|| om tat sat ||

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धृतराष्ट्र उवाच:
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः |
मामकाः पांडवश्चैव किमकुर्वतु संजय ||1||

|| om tat sat ||

भगवद्गीत - आर्जुन विषाद योग
Bhagavad-Gita - Chapter 1
Arjuna's sorrow

Bhagavad-Gita begins with a question from Kaurava's father Dhritarashtra.

The narration in Mahabharata tells us that Vedavyasa offers a blessing of sight to Dhritarashatra to view the unfolding tragedy. Dhritarashtra declines that offer. So Vyasa gives that blessing to Sanjaya who can have a knowedge of everything that happenned. Initially Dhritarshtra asks about the visible world, universe and everything other than the war itself. Hearing about the beautiful visible world Dhritarahtra becomes sad that his children refused a negotiated peace. Then Dhritarashtra asks Sanjaya to narrate to him the events of the first ten days.

That narration starts with the narration of the dialog of Krishna and Arjuna.

Thus, the Bhagavad-Gita starts withe question from the old blind king Dhritarashtra.

"धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः
मामकाः पांडवश्चैव किमकुर्वतु संजया |"

The question was directed to Sanjaya. Dhritarashtra asks Sanjaya " Oh Sanjaya! What happened on the righteous field of Kurukshetra when my people and Pandavas met"?

After this question we hear the complete discourse between Krishna and Arjuna through the words of Sanjaya - "Sanjaya uvaacha".

In response to Dhritarashtra question Sanjaya starts relating the events on the battlefield which is filled with warriors from both sides. There may be many a dialog on the battle front. Dhritarashtra wants to hear about his people, his " मामकाः"!

So Sanjaya starts by telling Dhritarashtra about what his son Duryodhana was doing.

"दृष्ट्वातु पांडवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा
आचार्य मुपसंगम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् " ||(1.2)||

Seeing the Pandava armies arrayed in front,
Duryodhana approaches his teacher Drona
and tells him about all the warriors on both sides.
He first talks about the other side, that of Pandavas.

पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणां
आचार्यमहतीं चमूं।
व्यूढां द्रुपद पुत्रेण
तवशिष्येण धीमता॥ 1.3||

अत्रशूरा महेष्वासा
भीमार्जुन समायुधिः।
युयुधानो विराटश्च
द्रुपदश्च महारथः॥(1.4)||

Pandava army has many warriors as good as Bhima and Arjuna.

Then he talks about his own army.

अस्माकंतु विशिष्ठा ये
तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम।
नायका ममसैन्यश्च
संज्ञार्थं तान् ब्रवीमि ते॥1.7)||

His own side is known to Drona as the commander in chief.
Duryodhana was only bringing that to his notice.
After detailing all the warriors on his side,
Duryodhana says that Pandava army protected by Bhima is more powerful,
than the Kaurava army protected by Bhishma.

अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं
बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितं।
पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां
बलं भीमाभिरक्षितं॥(1.10)||

He then exhorts all Kaurava's warriors
to support and protect Bhishma the chief of the Kaurava army.

तस्य संजनयन् हर्षं
कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः॥
संहनादं विनोद्योच्चैः
शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ||( १.१२)॥

To encourage Duryodhana as well as to signal the start of the battle,
the grandsire Bhishma blows his conch.

He was followed by all the major warriors on both sides blowing their conch.
That included Krishna and Arjuna too.

"पांचजन्यं हृषीकेशः देवदत्तं धनंजय"

With Krishna blowing his Panchajanya
and Arjuna also following him blowing his conch Devadatta
both sides are all set.
That should be the start of the battle.
But then Arjuna has second thoughts.

हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यं
इदं आह महीपते॥

He tells his charioteer Krishna the following:

"सेनयोः उभयोः मध्ये
रथं स्थापय मे अच्युता |"

"Oh Achyuta! Please keep the chariot in between the two sides",
so that he can see those who have come for this battle.

When Arjuna makes this request,
Krishna brings the chariot to that point where he could see all.

Whom does Arjuna see?

तत्रापश्यत् स्थितान् पार्थ
पित्रूनथ पितमाहान्।
आचार्यान् मातुलान् भ्रातून्
पुत्रान् पौत्रान् सखींस्तदा॥(1.26)||
श्वशुरान् सुहृदश्छैव
सेनयोः उभयोरपि॥(1.27)||

Arjuna sees his grandfather Bhishma, his teacher Drona arrayed on the other side of the battle.

Seeing his teachers, grandfather, uncles, nephews, sons and friends etc.,
Arjuna loses heart at the thought of having to kill them.
He says,

सीदन्ति मम गात्राणी
मुखं च परिशुष्यति।
वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे
रोमहर्षश्च जायते॥(1.29)||

He tells Krishna," O Krishna! Seeing all the relations gathered here I am at a loss.
My limbs are shaking. My throat is parched.
My whole body is shivering with anticipation of events.
Gandiva my bow is slipping from my hands.
My mind is in a swirl.!".

Having detailed his state Arjuna adds the following!

"नकांक्षे विजयं कृष्ण
न च राज्यं सुखानि च"।
किंनो राज्येन गोविन्द
किंभोगैः जीवितेन वा॥ (1.320)||

" O Krishna! I do not desire victory or the kingdom.
What is the use of that kingdom if we have to kill our own people!"
He goes on to say that it is better that he 'unarmed,
is killed by the armed Kauravas'
than his having to demolish the Kauravas to enjoy the kingdom.
Having said that Arjuna tells Krishna that he wants to quit the battle.

The picture of that moment is best captured by Sanjaya.

"विसृज्य सशरं चापं
शोकसंविग्नमानसः |"

Sanjaya says Arjuna threw down his arms
and with his mind drenched in sorrow sat down on the chariot.

Thus, ends chapter one Bhagavad-Gita
appropriately named as " Arjuna Vishada yoga" or Arjuna's sorrow!

It is part of life's pattern that everyone continuously encounters some problems however big or small. At that moment of crisis, it is but natural that the individual's confidence is shaken much like Arjuna's. We are better off understanding how Krishna guided Arjuna through such a crisis. Understanding what Krishna taught Arjuna, will allow us to face our mental battles too. We too can achieve the victory in the daily battles.

The two key aspects of first chapter are the overwhelming attachment of Dhritarashtra stamped by the word " मामकाःÓ! Dhritarashtra is the father of Kauravas no doubt, but he is also the father equivalent for Pandavas. Dhritarashtra "ममकार " makes him truly blind to think of only his sons.

Second is the attachment of Arjuna too for his near and dear.

Respect for elders is very normal among us. But if the elders are not following the right path then they are not to be followed. The parental affection for children sometimes blinds them enough to overlook their misdemeanors. Parental affection when it crosses limits in ignoring misdemeanors is called "Moha" which is blind to correct actions. Dhritarashtra love for his children is of that nature.

The Moha immobilizes the parents own capability to pursue the righteous path, resulting in their inability to show the righteous path to their children. Dhritarashtra could not show the right path to his sons resulting in the war between Pandavas and Kauravas. Even Arjuna is affected by his affection for his near and dear and in that sense, he became " शोक संविग्न मानसा". He too is under the "Moha" which blinds him to his duty.

The ability of one to recognize the "Moha" and stay away from it is the pointer to one's commitment to righteous path. He can then correct his children. If the father does not correct his children like Dhritarashtra the fate of such children will be like the fate of Kauravas.

We may see one other stream of thought.

That is about the battle between good and evil. Pandavas represent the good in us and Kauravas represent the evil! There is a struggle in every one's mind between that internal evil and good. Several times we may not even be sure which is "good", and which is "evil". When that veil of Moha or ignorance is removed, the evil is seen in its true light and good is recognized. That leads to the triumph. The war of Kurukshetra is nothing but the daily war between good and evil that is fought in every body's mind. The man is blinded, much like Dhritarashtra, by the sweetness of good life which masks the path of evil.

So, the continuous battle is nothing but ability to recognize the " good".

The minute that is done, the triumph is the natural outcome.

||Om tat sat ||

संजय उवाच:
एवमुक्त्वा अर्जुनः संख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् |
विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोक संविघ्नमानसः ||1-47||

'Having spoken thus, throwing away his bows and arrows in the battle,
Arjuna sank into the seat of the chariot with a grief-stricken mind'.

||ओम् तत् सत् ||
||Om tat sat ||