Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच	King Dhritarashtra said	dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca
धर्मक्षेत्रे	in the place of pilgrimage	dharmakṣetre
कुरुक्षेत्रे	in the place named Kuruksetra	kurukṣetre
समवेताः	assembled	samavetāḥ
युयुत्सवः	desiring to fight	yuyutsavaḥ
मामकाः	my party (sons)	māmakāḥ
पाण्डवाः	the sons of Pandu	pāṇḍavāḥ
च	and	ca
एव	certainly	eva
किं	what	kiṃ
अकुर्वत	did they do	akurvata
सञ्जय	O Sanjaya.	sañjaya

Dhrtarastra said: O Sañjaya, after my sons and the sons of Pandu assembled in the place of pilgrimage at Kuruksetra, desiring to fight, what did they do?

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
सञ्जय उवाच	Sanjaya said	sañjaya uvāca
दृष्ट्वा	after seeing	dṛṣṭvā
तु	but	tu
पाण्डवानीकं	the soldiers of the Pandavas	pāṇḍavānīkaṃ
व्यूढं	arranged in a military formation	vyūḍhaṃ
दुर्योधनः	King Duryodhana	duryodhanaḥ
तदा	at that time	tadā
आचार्यं	the teacher	ācāryaṃ
उपसङ्गम्य	approaching	upasaṅgamya
राजा	the king	rājā
वचनं	word	vacanaṃ
अब्रवीत्	spoke.	abravīt

Sañjaya said: O King, after looking over the army arranged in military formation by the sons of Pandu, King Duryodhana went to his teacher and spoke the following words.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
पश्य	behold	paśya
एतां	this	etāṃ
पाण्डुपुत्राणां	of the sons of Pandu	pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ
आचार्य	O teacher	ācārya
महतीं	great	mahatīṃ
चमूं	military fहे!rce	camūṃ
व्यूढां	arranged	vyūḍhāṃ
द्रुपदपुत्रेण	by the sहे!n हे!f Drupada	drupadaputreṇa
तव	your	tava
शिष्येण	disciple	śiṣyeṇa
धीमता	very intelligent.	dhīmatā

O my teacher, behold the great army of the sons of Pandu, so expertly arranged by your intelligent disciple the son of Drupada.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अत्र	here	atra
शूराः	heroes	śūrāḥ
महेश्वासाः	mighty bowmen	maheśvāsāḥ
भीमार्जुन	to Bhima and Arjuna	bhīmārjuna
समाः	equal	samāḥ
युधि	in the fight	yudhi
युयुधानः	Yuyudhana	yuyudhānaḥ
विराटः	Virata	virāṭaḥ
च	also	ca
द्रुपदः	Drupada	drupadaḥ
च	also	ca
महारथः	great fighter.	mahārathaḥ

Here in this army are many heroic bowmen equal in fighting to Bhima and Arjuna: great fighters like Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
धृष्टकेतुः	Dhrishtaketu	dhṛṣṭaketuḥ
चेकितानः	Cekitana	cekitānaḥ
काशिराजः	Kasiraja	kāśirājaḥ
च	also	ca
वीर्यवान्	very powerful	vīryavān
पुरुजित्	Purujit	purujit
कुन्तिभोजः	Kuntibhoja	kuntibhojaḥ
च	and	ca
शैब्यः	Saibya	śaibyaḥ
च	and	ca
नरपुङ्गवः	hero in human society.	narapuṅgavaḥ

There are also great heroic, powerful fighters like Dhrstaketu, Cekitana, Kasiraja, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and saibya.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
युधामन्युः	Yudhamanyu	yudhāmanyuḥ
च	and	ca
विक्रान्तः	mighty	vikrāntaḥ
उत्तमौजाः	Uttamauja	uttamaujāḥ
च	and	ca
वीर्यवान्	very powerful	vīryavān
सौभद्रः	the son of Subhadra	saubhadraḥ
द्रौपदेयाः	the sons of Draupadi	draupadeyāḥ
च	and	ca
सर्वे	all	sarve
एव	certainly	eva
महारथाः	great chariot fighters.	mahārathāḥ

There are the mighty Yudhamanyu, the very powerful Uttamauja, the son of Subhadra and the sons of Draupadi. All these warriors are great chariot fighters.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अस्माकं	our	asmākaṃ
तु	but	tu
विशिष्टाः	especially powerful	viśiṣṭāḥ
ये	who	ye
तान्	them	tān
निबोध	just take note of, be informed	nibodha
द्विजोत्तम	O best of the brahmanas	dvijottama
नायकाः	captains	nāyakāḥ
मम	my	mama
सैन्यस्य	of the soldiers	sainyasya
संज्ञार्थं	for information	saṃjñārthaṃ
तान्	them	tān
ब्रवीमि	I am speaking	bravīmi
ते	to you.	te

But for your information, O best of the brahmanas, let me tell you about the captains who are especially qualified to lead my military force.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
भवान्	your good self	bhavān
भीष्मः	Grandfather Bhishma	bhīṣmaḥ
च	also	ca
कर्णः	Karna	karṇaḥ
च	and	ca
कृपः	Krpa	kṛpaḥ
च	and	ca
समितिञ्जयः	always victorious in battle	samitiñjayaḥ
अश्वत्थामा	Asvatthama	aśvatthāmā
विकर्णः	Vikarna	vikarṇaḥ
च	as well as	ca
सौमदत्तिः	the son of Somadatta	saumadattiḥ
तथा	as well as	tathā
एव	certainly	eva
च	also.	ca

There are personalities like you, Bhisma, Karna, Krpa, Asvatthama, Vikarna and the son of Somadatta called Bhurisrava, who are always victorious in battle.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अन्ये	others	anye
च	also	ca
बहवः	in great numbers	bahavaḥ
शूराः	heroes	śūrāḥ
मदर्थे	for my sake	madarthe
त्यक्तजीविताः	prepared to risk life	tyaktajīvitāḥ
नाना	many	nānā
शस्त्र	weapons	śastra
प्रहरणाः	equipped with	praharaṇāḥ
सर्वे	all of them	sarve
युद्धविशारदाः	experienced in military science.	yuddhaviśāradāḥ

There are many other heroes who are prepared to lay down their lives for my sake. All of them are well equipped with different kinds of weapons, and all are experienced in military science.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अपर्याप्तं	immeasurable	aparyāptaṃ
तत्	that	tat
अस्माकं	of ours	asmākaṃ
बलं	strength	balaṃ
भीष्म	by Grandfather Bhishma	bhīṣma
अभिरक्षितं	perfectly protected	abhirakṣitaṃ
पर्याप्तं	limited	paryāptaṃ
तु	but	tu
इदं	all this	idaṃ
एतेषां	of the Pandavas	eteṣāṃ
बलं	strength	balaṃ
भीम	by Bhima	bhīma
अभिरक्षितं	carefully protected.	abhirakṣitaṃ

Our strength is immeasurable, and we are perfectly protected by Grandfather Bhisma, whereas the strength of the Pandavas, carefully protected by Bhima, is limited

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अयनेषु	in the strategic points	ayaneṣu
च	also	ca
सर्वेषु	everywhere	sarveṣu
यथाभागं	as differently arranged	yathābhāgaṃ
अवस्थिताः	situated	avasthitāḥ
भीष्मं	unto Grandfather Bhishma	bhīṣmaṃ
एव	certainly	eva
अभिरक्षन्तु	should give support	abhirakṣantu
भवन्तः	you	bhavantaḥ
सर्व	all respectively	sarva
एव हि	certainly.	eva hi

All of you must now give full support to Grandfather Bhisma, as you stand at your respective strategic points of entrance into the phalanx of the army.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
तस्य	his	tasya
सञ्जनयन्	increasing	sañjanayan
हर्षं	cheerfulness	harṣaṃ
कुरुवृद्धः	the grandsire of the Kuru dynasty (Bhishma)	kuruvṛddhaḥ
पितामहः	the grandfather	pitāmahaḥ
सिंहनादं	roaring sound, like that of a lion	siṃhanādaṃ
विनद्य	vibrating	vinadya
उच्चैः	very loudly	uccaiḥ
शङ्खं	conchshell	śaṅkhaṃ
दध्मौ	blew	dadhmau
प्रतापवान्	the valiant.	pratāpavān

Then Bhisma, the great valiant grandsire of the Kuru dynasty, the grandfather of the fighters, blew his conchshell very loudly, making a sound like the roar of a lion, giving Duryodhana joy.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
ततः	thereafter	tataḥ
शङ्खाः	conchshells	śaṅkhāḥ
च	also	ca
भेर्यः	large drums	bheryaḥ
च	and	ca
पणवानक	small drums and kettledrums	paṇavānaka
गोमुखाः	horns	gomukhāḥ
सहसा	all of a sudden	sahasā
एव	certainly	eva
अभ्यहन्यन्त	were simultaneously sounded	abhyahanyanta
सः	that	saḥ
शब्दः	combined sound	śabdaḥ
तुमुलः	tumultuous	tumulaḥ
अभवत्	became.	abhavat

After that, the conchshells, drums, bugles, trumpets and horns were all suddenly sounded, and the combined sound was tumultuous.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
ततः	thereafter	tataḥ
श्वेतैः	with white	śvetaiḥ
हयैः	horses	hayaiḥ
युक्ते	being yoked	yukte
महति	in a great	mahati
स्यन्दने	chariot	syandane
स्थितौ	situated	sthitau
माधवः	KRiShNa (the husband of the goddess of fortune)	mādhavaḥ
पाण्डवः	Arjuna (the son of Pandu)	pāṇḍavaḥ
च	also	ca
एव	certainly	eva
दिव्यौ	transcendental	divyau
शङ्खौ	conchshells	śaṅkhau
प्रदध्मतुः	sounded.	pradadhmatuḥ

On the other side, both Lord Krsna and Arjuna, stationed on a great chariot drawn by white horses, sounded their transcendental conchshells.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
पाञ्चजन्यं	the conchshell named Pancajanya	pāñcajanyaṃ
हृषीकेशः	Hrsikesa (KRiShNa, the Lord who directs the senses of the devotees)	hṛṣīkeśaḥ
देवदत्तं	the conchshell named Devadatta	devadattaṃ
धनञ्जयः	Dhananjaya (Arjuna, the winner of wealth)	dhanañjayaḥ
पौंड्रं	the conch named Paundra	pauṃḍraṃ
दध्मौ	blew	dadhmau
महाशङ्खं	the terrific conchshell	mahāśaṅkhaṃ
भीमकर्मा	one who performs herculean tasks	bhīmakarmā
वृकोदरः	the voracious eater (Bhima).	vṛkodaraḥ

Lord Krsna blew His conchshell, called Pañcajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhima, the voracious eater and performer of herculean tasks, blew his terrific conchshell, called Paundra.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अनन्तविजयं	the conch named Ananta-vijaya	anantavijayaṃ
राजा	the king	rājā
कुन्तीपुत्रः	the son of Kunti	kuntīputraḥ
युधिष्ठिरः	Yudhisthira	yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
नकुलः	Nakula	nakulaḥ
सहदेवः	Sahadeva	sahadevaḥ
च	and	ca
सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ	the conches named Sughosa and Manipuspaka	sughoṣamaṇipuṣpakau

King Yudhisthira, the son of Kunti, blew his conchshell, the Ananta-vijaya, and Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughosa and Manipuspaka.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
काश्यः	the King of Kasi (Varanasi)	kāśyaḥ
च	and	ca
परमेष्वासः	the great archer	parameṣvāsaḥ
शिखण्डी	Sikhandi	śikhaṇḍī
च	also	ca
महारथः	one who can fight alone against thousands	mahārathaḥ
धृष्टद्युम्नः	Dhristadyumna (the son of King Drupada)	dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ
विराटः	Virata (the prince who gave shelter to the Pandavas while they were in disguise)	virāṭaḥ
च	also	ca
सात्यकिः	Satyaki (the same as Yuyudhana, the charioteer of Lord KRiShNa)	sātyakiḥ
च	and	ca
अपराजितः	who had never been vanquished	aparājitaḥ

That great archer the King of Kasi, the great fighter sikhandi, Dhrstadyumna, Virata, the unconquerable Satyaki, all blew their respective conchshells.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
द्रुपदः	Drupada, the King of Pancala	drupadaḥ
द्रौपदेयाः	the sons of Draupadi	draupadeyāḥ
च	also	ca
सर्वशः	all	sarvaśaḥ
पृथिवीपते	O King	pṛthivīpate
सौभद्रः	Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadra	saubhadraḥ
च	also	ca
महाबाहुः	mighty-armed	mahābāhuḥ
शङ्खान्	conchshells	śaṅkhān
दध्मुः	blew	dadhmuḥ
पृथक्	each separately.	pṛthak

Drupada, the sons of Draupadi, and others, O King, such as the mighty-armed son of Subhadra, all blew their respective conchshells.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
सः	that	saḥ
घोषः	vibration	ghoṣaḥ
धार्तराष्ट्राणां	of the sons of Dhritarashtra	dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ
हृदयानि	hearts	hṛdayāni
व्यदारयत्	shattered	vyadārayat
नभः	the sky	nabhaḥ
च	also	ca
पृथिवीं	the surface of the earth	pṛthivīṃ
च	also	ca
एव	certainly	eva
तुमुलः	uproarious	tumulaḥ
अभ्यनुनादयन्	resounding.	abhyanunādayan

The blowing of these different conchshells became uproarious. Vibrating both in the sky and on the earth, it shattered the hearts of the sons of Dhrtarastra.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अथ	thereupon	atha
व्यवस्थितान्	situated	vyavasthitān
दृष्ट्वा	looking upon	dṛṣṭvā
धार्तराष्ट्रान्	the sons of Dhritarashtra	dhārtarāṣṭrān
कपिध्वजः	he whose flag was marked with Hanuman	kapidhvajaḥ
प्रवृत्ते	while about to engage	pravṛtte
शस्त्रसम्पाते	in releasing his arrows	śastrasampāte
धनुः	bow	dhanuḥ
उद्यम्य	taking up	udyamya
पाण्डवः	the son of Pandu (Arjuna)	pāṇḍavaḥ
हृषीकेशं	unto Lord KRiShNa	hṛṣīkeśaṃ
तदा	at that time	tadā
वाक्यं	words	vākyaṃ
इदं	these	idaṃ
आह	said	āha
महीपते	O King.	mahīpate

At that time Arjuna, the son of Pandu, seated in the chariot bearing the flag marked with Hanuman, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows. O King, after looking at the sons of Dhrtarastra drawn in military array, Arjuna then spoke to Lord Krsna these words.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अर्जुन उवाच	Arjuna said	arjuna uvāca
सेनयोः	of the armies	senayoḥ
उभयोः	both	ubhayoḥ
मध्ये	between	madhye
रथं	the chariot	rathaṃ
स्थापय	please keep	sthāpaya
मे	my	me
अच्युत	O infallible one	acyuta
यावत्	as long as	yāvat
एतान्	all these	etān
निरीक्षे	may look upon	nirīkṣe
अहं	I	ahaṃ
योद्धुकामान्	desiring to fight	yoddhukāmān
अवस्थितान्	arrayed on the battlefield	avasthitān
कैः	with whom	kaiḥ
मया	by me	mayā
सह	together	saha
योद्धव्यं	have to fight	yoddhavyaṃ
अस्मिन्	in this	asmin
रण	strife	raṇa
समुद्यमे	in the attempt.	samudyame

Arjuna said: O infallible one, please draw my chariot between the two armies so that I may see those present here, who desire to fight, and with whom I must contend in this great trial of arms.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
युद्धे	in the fight	yuddhe
योत्स्यमानान्	those who will be fighting	yotsyamānān
अवेक्षे	let me see	avekṣe
अहं	I	ahaṃ
ये	who	ye
एते	those	ete
अत्र	here	atra
समागताः	assembled	samāgatāḥ
धार्तराष्ट्रस्य	for the son of Dhritarashtra	dhārtarāṣṭrasya
दुर्बुद्धेः	evil-minded	durbuddheḥ
प्रिय	well	priya
चिकीर्षवः	wishing.	cikīrṣavaḥ
सञ्जय उवाच	Sanjaya said	sañjaya uvāca

Let me see those who have come here to fight, wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhrtarastra.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
एवं	thus	evaṃ
उक्तः	addressed	uktaḥ
हृषीकेशः	Lord KRiShNa	hṛṣīkeśaḥ
गुडाकेशेन	by Arjuna	guḍākeśena
भारत	O descendant of Bharata	bhārata
सेनयोः	of the armies	senayoḥ
उभयोः	both	ubhayoḥ
मध्ये	in the midst	madhye
स्थापयित्वा	placing	sthāpayitvā
रथोत्तमं	the finest chariot.	rathottamaṃ

Sañjaya said: O descendant of Bharata, having thus been addressed by Arjuna, Lord Krsna drew up the fine chariot in the midst of the armies of both parties.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
भीष्म	Grandfather Bhishma	bhīṣma
द्रोण	the teacher Drona	droṇa
प्रमुखतः	in front of	pramukhataḥ
सर्वेषां	all	sarveṣāṃ
च	also	ca
महीक्षितां	chiefs of the world	mahīkṣitāṃ
उवाच	said	uvāca
पार्थ	O son of Pritha	pārtha
पश्य	just behold	paśya
एतान्	all of them	etān
समवेतान्	assembled	samavetān
कुरून्	the members of the Kuru dynasty	kurūn
इति	thus.	iti

In the presence of Bhisma, Drona and all the other chieftains of the world, the Lord said, “Just behold, Partha, all the Kurus assembled here.”

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
तत्र	there	tatra
अपश्यत्	he could see	apaśyat
स्थितान्	standing	sthitān
पार्थः	Arjuna	pārthaḥ
पितृन्	fathers	pitṛn
अथ	also	atha
पितामहान्	grandfathers	pitāmahān
आचार्यान्	teachers	ācāryān
मातुलान्	maternal uncles	mātulān
भ्रातॄन्	brothers	bhrātṝn
पुत्रान्	sons	putrān
पौत्रान्	grandsons	pautrān
सखीन्	friends	sakhīn
तथा	too	tathā
श्वशुरान्	fathers-in-law	śvaśurān
सुहृदः	well-wishers	suhṛdaḥ
च	also	ca
एव	certainly	eva
सेनयोः	of the armies	senayoḥ
उभयोः	of both parties	ubhayoḥ
अपि	including.	api

There Arjuna could see, within the midst of the armies of both parties, his fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, friends, and also his fathers-in-law and well-wishers.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
तान्	all of them	tān
समीक्ष्य	after seeing	samīkṣya
सः	he	saḥ
कौन्तेयः	the son of Kunti	kaunteyaḥ
सर्वान्	all kinds of	sarvān
बन्धून्	relatives	bandhūn
अवस्थितान्	situated	avasthitān
कृपया	by compassion	kṛpayā
परया	of a high grade	parayā
आविष्टः	overwhelmed	āviṣṭaḥ
विषीदन्	while lamenting	viṣīdan
इदं	thus	idaṃ
अब्रवीत्	spoke.	abravīt

When the son of Kunti, Arjuna, saw all these different grades of friends and relatives, he became overwhelmed with compassion and spoke thus.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अर्जुन उवाच	Arjuna said	arjuna uvāca
दृष्ट्वा	after seeing	dṛṣṭvā
इमं	all these	imaṃ
स्वजनं	kinsmen	svajanaṃ
कृष्ण	O KRiShNa	kṛṣṇa
युयुत्सुं	all in a fighting spirit	yuyutsuṃ
समुपस्थितं	present	samupasthitaṃ

Arjuna said: Seeing these my kinsmen, O Krishna, arrayed, eager to fight,

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
सीदन्ति	are quivering	sīdanti
मम	my	mama
गात्राणि	limbs of the body	gātrāṇi
मुखं	mouth	mukhaṃ
च	also	ca
परिशुष्यति	is drying up.	pariśuṣyati
वेपथुः	trembling of the body	vepathuḥ
च	also	ca
शरीरे	on the body	śarīre
मे	my	me
रोमहर्षः	standing of hair on end	romaharṣaḥ
च	also	ca
जायते	is taking place	jāyate

My limbs fail and my mouth is parched, my body quivers and my hair stands on end.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
गाण्डीवं	the bow of Arjuna	gāṇḍīvaṃ
स्त्रंसते	is slipping	straṃsate
हस्तात्	from the hand	hastāt
त्वक्	skin	tvak
च	also	ca
एव	certainly	eva
परिदह्यते	is burning.	paridahyate
न	nor	na
च	also	ca
शक्नोमि	am I able	śaknomi
अवस्थातुं	to stay	avasthātuṃ
भ्रमति	forgetting	bhramati
इव	as	iva
च	and	ca
मे	my	me
मनः	mind	manaḥ

The Gandiva-bow slips from my hand, and my skin burns all over; I am also unable to stand and my mind is whirling round, as it were.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
निमित्तानि	causes	nimittāni
च	also	ca
पश्यामि	I see	paśyāmi
विपरीतानि	just the opposite	viparītāni
केशव	O killer of the demon Kesi (KRiShNa).	keśava
न	nor	na
च	also	ca
श्रेयः	good	śreyaḥ
अनुपश्यामि	do I foresee	anupaśyāmi
हत्वा	by killing	hatvā
स्वजनं	own kinsmen	svajanaṃ
आहवे	in the fight	āhave

And I see adverse omens, O Keshava. Nor do I see any good in killing my kinsmen in battle.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
न	nor	na
काङ्क्षे	do I desire	kāṅkṣe
विजयं	victory	vijayaṃ
कृष्ण	O KRiShNa	kṛṣṇa
न	nor	na
च	also	ca
राज्यं	kingdom	rājyaṃ
सुखानि	happiness thereof	sukhāni
च	also.	ca
किं	what use	kiṃ
नः	to us	naḥ
राज्येन	is the kingdom	rājyena
गोविन्द	O KRiShNa	govinda
किं	what	kiṃ
भोगैः	enjoyment	bhogaiḥ
जीवितेन	living	jīvitena
वा	either	vā

For, I desire not victory, O Krishna, nor kingdom, nor pleasures. Of what avail is dominion to us, O Govinda? Of what avail are pleasures or even life itself?

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
येषां	of whom	yeṣāṃ
अर्थे	for the sake	arthe
काङ्क्षितं	is desired	kāṅkṣitaṃ
नः	by us	naḥ
राज्यं	kingdom	rājyaṃ
भोगाः	material enjoyment	bhogāḥ
सुखानि	all happiness	sukhāni
च	also	ca
ते	all of them	te
इमे	these	ime
अवस्थिताः	situated	avasthitāḥ
युद्धे	on this battlefield	yuddhe
प्राणान्	lives	prāṇān
त्यक्त्वा	giving up	tyaktvā
धनानि	riches	dhanāni
च	also	ca

They for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyment and pleasures stand here in battle, having renounced life and wealth.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
आचार्याः	teachers	ācāryāḥ
पितरः	fathers	pitaraḥ
पुत्राः	sons	putrāḥ
तथा	as well as	tathā
एव	certainly	eva
च	also	ca
पितामहाः	grandfathers	pitāmahāḥ
मातुलाः	maternal uncles	mātulāḥ
श्वशूराः	fathers-in-law	śvaśūrāḥ
पौत्राः	grandsons	pautrāḥ
श्यालाः	brothers-in-law	śyālāḥ
सम्बन्धिनः	relatives	sambandhinaḥ
तथा	as well as	tathā

Teachers, fathers, sons and also grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
एतान्	all these	etān
न	never	na
हन्तुं	to kill	hantuṃ
इच्छामि	do I wish	icchāmi
घ्नतः	being killed	ghnataḥ
अपि	even	api
मधुसूदन	O killer of the demon Madhu (KRiShNa)	madhusūdana
अपि	even if	api
त्रैलोक्य	of the three worlds	trailokya
राज्यस्य	for the kingdom	rājyasya
हेतोः	in exchange	hetoḥ
किम् नु	what to speak of	kim nu
महीकृते	for the sake of the earth	mahīkṛte

These I do not wish to kill, though they kill me, O Madhusudana, even for the sake of dominion over the three worlds; how much less for the sake of the earth.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
निहत्य	by killing	nihatya
धार्तराष्ट्रान्	the sons of Dhritarashtra	dhārtarāṣṭrān
नः	our	naḥ
का	what	kā
प्रीतिः	pleasure	prītiḥ
स्यात्	will there be	syāt
जनार्दन	O maintainer of all living entities.	janārdana
पापं	vices	pāpaṃ
एव	certainly	eva
आश्रयेत्	must come upon	āśrayet
अस्मान्	us	asmān
हत्वा	by killing	hatvā
एतान्	all these	etān
आततायिनः	aggressors	ātatāyinaḥ

Killing these sons of Dhritarashtra, what pleasure can be ours, O Janardana? Sin alone will be our gain by killing these felons.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
तस्मात्	therefore	tasmāt
न	never	na
आर्हाः	deserving	ārhāḥ
वयं	we	vayaṃ
हन्तुं	to kill	hantuṃ
धार्तराष्ट्रान्	the sons of Dhritarashtra	dhārtarāṣṭrān
सबान्धवान्	along with friends	sabāndhavān
स्वजनं	kinsmen	svajanaṃ
हि	certainly	hi
कथं	how	kathaṃ
हत्वा	by killing	hatvā
सुखिनः	happy	sukhinaḥ
स्याम	will we become	syāma
माधव	O KRiShNa, husband of the goddess of fortune.	mādhava

Therefore we shall not kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our relatives; for how can we be happy by killing our own people, O Madhava?

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
यदि	if	yadi
अपि	even	api
एते	they	ete
न	do not	na
पश्यन्ति	see	paśyanti
लोभ	by greed	lobha
उपहत	overpowered	upahata
चेतसः	their hearts	cetasaḥ
कुलक्षय	in killing the family	kulakṣaya
कृतं	done	kṛtaṃ
दोषं	fault	doṣaṃ
मित्रद्रोहे	in quarreling with friends	mitradrohe
च	also	ca
पातकं	sinful reactions	pātakaṃ

Though these, with their intelligence clouded by greed, see no evil in the destruction of the families in the society, and no sin in their cruelty to friends

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
कथं	why	kathaṃ
न	should not	na
ज्ञेयं	be known	jñeyaṃ
अस्माभिः	by us	asmābhiḥ
पापात्	from sins	pāpāt
अस्मात्	these	asmāt
निवर्तितुं	to cease	nivartituṃ
कुलक्षय	in the destruction of a dynasty	kulakṣaya
कृतं	done	kṛtaṃ
दोषं	crime	doṣaṃ
प्रपश्यद्भिः	by those who can see	prapaśyadbhiḥ
जनार्दन	O KRiShNa.	janārdana

Why should not we, who clearly see evil in the destruction of the family-units, learn to turn away from this sin, O Janardana?

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
कुलक्षये	in destroying the family	kulakṣaye
प्रणश्यन्ति	become vanquished	praṇaśyanti
कुलधर्माः	the family traditions	kuladharmāḥ
सनातनाः	eternal	sanātanāḥ
धर्मे	religion	dharme
नष्टे	being destroyed	naṣṭe
कुलं	family	kulaṃ
कृत्स्नं	whole	kṛtsnaṃ
अधर्मः	irreligion	adharmaḥ
अभिभवति	transforms	abhibhavati
उत	it is said.	uta

In the destruction of a family, the immemorial religious rites of that family perish; on the destruction of spirituality, impiety overcomes the whole family.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अधर्म	irreligion	adharma
अभिभवात्	having become predominant	abhibhavāt
कृष्ण	O KRiShNa	kṛṣṇa
प्रदुष्यन्ति	become polluted	praduṣyanti
कुलस्त्रियः	family ladies	kulastriyaḥ
स्त्रीषु	by the womanhood	strīṣu
दुष्टासु	being so polluted	duṣṭāsu
वार्ष्णेय	O descendant of VRiShNi	vārṣṇeya
जायते	comes into being	jāyate
वर्णसङ्करः	unwanted progeny.	varṇasaṅkaraḥ

By the prevalence of impiety, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupt; and women being corrupted, O descendent of the Vrishni-clan, there arises intermingling of castes

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
सङ्करः	such unwanted children	saṅkaraḥ
नरकाय	make for hellish life	narakāya
एव	certainly	eva
कुलघ्नानां	for those who are killers of the family	kulaghnānāṃ
कुलस्य	for the family	kulasya
च	also	ca
पतन्ति	fall down	patanti
पितरः	forefathers	pitaraḥ
हि	certainly	hi
एषां	of them	eṣāṃ
लुप्त	stopped	lupta
पिण्ड	of offerings of food	piṇḍa
उदक	and water	udaka
क्रियाः	performances.	kriyāḥ

Confusion of castes leads the slayer of the family to hell; for their forefathers fall, deprived of the offerings of pinda and water.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
दोषैः	by such faults	doṣaiḥ
एतैः	all these	etaiḥ
कुलघ्नानां	of the destroyers of the family	kulaghnānāṃ
वर्णसङ्कर	of unwanted children	varṇasaṅkara
कारकैः	which are causes	kārakaiḥ
उत्साद्यन्ते	are devastated	utsādyante
जातिधर्माः	community projects	jātidharmāḥ
कुलधर्माः	family traditions	kuladharmāḥ
च	also	ca
शाश्वताः	eternal.	śāśvatāḥ

By these evil deeds of the destroyers of the family, which cause confusion of castes, the eternal religious rites of the caste and the family are destroyed.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
उत्सन्न	spoiled	utsanna
कुलधर्माणां	of those who have the family traditions	kuladharmāṇāṃ
मनुष्याणां	of such men	manuṣyāṇāṃ
जनार्दन	O KRiShNa	janārdana
नरके	in hell	narake
नियतं	always	niyataṃ
वासः	residence	vāsaḥ
भवति	it so becomes	bhavati
इति	thus	iti
अनुशुश्रुम	I have heard by disciplic succession.	anuśuśruma

We have heard, O Janardana, that it is inevitable for those men, in whose families the religious practices have been destroyed, to dwell in hell for an unknown period of time.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
अहो	alas	aho
बत	how strange it is	bata
महत्	great	mahat
पापं	sins	pāpaṃ
कर्तुं	to perform	kartuṃ
व्यवासिताः	have decided	vyavāsitāḥ
वयं	we	vayaṃ
यत्	because	yat
राज्यसुखलोभेन	driven by greed for royal happiness	rājyasukhalobhena
हन्तुं	to kill	hantuṃ
स्वजनं	kinsmen	svajanaṃ
उद्यताः	trying.	udyatāḥ

Alas! We are involved in a great sin, in that we are prepared to kill our kinsmen, from greed for the pleasures of the kingdom.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
यदि	even if	yadi
मां	me	māṃ
अप्रतीकारं	without being resistant	apratīkāraṃ
अशस्त्रं	without being fully equipped	aśastraṃ
शस्त्रपाणयः	those with weapons in hand	śastrapāṇayaḥ
धार्तराष्ट्राः	the sons of Dhritarashtra	dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ
रणे	on the battlefield	raṇe
हन्युः	may kill	hanyuḥ
तत्	that	tat
मे	for me	me
क्षेमतरं	better	kṣemataraṃ
भवेत्	would be.	bhavet

If the sons of Dhritarashtra, weapons-in-hand, slay me in battle, unresisting and unarmed, that would be better for me.

Sanskrit Word	Meaning	Transliteration
सञ्जय उवाच	Sanjaya said	sañjaya uvāca
एवं	thus	evaṃ
उक्त्वा	saying	uktvā
अर्जुनः	Arjuna	arjunaḥ
सङ्ख्ये	in the battlefield	saṅkhye
रथ	of the chariot	ratha
उपस्थे	on the seat	upasthe
उपविशत्	sat down again	upaviśat
विसृज्य	putting aside	visṛjya
सशरं	along with arrows	saśaraṃ
चापं	the bow	cāpaṃ
शोक	by lamentation	śoka
संविग्न	distressed	saṃvigna
मानसः	within the mind.	mānasaḥ

Sanjaya said : Having thus spoken in the midst of the battle-field, Arjuna sat down on the seat of the chariot, casting away his bow and arrow, with a mind distressed with sorrow.