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ಧೃತರಾಷ್ಟ್ರ ಉವಾಚ:
ಧರ್ಮಕ್ಷೇತ್ರೇ ಕುರುಕ್ಷೇತ್ರೇ ಸಮವೇತಾ ಯುಯುತ್ಸವಃ |
ಮಾಮಕಾಃ ಪಾಂಡವಶ್ಚೈವ ಕಿಮಕುರ್ವತು ಸಂಜಯ ||1||

|| om tat sat ||

ಭಗವದ್ಗೀತ - ಆರ್ಜುನ ವಿಷಾದ ಯೋಗ
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 Veda Vyasa offers a blessing of sight to Dhritarashtra to view the unfolding tragedy. Dhritarashtra declines that offer. So, Vyasa gives that blessing to Sanjaya who can have a knowledge of everything that happened that happened on the battlefield. Initially Dhritarashtra asks about the visible world, universe, and everything other than the war itself. Hearing about the beautiful visible world Dhritarashtra becomes sad that his children refused a negotiated peace. The war was in progress and on the tenth day news of fall of Bhishma comes. Dhritarashtra was taken aback by the events of the tenth day, which were contrary to his expectations. Then Dhritarashtra asks Sanjaya to narrate to him the events of the first ten days of the battle.

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

"ಧರ್ಮಕ್ಷೇತ್ರೇ ಕುರುಕ್ಷೇತ್ರೇ ಸಮವೇತಾ ಯುಯುತ್ಸವಃ
ಮಾಮಕಾಃ ಪಾಂಡವಶ್ಚೈವ ಕಿಮಕುರ್ವತು ಸಂಜಯಾ |"

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 " ಮಾಮಕಾಃ"!

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

"ದೃಷ್ಟ್ವಾತು ಪಾಂಡವಾನೀಕಂ ವ್ಯೂಢಂ ದುರ್ಯೋಧನಸ್ತದಾ
ಆಚಾರ್ಯ ಮುಪಸಂಗಮ್ಯ ರಾಜಾ ವಚನಮಬ್ರವೀತ್ " ||(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.

ಪಶ್ಯೈತಾಂ ಪಾಣ್ಡುಪುತ್ರಾಣಾಂ
ಆಚಾರ್ಯಮಹತೀಂ ಚಮೂಂ|
ವ್ಯೂಢಾಂ ದ್ರುಪದ ಪುತ್ರೇಣ
ತವಶಿಷ್ಯೇಣ ಧೀಮತಾ|| 1.3||

ಅತ್ರಶೂರಾ ಮಹೇಷ್ವಾಸಾ
ಭೀಮಾರ್ಜುನ ಸಮಾಯುಧಿಃ|
ಯುಯುಧಾನೋ ವಿರಾಟಶ್ಚ
ದ್ರುಪದಶ್ಚ ಮಹಾರಥಃ||(1.4)||

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

Then he talks about his own army.

ಅಸ್ಮಾಕಂತು ವಿಶಿಷ್ಠಾ ಯೇ
ತಾನ್ನಿಬೋಧ ದ್ವಿಜೋತ್ತಮ|
ನಾಯಕಾ ಮಮಸೈನ್ಯಶ್ಚ
ಸಂಜ್ಞಾರ್ಥಂ ತಾನ್ ಬ್ರವೀಮಿ ತೇ||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.

ಅಪರ್ಯಾಪ್ತಂ ತದಸ್ಮಾಕಂ
ಬಲಂ ಭೀಷ್ಮಾಭಿರಕ್ಷಿತಂ|
ಪರ್ಯಾಪ್ತಂ ತ್ವಿದಮೇತೇಷಾಂ
ಬಲಂ ಭೀಮಾಭಿರಕ್ಷಿತಂ||(1.10)||

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

ತಸ್ಯ ಸಂಜನಯನ್ ಹರ್ಷಂ
ಕುರುವೃದ್ಧಃ ಪಿತಾಮಹಃ||
ಸಂಹನಾದಂ ವಿನೋದ್ಯೋಚ್ಚೈಃ
ಶಙ್ಖಂ ದಧ್ಮೌ ಪ್ರತಾಪವಾನ್ ||( ೧.೧೨)||

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.

"ಪಾಂಚಜನ್ಯಂ ಹೃಷೀಕೇಶಃ ದೇವದತ್ತಂ ಧನಂಜಯ"

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.

ಹೃಷೀಕೇಶಂ ತದಾ ವಾಕ್ಯಂ
ಇದಂ ಆಹ ಮಹೀಪತೇ||

He tells his charioteer Krishna the following:

"ಸೇನಯೋಃ ಉಭಯೋಃ ಮಧ್ಯೇ
ರಥಂ ಸ್ಥಾಪಯ ಮೇ ಅಚ್ಯುತಾ |"

"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?

ತತ್ರಾಪಶ್ಯತ್ ಸ್ಥಿತಾನ್ ಪಾರ್ಥ
ಪಿತ್ರೂನಥ ಪಿತಮಾಹಾನ್|
ಆಚಾರ್ಯಾನ್ ಮಾತುಲಾನ್ ಭ್ರಾತೂನ್
ಪುತ್ರಾನ್ ಪೌತ್ರಾನ್ ಸಖೀಂಸ್ತದಾ||(1.26)||
ಶ್ವಶುರಾನ್ ಸುಹೃದಶ್ಛೈವ
ಸೇನಯೋಃ ಉಭಯೋರಪಿ||(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,

ಸೀದನ್ತಿ ಮಮ ಗಾತ್ರಾಣೀ
ಮುಖಂ ಚ ಪರಿಶುಷ್ಯತಿ|
ವೇಪಥುಶ್ಚ ಶರೀರೇ ಮೇ
ರೋಮಹರ್ಷಶ್ಚ ಜಾಯತೇ||(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!

"ನಕಾಂಕ್ಷೇ ವಿಜಯಂ ಕೃಷ್ಣ
ನ ಚ ರಾಜ್ಯಂ ಸುಖಾನಿ ಚ"|
ಕಿಂನೋ ರಾಜ್ಯೇನ ಗೋವಿನ್ದ
ಕಿಂಭೋಗೈಃ ಜೀವಿತೇನ ವಾ|| (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.

"ವಿಸೃಜ್ಯ ಸಶರಂ ಚಾಪಂ
ಶೋಕಸಂವಿಗ್ನಮಾನಸಃ |"

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 " ಮಾಮಕಾಃÓ! Dhritarashtra is the father of Kauravas no doubt, but he is also the father equivalent for Pandavas. Dhritarashtra "ಮಮಕಾರ " 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 " ಶೋಕ ಸಂವಿಗ್ನ ಮಾನಸಾ". 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 ||

ಸಂಜಯ ಉವಾಚ:
ಏವಮುಕ್ತ್ವಾ ಅರ್ಜುನಃ ಸಂಖ್ಯೇ ರಥೋಪಸ್ಥ ಉಪಾವಿಶತ್ |
ವಿಸೃಜ್ಯ ಸಶರಂ ಚಾಪಂ ಶೋಕ ಸಂವಿಘ್ನಮಾನಸಃ ||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'.

||ಓಮ್ ತತ್ ಸತ್ ||
||Om tat sat ||