The great discourse given by the Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra is not meant for him alone. It is for the entire humanity. In the first chapter, the names of the main warriors and generals of both sides are given. However, the main event is the despondency of Arjuna. In the battlefield, Arjuna saw that all teachers, relatives, members of his family had gathered together eager for battle. This caused great anguish to Arjuna and temporarily forgetting his duty as a warrior, he became depressed. And this faint-heartedness caused him to renounce his duty (dharma), He became reluctant to fight. Hence this chapter is entitled. "The Despondency of Arjuna"



 

Dhritarastra uvacha

 

1. dharmakshetre kurukshetre
   samvetah yuyut savah
   mamakah pandavas'sca' ve
   kim akurvata samjaya
   
   Oe=lejeä^ GJee®e -
   Oece&#es$es kegÀ©#es$es meceJeslee ³eg³eglmeJe:~
   ceecekeÀe: HeeC[Jee½ewJe efkeÀcekegÀJe&le me¡e³e~1~
   
   Dhritarastra said- O. Sanjaya- In the area of righteousness, the area of Kurus, where my sons and the sons of Pandu had gathered together, what did they do.
   
   Sanajaya uvacha -
   
    

2. dristava tu pandavarikam
   vyudham duryodhanas tada
   acharyam up samgamya
   raja vachanam abravit
   
   mebpe³e GJee®e -
   ¢äde leg HeeC[JeeveerkebÀ J³et{b og³eexOevemleoe~
   Dee®ee³e&cegHeme²c³e jepee Je®eveceye´Jeerled~2~
   
   Sanjaya Said - Having observed the arrangment of the army of the Pandavas, king Duryodhana went to his teacher (Drona) and said these words.
   
    

3. acharya mahatim chamum
   vyudham drupad putrena
   tava sishayene dhimata
   
    

   HeM³ewleeb HeeC[gHeg$eeCeecee®ee³e& cenleeR ®ecetced~
   J³et{eb êgHeoHeg$esCe leJe efMe<³esCe Oeercelee~3~

   See (O, Teacher) this vast army of the sons of Pandu organised into the battle array by your wise pupil, the son of Drupada (Dhristadhyumna).
   
    

4. atra shura maheshvasa
   bhimarjunasama yudhi
   yuyudhano viratashchai
   dhrupadascha maharathah.
   
    

   De$e Metje cens<Jeemee Yeerceepeg&vemecee ³egefOe~
   ³eg³egOeevees efJejeì½e êgHeo½e cenejLe:~4~

   Here is a great bowman, who is equal of Bhima and Arjuna in the art of warfare - Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada are (great) warrior(s).
   
    

5. Dhristaketu Chekitanah
   Kashiraijas cha viryavana
   Purijit Kuntibhojascha
   Saibyas cha narpungavah
   
    

   Oe=äkesÀleg½esefkeÀleeve: keÀeefMejepe½e Jeer³e&Jeeved~
   Heg©efpelkegÀefvleYeespe½e Mewy³e½e vejHeg²Je:~5~

   Dhristaketu, Chekitan and the brave king of Kashi, besides, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Shaibya - the finest among men.
   
    

6. Yudhamanyuscha vikranta
   Uttamaujascha viryavana
   Saubhadro draupadeyascha
   Sarva eva maharathah
   
    

   ³egOeecev³eg½e efJe¬eÀevle GÊeeceewpee½e Jeer³e&Jeeved~
   meewYeêes êewHeos³ee½e meJe& SJe cenejLee:~6~

   The mighty Yudhamanya, the brave Uttamauja and also the son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu - son of Arjuna and a nephew of Krishna) and the (five) sons of Draupadi are all mighty warriors (Maharathis).
   
    

7. Asmakam tu vishista ye
   tam nibodha dvijottama
   nayaka mama sainasya
   Sangyanartham tan bravimi te
   
    

   DemceekeÀb leg efJeefMeäe ³es leeefVeyeesOe efÜpeesÊece~
   vee³ekeÀe cece mewv³em³e me$%eeLe¥ leevye´Jeerefce les~7~

   O, the best among the twice-born (Brahmins) - know the leaders of our side, who are very distinguished. I give you the names of our generals for your information.
   
    

8. bhavan bhishmascha, karnascha
   kripascha samitanjayah
   ashvathama vikarnascha
   somdattis tathaiva cha
   
    

   YeJeevYeer<ce½e keÀCe&½e ke=Àhe½e meefceefle¡e³e:~
   DeéelLeecee efJekeÀCe&½e meewceoefÊemleLewJe ®e~8~

   You (Drona) and Bhishma and Karna and Kripa, the invincible, Ashvatthama, Vikarna and also the son of Somdatta (Bhurishrava).
   
    

9. anye cha bahavah shuru
   madarthe tyaktajivitah
   nanashastra praharnah
   savve yuddhavishardah.
   
    

   Dev³es ®e yenJe: Metje ceoLex l³ekeÌlepeerefJelee:~
   veeveeMem$eÒenjCee: meJex ³eg×efJeMeejoe:~9~

   There are many other brave men who risk their lives for my sake. Armed with various kinds of weapons, all of them are experts in the art of warfare.
   
    

10. aparyaptam tad asmakam
    balam bhishmabhirakshitam
    paryaptam tvi idam etcsham
    balam bhimabhirakshitam