Arjuna Vishada Yoga – The Yoga of Arjuna’s Dejection

The Song Divine

Arjuna Vishada Yoga (The Yoga of Arjuna's Dejection): The epic begins with the warrior Arjuna overwhelmed by doubt and despair on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. He is torn between his duty as a warrior and the moral dilemma of fighting his own relatives and teachers. Seeking guidance, Arjuna turns to Lord Krishna, his charioteer, for counsel.

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः।
मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय॥१॥

dhritaraashtra uvaacha
dharmakshetre kurukshetre samavetaa yuyutsavah
maamakaah paandavaashchaiva kimakurvata sanjaya

Dhrtarāstra said: Sañjaya, gathered on the holy land of Kuruksetra, eager to fight, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do? (1)

सञ्जय उवाच
दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा।
आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ २॥

sanjaya uvaacha
drishtwaa tu paandavaaneekam vyoodham duryodhanastadaa
aachaaryam upasamgamya raajaa vachanam abraveet

Sanjaya said: At that time, seeing the army of the Pandavas drawn up for battle and approaching Droņācārya, King Duryodhana spoke the following words: (2)

पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम्।
व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ॥ ३॥

pashyaitaam paanduputraanaam aacharya mahateem chamoom
vyoodhaam drupadaputrena tava shishyena dheemataa

Behold, O Revered Master, the mighty army of the sons of Pāņdu arrayed for battle by your talented pupil, Dhrstadyumna, son of Drupada. (3)

अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि।
युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ॥ ४॥
धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान्।
पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः ॥५॥
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान्।
सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ॥ ६॥

atra shooraa maheshwaasaa bheemaarjunasamaa yudhi
yuyudhaano viraatashcha drupadashcha mahaarathah (4)
dhrishtaketush chekitaanah kaashiraajascha veeryavan
purujit kuntibhojashcha shaibhyashcha narapungavah (5)
yudhaamanyushcha vikraanta uttamaujaashcha veeryavan
saubhadro draupadeyaashcha sarva eva mahaarathaah (6)

There are in this army, heroes wielding mighty bows and equal in military prowess to Bhima and Arjuna-Sātyaki and Virāța and the Mahārathi (warrior chief) Drupada; Dhrstaketu, Cekitāna and the valiant King of Kasi, and Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Saibya, the best of men, and mighty Yudhāmanyu, and valiant Uttamaujā, Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadrā, and the five sons of Draupadi all of them Mahārathis (warrior chiefs). (4-6)

अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम।
नायका मम सैन्यस्य सज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते ॥ ७॥

asmaakam tu vishishtaa ye taan nibodha dwijottama
naayakaa mama sainyasya samjnaartham taan braveemi te (7)

O best of Brāhmaṇas, know them also who are the principal warriors on our side— the generals of my army. For your information I mention them. (7)

भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः।
अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ॥८॥

bhavaan bheeshmashcha karnashcha kripashcha samitinjayah
ashwatthaamaa vikarnashcha saumadattis tathaiva cha (8)

Yourself and Bhisma and Karna and Krpa, who is ever victorious in battle; and even so Asvatthāmā, Vikarna and Bhurisrava (the son of Somadatta); (8)

अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः।
नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः॥ ९ ॥

anye cha bahavah shooraa madarthe tyaktajeevitaah
naanaashastrapraharanaah sarve yuddhavishaaradaah

And there are many other heroes, equipped with various weapons and missiles, who have staked their lives for me, all skilled in warfare. (9)

अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम्।
पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ॥ १०॥

aparyaaptam tad asmaakam balam bheeshmaabhirakshitam
paryaaptam twidam eteshaam balam bheemaabhirakshitam

This army of ours, fully protected by Bhīşma, is unconquerable; while that army of theirs, guarded in every way by Bhima, is easy to conquer.(10)

अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः।
भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ॥ ११ ॥

ayaneshu cha sarveshu yathaabhaagam avasthitaah
bheeshmam evaabhirakshantu bhavantah sarva eva hi

Therefore, stationed in your respective positions on all fronts, do you all guard Bhişma in particular on all sides.”(11)

तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्ष कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः।
सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्ख दध्मौ प्रतापवान्॥१२॥

tasya sanjanayan harsham kuruvriddhah pitaamahah
simhanaadam vinadyocchaih shankham dadhmau prataapavaan

The grand old man of the Kaurava race, their glorious grand-patriarch Bhīşma, cheering up Duryodhana, roared terribly like a lion and blew his conch. (12)

ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः।
सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥ १३ ॥

tatah shankaashcha bheryashcha panavaanakagomukhaah sahasaivaabhyahanyanta sa shabdastumulo bhavat

Then conchs, kettledrums, tabors, drums and trumpets suddenly blared forth and the noise was tumultuous.    (13)

ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ।
माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः ॥१४॥

tatah shvetair hayair yukte mmahati syandane sthitau
maadhavah paandavashchaiva divyau shankhau pradadhmatuh

Then, seated in a glorious chariot drawn by white horses, Śrī Krsna as well as Arjuna blew their celestial conchs. (14)

पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः।
पौण्डूं दध्मौ महाशवं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः॥ १५॥

paanchajanyam hrisheekesho devadattam dhananjayah
paundram dadhmau mahaashankham bheemakarmaa vrikodarah

Śrī Krşņa blew His conch named Pāñcajanya; Arjuna, Devadatta; while Bhīma of ferocious deeds blew his mighty conch Paundra. (15)

अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः।
नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ॥ १६॥

anantavijayam raajaa kunteeputro yudhishthirah
nakulah sahadevashcha sughoshamanipushpakau

King Yudhisthira, son of Kuntī, blew his conch Anantavijaya, while Nakula and Sahadeva blew theirs, known as Sughoșa and Manipușpaka respectively. (16)

काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः।
धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ॥ १७॥
द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते।
सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक् पृथक् ॥१८॥

kaashyashcha parameshwaasah shikhandee cha mahaarathah
dhrishtadyumno viraatashcha saatyakishchaaparaajitah
drupado draupadeyaashcha sarvashah prithiveepate
saubhadrashcha mahaabaahuh shankhaan dadhmuh prithak prithak

And the excellent archer, the King of Kasi, and Sikhandi the Maharathi (the great chariot-warrior), Dhrstadyumna and Virāța, and invincible Sātyaki, Drupada as well as the five sons of Draupadī, and the mighty-armed Abhimanyu, son of Subhadra, all of them, O lord of the earth, severally blew their respective conchs from all sides. (17-18)

स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत्।
नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन्॥१९॥

sa ghosho dhaartaraashtraanaam hridayaani vyadaarayat
nabhashcha prithiveem chaiva tumulo vyanunaadayan

And the terrible sound, echoing through heaven and earth, rent the hearts of Dhrtarastra’s army. (19)

अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान् कपिध्वजः।
प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः॥ २०॥
हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते।
अर्जुन उवाच
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ॥ २१॥

atha vyavasthitaan drishtwaa dhaartaraashtraan kapidhwajah
pravritte shastrasampaate dhanurudyamya paandavah
hrisheekesham tadaa vaakyamidamaaha maheepate

arjuna uvaacha
senayor ubhayormadhye ratham sthaapaya me’chyuta

Now, O lord of the earth, seeing your sons arrayed against him and when missiles were ready to be hurled, Arjuna, who had the figure of Hanumān on the flag of his chariot, took up his bow and then addressed the following words to Sri Krsna; “Krsna, place my chariot between the two armies”. (20-21)

यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान्।
कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिरणसमुद्यमे ॥ २२॥

yaavad etaan nireekshe’ham yoddhukaamaan avasthitaan
kair mayaa saha yoddhavyam asmin ranasamudyame

“And keep it there till I have carefully observed these warriors drawn up for battle, and have seen with whom I have to engage in this fight. (22)

योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः।
धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः॥ २३ ॥

yotsyamaanaan avekshe’ham ya ete’tra samaagataah
dhaartaraashtrasya durbuddher yuddhe priyachikeershavah

“I shall scan the well-wishers of evil-minded Duryodhana, in this war whoever have assembled on his side and are ready for the fight.” (23)

सञ्जय उवाच
एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत।
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम्॥ २४॥
भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम्।
उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति ॥ २५॥

sanjaya uvaacha evamukto hrisheekesho gudaakeshena bhaarata
senayor ubhayormadhye sthaapayitwaa rathottamam
bheeshma drona pramukhatah sarveshaam cha maheekshitam
uvaacha paartha pashyaitaan samavetaan kuroon iti

Sanjaya said: O king, thus addressed by Arjuna, Śrī Krşņa placed the magnificent chariot between the two armies in front of Bhīşma, Droņa and all the kings and said, “Arjuna, behold these Kauravas assembled here.” (24-25)

तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितृनथ पितामहान्।
आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातृन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा ॥ २६॥
श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि।

tatraa pashyat sthitaan paarthah pitrin atha pitaamahaan
aacharyaan maatulaan bhraatrun putraan pautraan sakheemstathaa
shvashuraan suhridashchaiva senayorubhayorapi

Now Arjuna saw stationed there in both the armies his uncles, grand-uncles and teachers, even great grand-uncles, maternal uncles, brothers and cousins, sons and nephews, and grand-nephews, even so friends, fathers-in-law and well-wishers as well. (26 & first half of 27)

तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान् ॥ २७॥
कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत्।।

taan sameekshya sa kaunteyah sarvaan bandhoon avasthitaan
kripayaa parayaa’vishto visheedannidam abraveet

Seeing all the relations present there, Arjuna was overcome with deep compassion and spoke thus in sorrow. (Second half of 27 and first half of 28)

अर्जुन उवाच
दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम्॥ २८॥
सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति।
वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते ॥ २९॥

arjuna uvaacha
drishtwe mam swajanam krishna yuyutsum samupasthitam
seedanti mama gaatraani mukham cha parishushyati
vepathushcha shareere me romaharshashcha jaayate

Arjuna said: Krsna, as I see these kinsmen arrayed for battle, my limbs give way, and my mouth is getting parched; nay, a shiver runs through my body and hair stands on end.(Second half of 28 and 29)

गाण्डीवं स्त्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते।
न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ॥ ३०॥

gaandeevam sramsate hastaat twak chaiva paridahyate
na cha shaknomyavasthaatum bhramateeva cha me manah

The bow, Gandiva, slips from my hand and my skin too burns all over; my mind is whirling, as it were, and I can no longer hold myself steady. (30)

निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव।
न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे॥ ३१॥

nimittaani cha pashyaami vipareetaani keshava
na cha shreyo’nupashyaami hatwaa swajanam aahave

And, Keśava, I see such omens of evil, nor do I see any good in killing my kinsmen in battle. (31)

न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च।
किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा॥ ३२॥

na kaangkshe vijayam krishna na cha raajyam sukhaani cha
kim no raajyena govinda kim bhogair jeevitena vaa

Krsna, I do not covet victory, nor kingdom, nor pleasures. Govinda, of what use will kingdom or luxuries or even life be to us!    (32)

येषामर्थे काक्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च।
त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च॥ ३३॥
आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः।
मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा ॥ ३४॥

yeshaam arthe kaangkshitam no raajyam bhogaah sukhaani cha
ta ime’vasthitaa yuddhe praanaams tyaktwaa dhanaani cha
aachaaryah pitarah putraastathaiva cha pitaamahaah
maatulaah shwashuraah pautraah shyaalaah sambandhinas tathaa

Those very persons for whose sake we covet the kingdom, luxuries and pleasures-teachers, uncles, sons and nephews and even so, granduncles and great grand-uncles, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grand-nephews, brothers-in-law and other relations-are here arrayed on the battlefield staking their lives and wealth. (33-34)

एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घनतोऽपि मधुसूदन।
अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते ॥ ३५॥

etaan na hantum icchaami ghnato’pi madhusoodana
api trailokya raajyasya hetoh kim nu maheekrite

O Slayer of Madhu, I do not want to kill them, even though they slay me, even for the sovereignty over the three worlds; how much the less for the kingdom here on earth! (35)

निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन।
पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ॥ ३६॥

nihatya dhaartaraashtraan nah kaa preetih syaaj janaardana
paapam evaashrayed asmaan hatwaitaan aatataayinah

Krsna, how can we hope to be happy slaying the sons of Dhrtarāstra; by killing even these desperadoes, sin will surely accrue to us. (36)

तस्मान्नाह वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान्।
स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ॥ ३७॥

tasmaan naarhaa vayam hantum dhaartaraashtraan swabaandhavaan
swajanam hi katham hatwaa sukhinah syaama maadhava

Therefore, Krsna, it does not behove us to kill our relations, the sons of Dhrtarāstra. For, how can we be happy after killing our own kinsmen? (37)

यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः।
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ॥ ३८ ॥
कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम्।
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ॥ ३९॥

yadyapyete na pashyanti lobhopahatachetasah
kulakshayakritam dosham mitradrohe cha paatakam
katham na jneyam asmaabhih paapaad asmaan nivartitum
kulakshayakritam dosham prapashyadbhir janaardana

Even though these people, with their mind blinded by greed, perceive no evil in destroying their own race and no sin in treason to friends, why should not we, O Krsna, who see clearly the sin accruing from the destruction of one’s family, think of desisting from committing this foul deed. (38-39)

कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः।
धर्मे नष्ट्रे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत॥ ४० ॥

kulakshaye pranashyanti kuladharmaah sanaatanaah
dharme nashte kulam kritsnam adharmo’bhibhavatyuta

Age-long family traditions disappear with the destruction of a family; and virtue having been lost, vice takes hold of the entire race. (40)

अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः।
स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वाष्र्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः४१॥

adharmaabhibhavaat krishna pradushyanti kulastriyah
streeshu dushtaasu vaarshneya jaayate varnasankarah

With the preponderance of vice, Krsna, the women of the family become corrupt; and with the corruption of women, O descendant of Vrsni, there ensues an intermixture of castes. (41)

सङ्को नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च।
पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः॥४२॥

sankaro narakaayaiva kulaghnaanaam kulasya cha
patanti pitaro hyeshaam luptapindodaka kriyaah

Progeny due to promiscuity damns the destroyers of the race as well as the race itself. Deprived of the offerings of rice and water (Śrāddha, Tarpana etc.,) the manes of their race also fall. (42)

दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः।
उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ॥४३॥

doshair etaih kulaghnaanaam varnasankarakaarakaih
utsaadyante jaatidharmaah kuladharmaashcha shaashwataah

Through these evils bringing about an intermixture of castes, the age-long caste traditions and family customs of the killers of kinsmen get extinct. (43)

उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन।
नरकेऽनियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥४४॥

utsannakuladharmaanaam manushyaanaam janaardana
narake niyatam vaaso bhavateetyanushushruma

Krsna, we hear that men who have lost their family traditions dwell in hell for an indefinite period of time. (44)

अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम्।
यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ॥ ४५ ॥

aho bata mahat paapam kartum vyavasitaa vayam
yadraajya sukhalobhena hantum swajanam udyataah

Oh what a pity! Though possessed of intelligence we have set our mind on the commission of a great sin; that due to lust for throne and enjoyment we are intent on killing our own kinsmen. (45)

यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः।
धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत्॥ ४६॥

yadi maam aprateekaaram ashastram shastrapaanayah
dhaartaraashtraa rane hanyus tanme kshemataram bhavet

It would be better for me if the sons of Dhrtarāstra, armed with weapons, kill me in battle, while I am unarmed and unresisting. (46)

सञ्जय उवाच
एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः सङ्ख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्।
विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः ॥ ४७॥

sanjaya uvaacha
evamuktwaa’rjunah sankhye rathopastha upaavishat
visrijya sasharam chaapam shokasamvignamaanasah

Sanjaya said: Arjuna, whose mind was agitated by grief on the battlefield, having spoken thus, and having cast aside his bow and arrows, sank into the hinder part of his chariot. (47)

ॐ तत्सदिति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासूपनिषत्सु ब्रह्मविद्यायां
योगशास्त्रे श्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादेऽर्जुनविषादयोगो नामप्रथमोऽध्यायः ॥ १ ॥

om tat sat iti srimad bhagavadgeetaasu upanishatsu brahma vidyaayaam yogashaastre sri krishnaarjuna samvaade arjuna vishaada yogo naama prathamo’dyaayah

Thus, in the Upanisad sung by the Lord, the Science of Brahma, the scripture of Yoga, the dialogue between Šrī Krsna and Arjuna, ends the first chapter entitled “The Yoga of Dejection of Arjuna.”