Chapter 1

Dhṛtarāṣṭra says O Sañjaya, after they gathered on the holy field of Kurukṣetra, being eager for battle, what did my sons and the Pāṇḍavas do?

Sañjaya says: O king! Duryodhana, seeing the Pāṇḍavas’ army in military formation, approached his teacher, Droṇa, and said these words:

Duryodhana says: O Master, behold this mighty army of the Pāṇḍavas, led by the son of Drupada, who is your intelligent disciple.

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

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

There is the valiant Yudhāmanyu and the strong Uttamaujas. There is also the son of Subhadrā, as well as the sons of Draupadī. All of them are mighty chariot-warriors.

O best of brahmanas, let me now familiarise you with our principle warriors who are the commanders of my army. I shall name them to refresh your memory.

There is yourself, Bhīṣma and Karṇa, the victorious Kṛpā, Aśvatthāmā, Vikarṇa and Jayadratha, the son of Somadatta.

And there are many other heroes who are determined to give up their lives for my sake. They are all experts in weaponry and experienced in the art of warfare.

This force of ours marshalled by Bhīṣma is immeasurable, while their strength controlled by Bhīma is limited.

All of you therefore should make every effort to guard Bhīṣma, whilst stationed at your respective positions in the army.

Sañjaya says: Then, the valiant grandsire Bhīṣma, the most senior of the Kuru clan, roaring like a lion, blew his conch to encourage Duryodhana.

Suddenly, conches and kettle drums, trumpets, tabors and horns erupted forth and the sound was terrific.

Then Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, stationed in their great chariot drawn by white horses, blew their divine conches.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa blew His conch, Pāñcajanya, Arjuna blew his, 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 Mani-puṣpaka.

Then the supreme archer, king of Kāśī, and the mighty warrior Śikhaṇḍī, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Virāṭa; and the invincible Sātyaki, all blew their respective conches.

King Drupada, the sons of Draupadī, and the strong- armed son of Subhadrā, all blew their various conches again and again.

That tumultuous uproar, resounding through heaven and Earth, tore the hearts of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons.

After seeing the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra arranged in their formation, Arjuna, who had Hanumān as his banner crest, took up his bow in preparation for war.

And he spoke, O king, these words to Śrī Kṛṣṇa… Arjuna says: O Kṛṣṇa, station my chariot between the two armies.

I wish to look at those who are present here and know exactly who I have to fight in this great battle.

I am eager to see those who have gathered here to please the evil-minded son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Duryodhana).

Sañjaya says: O Dhṛtarāṣṭra, having been addressed by Arjuna, Śrī Kṛṣṇa stationed that best of chariots between the two armies.

In front of Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and all the other kings, Kṛṣṇa says: ‘O Arjuna, behold all the Kurus who have assembled here.’

Then Arjuna saw standing there, fathers and grand- fathers, teachers, uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons and friends.

Having seen all his friends and different relatives there, Arjuna was filled with deep compassion and said these words in despair:

After seeing my own family and friends ready to do battle and kill one another, my limbs have become 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, I am confused, and my mind is reeling.

O Kṛṣṇa, I see only calamity for the future. I cannot see any good in killing my own family in battle.

Nor do I desire victory, a kingdom or happiness. Of what use to us is a kingdom, enjoyment or even life itself?

The people for whose sake we desire those things stand ready to fight and give up their lives, and their wealth, for this war.

Teachers, fathers, sons and also grandfathers, uncles, fathers-in-law and grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives stand before me.

O Kṛṣṇa, they may wish to slay me, but I have no desire to kill them, even if it were to rule the three worlds, much less for this Earth.

If we kill the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, what joy will be ours, O Kṛṣṇa? Sin alone will stain us if we kill these aggressors.

Therefore, it is not right that we slay the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. How can we rejoice, O Kṛṣṇa, if we kill our own relatives?

Even though these people, whose minds are overpowered by greed, see no evil in destroying their family and betraying their friends;...

why should we, O Kṛṣṇa, who do recognise this evil, engage in such sinful deeds?

If the family is destroyed, its ancient traditions perish, and when traditions perish, unrighteousness overtakes the whole clan.

When unrighteousness prevails, O Kṛṣṇa, the women of the clan become corrupt; when women become corrupt, future generations will follow.

The mixing of social classes creates a living hell both for the family and for those who destroy it. Consequently, the ancestors of such a family will certainly fall because they will be deprived of their ritual offerings.

The sinful deeds of those who destroy their family and mix social classes ruin the ancient traditions of our clan.

We have heard, O Kṛṣṇa, that there is certainly a place in hell for those who destroy such family practices.

Alas! We have resolved to commit a great crime, in that we are ready to slay our own family, just to rule and enjoy the pleasures of a kingdom.

Even if the fully-armed sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra were to slay me in battle, unresisting and unarmed, that would be better for me.

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