Latest / Sacred Texts Archive / 01 - Of the Distress of Arjuna - Bhagavad Gita
Transcript
- Chapter one, Arjuna vishad Territarashtra ranged thus for battle on the sacred plain on karuk Schetra. Say Sanjaya, say what wrought my people and the pandavas Sonjaya, when he beheld the host of Pandavas Raja Duryodhana to Drona drew and spake these words, Ah Guru, see this line, how vast it is of Pandu fighting men in battled by the son of Drupada, thy scholar in the war. Therein stands ranked chiefs like Arjuna, like to Bima, chiefs, benders of bows, Virata YuYu, dang Drupada eminent upon his car trish Ta kate ChEI, Kitan Kasi's stout lord, Purujit Kunti poj and Shaivah with Udhamanyu and Uttamauj Subadrara's child and Rao Padis, all famed, all mounted on their shining chariots. On our side too, Thou best of Brahmans, see excellent chiefs commanders of my line, whose names I joy to count thyself the first. Then Bhishma, Karna Kripa fierce and fight Vikarna Ashwataman next to those strong Saumadati with full many more valiant and tried, ready this day to die for me their king, each with his weapon grasped, each skillful in the field weakest mesims. Our battle shows where Bhishma holds command and Biemah fronting him, something too strong. Have care our captain's nigh to Bhishma's ranks. Prepare what help they may now blow my shell. Then, at the signal of the aged king, with blair to wake the blood rolling round like to a lion's roar, the trumpeter blew the great counch, and at the noise of it, trumpets and drums, cymbals and gongs and horns burst into sudden clamor as the blasts of loosened tempests. Such the tumult seemed then might be seen upon their car of gold, yoked with white steeds, blowing their battle shells. Krushna, the god Arjuna at his side. Krushna, with knotted locks, blew his great counch, carved of the giant's bone. Arjuna blue u Injur's loud gift. Bima, the terrible wolf bellied Bma blew a long reed conch Yudhishtira, Kunti's blameless son winded a mighty shell, victory's voice and nakula blue shrill upon his counch named the sweet sounding Sahadev on his called gem bedecked, and Kasi's prints on his Sikandi on his car. Drishtadyum Verrata Sotaki, the unsubdued Drupara with his sons, o Lord of Earth long armed. Supadra's children all blew loud, so that the clangers shook their foemen's hearts with quaking earth and thundering heaven. Then twas beholding Dritrashtra's battle set weapons, unsheathing bows drawn forth the war instant to break. Arjuna, whose ensign badge was Hanuman. The Monkey, spake this thing to Khrushna the Divine. His charioteer drive dauntless one to yonder open ground betwixt the armies. I would see more nigh those who will fight with us, those we must slay today, and wars our bitriment for sure on bloodshed. All are bent who thronged this plane, obeying dart Rastro's sinful son. Thus Bararjuna prayed o barrata between the hosts. That heavenly charioteer drove the bright car raining its milk white steeds, where Bhishma led and Drona and their lords see. Spake he to Arjuna, where they stand thy kindred of the Kurus and the prince marked on each hand, the kinsmen of his house, grandsires and sires, uncles and brothers and sons, cousins and son in law and nephews, mix'd with friends and honored elders, some this side, some that side, ranged, and seeing those opposed such kith grown enemies, Arjuna's heart melted with pity while he uttered this Khrushna, as I behold, come here to shed their common blood yon concourse of our kin. My members fail, My tongue dries in my mouth, A shudder thrills my body, and my hair bristles with horror. From my weak hand slips Gondhiv the goodly beau. A fever burns my skin, deparching hardly. May I stand? The life within me seems to swim and faint. Nothing do I foresee, save woe and wail. It is not good, Okayshove, not of good can spring from mutual slaughter. Lo I hate triumph and domination, wealth and ease thus sadly won. Oh ho, what victory can bring delight Golvinda? What rich spoils could profit? What rule recompense? What span of life itself seems sweet bought with such blood? Seeing that these stand here ready to die, for whose sake life was fair and pleasure pleased and power grew precious grandsires, sires and sons, brothers and fathers in law and sons in law, elders and friends. Shall ideal death on these, even though they seek to slay us? Not one blow, Oh Marhusudana, will I strike to gain the rule of all three worlds? Then? How much less to seize an earthly kingdom? Killing These must breed but anguish krushna. If they be guilty, we shall grow guilty by their deaths. Their sins will light on us. If we shall slay those sons of dart Rastra and our kin, what peace could come of that? O Mahdava. For if indeed, blinded by lust and wrath, these cannot see or will not see the sin of kingly lines o'er throne and kinsmen slain, How should not we who see shun such a crime, we who perceive the guilt and feel the shame. Oh thou delight of men Janardana by overthrow of houses perisheth their sweet continuous household piety and rites neglected piety extinct enters impiety. Upon that home, its women grow unwomaned. Whence there's spring mad passions and the mingling up of casts, sending a hell ward road that family, and whoso wrought its doom by wicked wrath nay, and the souls of honored ancestors fall from their place of peace, being bereft of funeral cakes and the wan death water. So teach our holy hymns. Thus, if we slay kinsfolk and friends for love of earthly power, ou of yet what an evil fault it were better? I deem it. If my kinsmen strike to face them, weaponless and bear my breast to shaft and spear, then answer blow with blow. So speaking in the face of those two hosts, Otrojunah sank upon his chariot seat and let fall bow and arrows. Sick at heart. Here endeth chapter one of the Boghavadgita