by Bhīṣma is immeasurable, while the strength of their army guarded by Bhīma is limited.

Indeed all of you should just guard Bhīṣma, whilst stationed at all strategic positions in the army.

Sañjaya said: The powerful grandsire Bhīṣma, eldest of the Kuru clan, roaring loudly like a lion, blew his conch to incite Duryodhana’s cheerfulness.

Consequently, conches, kettle drums, small and big drums, and horns immediately sounded forth and the sound was terrific.

Then Mādhava and the son of Paṇḍu, seated in a great chariot harnessed by white horses, blew their divine conches.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa blew His conch, Pāñcajanya, Arjuna blew his conch named Devadatta, and Bhīma, the performer of terrible deeds, blew the great conch Pauṇḍra. King Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Kuntī, blew his conch Ananta-vijaya, and Nakula and Sahadeva blew their conches Sughoṣa and Maṇi-puṣpaka.

The great archer, king of Kāśī and the mighty warrior Śikhaṇḍī, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Virāṭa, and the invincible Sātyaki, King Drupada, the sons of Draupadī, and the strong-armed son of Subhadrā, all blew their respective conches.

That tumultuous sound, reverberating through heaven and Earth, tore apart the hearts of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons.

Then, O king, having seen the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra arranged in formation, the son of Pāṇḍu, who had Hanumān on his banner, took up his bow in preparation for the clash of weapons. He then spoke these words to Hṛṣīkeśa.

Arjuna said: O Acyuta, station my chariot between both armies until I may see those standing near, eager for combat and with whom I must fight in this impending battle.

I wish to see those who have gathered here and will fight in battle, wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Sañjaya said: O descendant of Bharata, having thus been addressed by Guḍākeśa, Hṛṣīkeśa stationed that best of chariots between the two armies. In front of Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and all the other kings, He said: “O Arjuna, behold all the Kurus who have assembled here.”

Pārtha saw standing there, fathers and grand-fathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons and friends, as well as fathers-in-law and well-wishers among both armies.

Having seen all his friends and relatives there, Arjuna became filled with deep compassion and grievingly spoke these words:

Arjuna said: O Kṛṣṇa, after seeing my own family and friends assembled here desiring to fight, my limbs are becoming weak and my mouth is drying up. My body is trembling, and my hair is standing on end.

My bow, the Gāṇḍīva, is slipping from my hands and my skin is burning. I am unable to hold myself together and my mind appears as if reeling.

O Keśava, moreover I perceive sinister omens and cannot see any benefit in killing my own family in battle.

O Kṛṣṇa, neither do I desire victory, the kingdom, or comforts. Of what use to us is a kingdom, enjoyments, or even life itself, Govinda?

Those for whose sake we desire the kingdom, enjoyments, and comforts stand ready to fight and have given up their lives and wealth for this war—teachers, fathers, sons and also grandfathers, uncles, fathers-in-law and grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives.

O Madhusūdana, they may be intent on slaying me, but I have no desire to kill them, even for reign over the three worlds, much less reign for sovereignty over this Earth.

After killing the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, what joy would be ours, O Janārdana? Sin alone would stain us if we killed these aggressors.

Therefore, it is not right that we slay the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, our own relatives. Indeed how can we rejoice, O Mādhava, by killing our kinsmen?

Even though these people, whose minds are overpowered by greed, see no vice in destroying their family and betraying their friends, why should we, O Kṛṣṇa, who do recognize this evil of destroying the family, not know to turn away from this evil?

Once the family lineage is destroyed, ancient family traditions perish, and when traditions perish, unrighteousness certainly overtakes the whole clan.

O Kṛṣṇa, from the rise of unrighteousness, the women of the clan become corrupt; when women become corrupt, O descendant of Vṛṣṇi, the mixing of varṇas ensues.

This mixing of social classes verily results in hell for the family and for those who destroy it. Consequently, the ancestors of such a family lineage certainly fall due to being deprived of their ritual offerings.

By these sinful deeds of the destroyers of the family lineage which cause the mixing of social classes, the everlasting dharma of the society and family traditions are ruined.

We have heard repeatedly, O Janārdana, that there is inevitably a place in Hell for those whose family traditions are destroyed.

How unfortunate! We have resolved to commit a great crime by being ready to kill our own family, driven by greed for the pleasures of a kingdom.

It would be better for me if the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra with weapons in their hands were to kill me in battle, unresisting and unarmed.

Sañjaya said: Having spoken these words on the battlefield, Arjuna threw aside his bow and arrows, and sat down on the seat of his chariot, his mind overwhelmed with grief.