DISTRESS OF ARJUNA
Dhritarashtra Querieth
Holy land of religious realm
Kurukshetra saw armies helm
O Sanjaya, what my war inclined children
Are doing with those of Pandava brethren I- 1
Sanjaya Speaketh
Pandava armies arrayed neatly
Drew attention of all very clearly
Moving in the array to locale of Drona
Thus spoke Kaurava Prince Duryodhana I- 2
Behold O master, of this mighty army
With Pandu’s son forming an array
Marshalled by son of Dhrupada the valiant
Whom you taught the wily talent I- 3
Gathered here are the mighty archers
In warfare, who are the venerable peers
Arjuna, Bhima, Yuyudhana, and Virata
And the great chariot warrior Draupada I-4
Dristaketu, Chekitana, and the valiant
King of Kashi, amongst them being the gallant
While Purujit, KunthiBhoja, and Shaibya, belong
To the archer peers, the best among I- 5
Uttaramanya the brave, and Yudhamanyu, the courageous
Saubhadra and sons of Draupadi the virtuous
Were amongst the great archers
All being great chariot warriors I- 6
Know ye the best of Twice-born men
All those assembled dististinguished chieftain
Our leaders are in army formation
I name them for your information I- 7
Our venerable self, Bhishma of glorious might
Kripa the ever victorious in fight
Ashwatthama and Karna who wield archery by swell
Are with Vikrama and Saundatti as well I- 8
5
Heroes well trained assembled there
Know the in and out of warfare
Equipped with manifold weapons and missiles
Are ever ready to lay down their lives I-9
Our army array is marshalled by Bhishma
While their army array is protected by Bhima
That our army strength is sufficient
While their army strength is insufficient I- 10
Now all of you take your positions
At your allotted strategic stations
Protect Bhishma from all approaches
Deploying your divisions full resources I-11
Bhisma the mighty Grandsire
Emboldened Duryodhana by his cheer
Blowing Dhadmau conch, raised a lion roar
The roar that declared the war hour I-12
Then was unleash of conch and kettle-drums
Resounding the sky accompanied by tabor of cattle-horns
Blared forth these tremendous, by rounds
When noise was at its heightened sounds I-13
Krishna and Arjuna firm in chariot site
Yoked with horses magnificently pure white
Blew their divine conchs raising the sound
Took by turns and had their round I-14
Krishna blew the divine conch Panchajanya
While conch Devadatta was sounded by Dhananjaya
Bhima the terrible named as Vrikodra
Sounded his great conch the Paundra I-15
Son of Kunthi, King Yudhistira
Blew his conch Ananth-vijaya
Joining them Nakula blew conch Sughosha
Not leaving, conch Manipushpaka, was blown by Sahadeva I- 16
So was the kingly ruler of Kashi
The great adept archer Sikhandi
Joining them Dristadyumna the chariot warrior
Were the invincibles, Satyaki and Virata the great archer I-17
O ruler of earth, Draupada and Draupadi’s sons
Mighty Subhadra and the armed dons
Standing in the army array so staunch
Joining them all blew their conch. I-18
Earth and sky reverberated tumultuously
With sounds produced so thunderously
Renting over the sky and land
Pierced the heart of Dritarashtra’s band I- 19
6
With fighting about to start at locations
Dritarashtra’s host adjusted their positions
With Hanuman ensign, Arjuna the Pandava
Lifting his bow thus spoke to Krishna I-20
Arjuna Speaketh
Hrishekesha, O ruler of earth and Heaven
Place my chariot at array in-between
O Achyuta, between the two-army lanes
Let my chariot draw new lines I-21
While these Soldiers and Archers
Are ready to fight, joining the warriors
Let me behold like-minded, of great might
To take steps with whom I shall fight I-22
I wish to scan and discern
Amongst the assembled brethren
Who are ready to serve their extra
To please the evil minded Dhritarashtra I- 23
Sanjaya Speaketh
Vacillating so requested by Gudakesha
O Bharatha, addressed the great Hrishakesha
Having the chariot in-between the bay
Scanning both the armies lined in array I-24
Looking around saw preceptor Drona
Bhisma, and rulers many including Duryodhana
Facing them all, spoke, O Partha scan here
Behold all Kauravas together there I-25
Standing there Partha beheld the gather
Paternal uncles, Maternal uncles, and Grandfather
Cousins, comrades, father-in-law and benefactor
Sons, Grand sons, teacher and Preceptor I-26
Gazing at all kinsmen in position
Son of Kunthi, Overcome with compassion
Choking as he was with sorrowfulness
Spoke to Krishna to overcome his sadness I-27
Arjuna Speaketh
Seeing all my kinsmen collected
By confrontation, who were prompted
My limbs are becoming weak and failing
O Krishna, I am sweating and my mouth parching I-28
7
My body vibrates with shiver
When hair strands of my body quiver
Body is feeling burning sensation and failing
Ghandiva bow from my hand, is slipping I- 29
Being unable to stand and bear
My mind whirls as if to tear
While all around I see my kinsmen
Keshava, I see too many adverse omen I-30
Slaughtering in the battle all kinsmen
Will not leave behind any good men
O Krishna I hanker not for victory
Nor for pleasure and gains satisfactory I- 31
What avail is this kingdom or life
Which needs, struggle, war and strife
What use is all this enjoyment
O Govinda, with all round demolishment I- 32
Seeking kingdom for whose sake
We find the battles partake
Warriors stand in battle, staking property and life
Pleasures, and enjoyments doing away, from strife I-33
Teachers, Fathers, Grandfathers, as well as Sons
Maternal uncles, Fathers in law, and Grandsons
All relatives assembled here
Are with actions leading nowhere I-34
Though I could be slain by them
I would not slay them in mayhem
Even for all the best in universe
Or dominion of three worlds for worse I-35
What delight can I derive
O Janardhana, tell me how to thrive
Fighting with sons of Dhritarashtra and my kin
Slaying them I accrue only sin I-36
We should not therefore slay
The sons of Dhritarashtra even for play
How can we, Madhava, have mirth
Slaughtering our kinsmen and live on earth I-37
Seeing no guilt in exterminating families
Or no crime in friend’s hostilities
My understanding is totally clouded
When all round, is greed surrounded I-38
8
Decline of family to finally perish
Time honored relations are not of cherish
Should we not learn and be able to recoil
O Janardhana, turn me away from sin and toil I- 39
In the decline of family as it perishes
Time honored religious practices diminishes
Vanishing sacred rites and spiritual relations
While impiety overtakes family traditions I-40
Impiety growing at a fast rate
O Krishna makes woman unchaste
Corruption in woman increasing
O Vaishneya, creates Caste admixing I-41
Promiscuity of clan destroyers, leads them to hell
While impiety in members of clan swell
Ancestors, departed souls, are sure to fall
Being deprived of rituals, libations, and rice-ball I- 42
Everlasting virtues and family needs
Get totally ruined by all misdeeds
Immemorial traditions of communities
Up-root clans with all promiscuities I- 43
O Janardhana, hell awaits brethren
Whose religions are destroyed and broken
Hell is verily their resting place
Where such clans have no solace I-44
Alas! Bent on perpetrating sin
Resolving to slay kith and kin
Goaded by the kingdom greed
Was it really our great need. I- 45
Dhritarashtra and his sons in array
With weapons and arms ready to slay
Unresting and unarmed in the battle
Could kill me being ready to settle I- 46
Sanjaya Speaketh
So saying, mind full of sorrow and overwhelm
Arjuna, the warrior felt to abandon mayhem
In chariot he sat with full of sorrows
Abandoning weapons, bow and all arrows I- 47
E N D ‐ C HAPTER I—DISTRESS OF ARJUNA
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