"On the Battlefield of Kuruksetra"


While the enemy armies were being built into battle formations, Arjuna, a mighty warrior, looked at his close relatives, teachers and friends, standing on opposite sides of the field, ready to fight and sacrifice their lives. Overwhelmed with sadness and regret, Arjuna is denied strength, his mind is embarrassed and the resolve to fight leaves him.
So, we begin to study one of the most popular works of Eastern philosophy.
Bhagavad-gita is not only one of the most popular, but also one of the most mysterious works of this world.
And this means that it must not only be read, it must be studied according to certain rules that have been in force for several thousand years.
What is unusual about this book? Many scholars and specialists have tried to understand this treatise, having spent decades studying it, but have not come close to the truth by a single step.
And the thing is that this work is personal in nature, i.e. comes into contact with the reader, reacts to the level of his consciousness, to his thoughts, desires and goals.
Bhagavad-gita is not a dead letter, made up of printing ink, applied to ordinary paper. This is the very living book about which legends go. Bhagavad-gita is the Absolute Truth, which takes the form of a book, and which carries all the qualities of the Absolute Truth.
And most importantly, its quality is personality. She looks at us, the readers, and draws her conclusions, deciding whether to open to us, and if to open, how much. Therefore, the study of such treatises is more like devotion, friendship or love.

TEXT 1

Shri Krishna

dhrtarastra uvcha 
dharma-ksetre kuru-ksetre samaveta yuyutsavah 
mamakah pandavash caiva kim akurvata sanjaya
dhrtarastrah uva - King Dhrtarastra said; dharma-ksetre - at the place of pilgrimage; kuru-ksetre - in a place called Kuruksetra; samavetah - gathered; yuyutsavah - those who want to join the battle; mamakah - those who are on my side (my sons); pandavah - the sons of Pandu; ca - i; eva - unconditionally; kim - what; akurvata - done; sanjaya - O Sanjaya.
Dhrtarastra asked: O Sanjaya, what did my sons and sons Pandu do when they, eager to join the battle, gathered at the pilgrimage site, on the Kurukshetra field?

TEXT 2

Shri Krishan


sanjaya uvcha 
drstva tu pandavanikam vyudham duryodhanas tada 
acaryam upasangamya raja vachanam abravit
sanjayah uvaca - Sanjaya said; drshtva - having examined; tu - but; pandava-anikam - the army of the Pandavas; vyudham - lined up in battle formations; duryodhana - - king of Duryodhana; tada - then; acaryam - to the teacher; upasangamya - going up; raja - the king; vacanam - speech; abravit - uttered.
Sanjaya said: Looking around the battle formations of the army of the sons of Pandu, King Duryodhana went to his teacher and uttered such words.

TEXT 3


pasyaytam pandu-putranam acarya mahatim chamum 
vyudham drupada-putrena tava sisyena dhimata
pasya - take a look; etam - to this; pandu-putranam - the sons of Pandu; acarya - O teacher; mahatim - great; chamum — the army; vyudham - built; drupada-putrena — the son of Drupada; tava - by yours; sisyena - by the disciple; dhi-mata - wise.
Look, teacher, at the huge army of sons of Pandu, which your gifted student, the son of Drupada, has so skillfully built.

TEXT 4

Shri Krishna

atra sura maheshv-asa bhimarjuna-sama yudhi 
yuiudhano viratash ca drupadash ca maha-rathah
atra — here; surah - the heroes; maha-ishu-asah — well-aimed archers; bhima-arjuna - to Bhime and Arjuna; samah - equal; yudhi - in battle; yuyudhanah - Yuyudhana; virata - Virata; ca — also; drupada - Drupada; ca — also; maha-rathah - the great warrior.
In this army there are many brave archers who are not inferior in battle to Bhima and Arjuna. Among them are such great warriors as Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada.

TEXT 5


dhrstaketush cekitanah kashirajash ca viryavan 
purujit kuntibhojash ca shaibyash ca nara-pungavah
dhrstaketuh - Dhrstaketu; chekitanah - chekitana; kashirajah - kashiraja; ca - i; virya-van - mighty; purujit - Purujit; kuntibhodjah - Kuntibhodja; ca - i; saibyah - saibya; ca - i; nara-pungavah - a hero among people.
On their side are the great, brave and mighty warriors of Dhrstaketu, Chekitan, Kashiraj, Purujit, Kuntibhodzha and Shaibya.

TEXT 6

Shri Krishna

yudhamanyush ca vikranta uttamaudzhash ca viryavan 
saubhadro draupadeyash ca sarva eva maha-ratthah
yudhamanyuh - yudhamanyu; ca - i; vikrantah - mighty; uttamaujah - Uttamauja; ca - i; virya-van - possessing extraordinary power; saubhadrah - the son of Subhadra; draupadeyah - the sons of Draupadi; ca - i; sarve — everything; eva - unconditionally; maha-rathah - great warriors fighting in chariots.
The mighty Yudhamanyu, the formidable Uttamauja, and the son of Subhadra and the sons of Draupadi are with them. All of them are great warriors who know the art of chariot fighting.

TEXT 7

Krishna

asmakam tu visishta ye tan nibodha dvidzhottama 
nayaka mother sainyasya samjnartham tan bravimi te
asmakam — ours; tu - but; visishtah - extraordinarily powerful; ye - which; tan - them; nibodha — know now; dvija-uttama - O best of the brahmanas; nayakah - the military leaders; mom is mine; sainyasya - the troops; samjna-artham - note; tan - them; bravimi - I call; those to you.
And now, O best of the brahmanas, learn from me about the outstanding warlords who will lead my army into battle. 

TEXT 8

Krishna


 bhavan bhishmash ca karnash ca krpash ca samitim-jayah 
ashvatthama vicarnas ca saumadattis tathaiva cha
bhavan - you (venerable); bhismah - Bhisma; ca - i; karnah - karna; ca - i; krpah - Kripa; ca - i; samitim-jayah - conquering; asvatthama - asvatthama; Vikarnah - Vikarn; ca - and also; saumadattih - son of Somadatta; tatha - also; eva - of course; ca - and.
Among them are invincible warriors like yourself, Bhisma, Karna, Kripa, Ashvatthama, Vikarn, and the son of Somadatta named Bhurishrava.

TEXT 9

Bhagavad Gita

anye ca bahavah sura mad-arthé tyakta-jivitah 
nana-sastra-praharanah sarve yuddha-visarada
anye - others; ca — also; bahavah - many; surah - the heroes; mat-arthhe - for me; tyakta-jivitah - ready to give their lives; nana - by many; sastra — with weapons; praharanah - armed; sarve — everything; yuddha-visaradah - experienced in military affairs.
There are many other heroes in our ranks who are ready to give their lives for me. They all own a variety of weapons and are experienced in combat.

TEXT 10

Shri Krishna

aparyaptam tad asmakam balam bhishmabhiraksitam 
paryaptam tv idam etesam balam bhimabhiraksitam
aparyaptam - is immeasurable; tat - that; asmakam - ours; balam - power; bhisma - bhismoy; abhiraksitam - reliably protected; paryaptam - is limited; tu - but; idam - this; ethesam - of (these) Pandavas; balam - power; bhima - bhima; abhiraksitam - well protected.
Our forces are immeasurable, and our army is reliably protected by Grandfather Bhisma, while the forces of the Pandavas, which Bhima carefully defends, are limited.

TEXT 11


ayaneshu ca sarvesu yatha-bhagam avasthitah 
bhismam evabhiraksantu bhavantah sarva eva hi
ayaneshu - in strategic positions; ca — also; sarvesu - at all; yatha-bhagam - separately; avasthitah - being; bhismam - bhisma; eva - unconditionally; abhiraksantu - let them give support; bhavantah - you (venerable); sarve — everything; eva hee - necessary.
Each of you, defending your position in battle formations, must provide all possible support to Bhisma.

TEXT 12


tasya sanjanayan harsam kuru-vrddhah pitamahah 
simha-nadam vinadyochchaikh sankham dadhmau pratapavan
tasya — him; sanjanayan - enhancing; harsam - joy; kuru-vrddhah - the elder of the Kuru clan (Bhisma); pitamahah - grandfather; simha-nadam - a rumbling sound similar to a roaring lion; vinadya - by publishing; uchaih - very loudly; shankham - into the sink; dadhmau - trumpeted; pratapa-van - valiant.
Then Bhisma, the valiant elder of the Kuru clan, the most respectable of the warriors gathered at Kurukshetra, blew loudly into his sink, and its sound, like a lion's roar, filled the heart of Duryodhana with joy.

TEXT 13


tatah shankhash ca bheryash ca panavanaka-gomukhah 
sahasaivabhyaanyanta sa shabdas tumulo 'bhavat
tatah - then; shankhah - shells; ca — also; bheryah - the great drums; ca - i; panava-anaka - small drums and timpani; go-mukhah - and the horns; sahasa - unexpectedly; eva - unconditionally; abhyahanyanta - at the same time they sounded; sah — this; sabdah — sound; tumulah - thunderous; abhavat - was.
Echoing him, shells, drums, pipes, horns and horns sounded at once, filling the air with a thundering hum. 

TEXT 14


tatah shvetair hayair yukte mahati syandane sthitau 
madhavah pandavash civa divyau shankhau pradadhmatuh
tatah - then; svetaih - in white; hayaih - by horses; yukte - on the harnessed; mahati - on the magnificent; syandane - in a chariot; sthitau — those who were; madhavah - Krsna (husband of the goddess of fortune); pandavah - the son of Pandu (Arjuna); ca — also; eva - unconditionally; divyau - into the divine; shankhau — shells; pradadhmatuh - they blew.
Then, on the other side, Lord Krishna and Arjuna, standing on a magnificent chariot drawn by white horses, blew their divine shells.

TEXT 15


panchajanyam hrsikesho devadattam dhananjayah 
poundram dadhmau maha-shankham bhima-karma vrkodara
panchajanyam - into the conch called Panchajanya; hrsika-isah - Hrishikesa (Lord Krsna commanding the senses of His devotees); devadattam — into a conch called Devadatta; dhanam-jayah - Dhananjaya (Arjuna, the conqueror of wealth); poundram — into a conch called Poundra; dadhmau - blew; maha-shankham - into a huge shell; bhima-karma - performing heroic deeds; vrka-udarah - an insatiable eater (Bhima).
Lord Krishna blew Panchajanya into His shell and Arjuna into his Devadatta; the insatiable Bhima, glorious for his heroic deeds, blew Poundra into his huge shell.

TEXTS 16–18



anantavijayam raja kunti-putro yudhisthirah 
nakulah sahadevash ca sughosha-manipushpakau
kasyash ca parameshv-asah shikhandi ca maha-rathah 
dhrstadyumno viratas ca satyakish chaparajitah
Drupado Draupadeyash ca sarvasah prthivi-pate 
saubhadrash ca maha-bahuh shankhan dadhmuh prthak prthak
ananta-vijayam - into the shell of Anantavijayu; raja - the king; kunti-putrah - the son of Kunti; yudhisthirah - Yudhishthira; nakulah — Nakula; sahadevah - sahadeva; ca - i; sughosha-manipushpakau - into the shells of Sughoshu and Manipushpaku; kasyah - the king of Kashi (Varanasi); ca - i; parama-isu-asah - the great archer; shikhandi - shikhandi; ca — also; maha-rathah - one who can fight thousands of warriors alone; dhrstadyumnah - Dhrstadyumna (son of King Drupada); virata - Virata (the king who gave shelter to the Pandavas when they were forced to hide); ca — also; satyakih - Satyak (another name for Yuyudhana, the chariot of Lord Krishna); ca - i; aparajitah - invincible; drupada - Drupada, king of Panchala; draupadeyah - the sons of Draupadi; ca — also; sarvasah - everywhere; prthivi-pate - O King; saubhdrah - Abhimanyu, son of Subhadra; ca — also; maha-bahuh - mighty-armed; shankhan - into the shells; dadhmuh - they have trumpeted prthak prthak - each individually.
King Yudhisthira, the son of Kunti, blew Anantavijaya into his sink, and Nakula and Sahadeva trumped Sughosh and Manipushpaku into the sinks. The great archer, king Kashi, the great warrior of Shikhandi, Dhrstadjumna, Virata, the invincible Satyaka, Drupada, the sons of Draupadi and other warriors, such as the mighty-armed son of Subhadra, O sovereign, also blew each into his shell.

TEXT 19



sa ghosho dhartarashtranam hrdayani vyadarayat 
nabhash ca prthivim caiva tumulo 'bhyanunadayan
sah — that; ghosah — sound; dhartarastranam - the sons of Dhrtarastra; hrdayani — hearts; vyadarayat - made him shudder; nabhah - the sky; ca — also; prthivim - the surface of the earth; ca — also; eva - unconditionally; tumulah - thunderous; abhyanunadayan - the announcer.
The thunderous sounds of their shells merged into a continuous rumble. By announcing heaven and earth, they made the hearts of the sons of Dhritarashtra tremble.

TEXT 20



atha vyavasthitan drstva dhartarashtran kapi-dhvajah 
pravrtte sastra-sampate dhanur udyamya pandavah 
hrsikesam tada vakyam idam aha mahi-pate
atha - then; vyavasthitan - of those lined up; drstva - looking around; dhartarastran - the sons of Dhrtarastra; kapi-dhvajah - the one whose flag was decorated with the image of Hanuman; pravrtte - when he was ready; sastra-sampate - launch arrows; dhanuh - bow; udyamya - throwing up; pandavah - the son of Pandu (Arjuna); hrsikesam - to Lord Krsna; tada - then; vakyam - speech; idam - this; aha - uttered; mahi-pate - O King.
Then Arjuna, son of Pandu, who was seated on a chariot decorated with a flag with the image of Hanuman, threw up his bow and prepared to shoot. But, looking at the sons of Dhritarashtra, who were lined up in battle columns, O King, Arjuna addressed Lord Krishna with these words.

TEXTS 21–22



arjuna uvaca 
senayor ubhayor madhye ratham sthapaya me 'chyuta 
yavad ethan nirikshe' ham yoddhu-kaman avasthitan
cairo maya saha yoddhavyam asmin raana-samudyame
arjunah uvaca - Arjuna said; senayoh - armies; ubhayoh - of two; madhye - between; ratham — the chariot; sthapaya - stop; me - mine; acyuta - O infallible; yavat - bye; ethan - on these; nirikshe - I look; aham - I; yoddhu-kaman - desiring to fight; avasthitan - lined up on the battlefield; kaih - with whom; maya - by me; saha - together; yoddhavyam - the need to fight; asmin - in this; wound - battles; samudyame - in an attempt.
Arjuna said: O infallible one, I ask you, take my chariot forward and put it between the two armies, so that I can see those who come here, wanting to fight with us, and whom I have to face in this great battle.

TEXT 23


yotsyamanan avekshe 'ham ya ete' tra samagatah 
dhartarashtrasya durbuddher yuddhe priya-chikirsavah
yotsyamanan - against those who will fight; avekshe - I look; aham - I; ye - which; ete — these; atra — here; samagatah - gathered; dhartarashtrasya - the son of King Dhritarashtra; durbuddheh - malevolent; yuddhe - in battle; priya — success; chikirsavah - those who desire.
Let me take a look at those who are going to fight us in order to please the evil son of Dhrtarastra.

TEXT 24


sanjaya uvcha 
evam ukto hrsikesho gudakesena bharata 
senayor ubhayor madhye sthapayitva ratthtamam
sanjayah uvaca - Sanjaya said; evam - in this way; uktah - the one to whom the request was addressed; hrsikesah - Lord Krsna; gudakesena - Arjuna; bharata - O descendant of Bharata; senayoh - armies; ubhayoh - of two; madhye - between; sthapayitva - by placing; ratha-uttamam - the wonderful chariot.
Sanjaya said: O descendant of Bharata, in response to the request of Arjuna, Lord Krishna brought forward his wonderful chariot and placed it between the two armies.

TEXT 25


bhisma-drona-pramukhatah sarvesham ca mahi-ksitam 
uvcha partha pasyayitan samavetan kurun iti
bhisma - the grandfather of Bhisma; drona - drona teachers; pramukhatah - in the face; sarvesam - of all; ca — also; mahi-ksitam - the masters of the world; uvaca - said; partha - O son of Prtha; pasya — look at that; ethan - on these; samavetan - of the assembled; kurun - members of the Kuru clan; iti - like that.
In the face of Bhisma, Drona, and all the rulers of the world, the Lord said: "Take a look, O Partha, at all the Kurus gathered here."

TEXT 26



tatrapashyat sthitan parthah pitrn atha pitamahan 
acharyan matulan bhratrn putran pautran sakhims tatha 
svashuran suhrdash caiva senayor ubhayor api
tatra - there; apasyat - saw; sthitan - of those who stand; parthah - Arjuna; pitrn — of the fathers; atha - also; pitamahan - grandfathers; acaryan - of the teachers; matulan - maternal uncles; bhratrn - of the brothers; putran - sons; pautran - grandchildren; sakhin - friends; tatha - also; svashuran - father-in-law; suhrdah - well-wishers; ca — also; eva - unconditionally; senayoh - armies; ubhayoh - of both (warring parties); api also.
Standing between the two armies, Arjuna saw in their ranks his fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandchildren, friends, as well as father-in-law and well-wishers.

TEXT 27



tan samiksya sa kaunteyah sarvan bandhun avasthitan 
krpaya parayavisto vishidann idam abravit
tan - them; samiksya - seeing; sah — he; kaunteyah - the son of Kunti; sarvan — of all; bandhun - of relatives; avasthitan — those who are; krpaya - with compassion; paraya - by the great; avistah - full of; visidan - afflicted; idam is that; abravit - said.
When Kunti's son, Arjuna, saw all his friends and relatives on the battlefield, his heart was full of compassion. Depressed, he uttered such words.

TEXT 28



arjuna uvcha 
drstvehamam sva-janam krsna yuyutsum samupastitam 
sidanti mother gatrani mukham ca parisushyati
arjunah uvaca - Arjuna said; drstva - seeing; imam - this; sva-janam - relatives; krsna - O Krsna; yuyutsum - militant; samupasthitam - situated; sidanti - tremble; mom is mine; gatrani — members of the body; mukham — the mouth; ca - i; parisusyati - is drying up.
Arjuna said: O Krishna, seeing friends and relatives in front of me burning with a desire to fight, I feel my legs give way and my mouth is dry.

TEXT 29



Vepathush ca sharire me roma-harshash ca jayate 
gandivam sramsate hastat tvak caiva paridahyate
vepathuh — trembling; ca — also; sarire - in the body; me — mine; roma-harsah - raising hair on end; ca — also; jayate - is happening; gandivam - the famous bow of Arjuna; sramsate - falls out; hastat - from the hand; tvak - skin; ca — also; eva - of course; paridahyate - burns.
My body trembled, my hair stood on end, Gandiva's bow fell out of my hands, and my skin glowed like a fire.

TEXT 30



na ca shaknomy avasthatum bhramativa ca me manah 
nimittani ca pasyami viparitani kesava
na - not; ca — also; shaknomi - can; avasthatum — to remain; bhramati - forgets; willow - as if; ca - i; me — mine; manah - the mind; nimittani - causes; ca — also; pasyami - I see; viparitani - the opposite; kesava - O Krishna who has killed the demon Kesi.
I can no longer stay here. My memory refuses, and my mind is clouded. All that I see portends misery alone, O Krishna, who defeated the demon Kesi.

TEXT 31



na ca shreyo 'nupashyami hatva sva-janam ahave 
na kanksha vijayam krsna na cha rajyam sukhani ca
na - not; ca — also; sreyah - good; anupasyami - I foresee; hatva - by killing; sva-janam - his kindred; ahave - in battle; na - not; kankse - I wish; vijayam - victory; krsna - O Krsna; na - not; ca — also; rajyam - the kingdom; sukhani - joys (conquered at such a price); ca too.
I do not understand what benefit I will receive by killing my relatives in this battle. Neither victory, nor kingdom, nor happiness at such a price are necessary to me, O Krishna.


TEXTS 32–35



kim no rajyena govinda kim bhogair jivitena wa 
yesham arth kanksitam no rajyam bhogah sukhani ca
ta ime 'vasthita yuddhe pranams tyaktva dhanani ca 
acaryah pitarah putras tathaiva ca pitamahah
matulah svashurah pautrah syalah sambandhinas tatha 
ethan na hantum ichchami ghnato 'pi madhusudana
api trailokya-rajyasya hetoh kim well mahi-krte 
nihatya dhartarashtran nah ka quiet down syaj janardana
kim - what; nah - to us; rajyena - by the kingdom; govinda - O Krsna; kim - what; bhogaih - by pleasures; jivitena — by life; va - or; yesam - of whom; arthe - with purpose; kanksitam — desired; nah - ours; rajyam - the kingdom; bhogah - material enjoyment; sukhani — joys; ca — also; those are they; ime - these; avasthitah - being; yuddhe - on the battlefield; pranan - of life; tyaktva - giving; dhanani - wealth; ca — also; acaryah - the teachers; pitarah — the fathers; putrah — sons; tatha - also; eva - unconditionally; ca - i; pitamahah - grandfathers; matulah - maternal uncle; svasurah - father-in-law; pautrah — grandchildren; syalah - sons-in-law, brother-in-law; sambandhinah - relatives; tatha - then; ethan - these; na - not; hantum - to kill; icchami - I wish; ghnatah - the slain; api - even; madhusudana - O Krishna who defeated the demon Madhu; api - even; trai-lokya - encompassing the three worlds; rajyasya - of the kingdom; hetoh - with purpose; kim well - well; mahi-krte - for the earth; nihatya - by killing; dhartarastran - the sons of Dhrtarastra; nah - to us; ka - what; silent - joy; syat - will be; janardana is the guardian of all living entities.
O Govinda, why do we need a kingdom, happiness, and life itself, if all those for whom we strive to possess this have gathered on the battlefield now? Oh Madhusudana, when teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, father-in-law, grandchildren, sons-in-law, and other relatives stand in front of me, ready to part with life and lose everything, can I wish for their death, even if otherwise they would kill me? O guardian of all living beings, I do not want to fight them even in exchange for all three worlds, not to mention the Earth. How much joy will the destruction of the sons of Dhrtarastra bring us?

TEXT 36



papam evashrayed asman hatvaitan atatayinah tasman 
narha wyam hantum dhartarashtran sa-bandhavan 
sva-janam hi katham hathva sukhinah syama madhava
papam — sin; eva - unconditionally; ashrayet - will lie down; asman - on us; hatva - by killing; ethan - of these; atatayinah - who attacked us; tasmat - therefore; na - not; arhah - should; vayam - we; hantum - to kill; dhartarastran - the sons of Dhrtarastra; sa-bandhavan - and of our friends; sva-janam - relatives; hi - of course; katham - how; hatva - by killing; sukhinah — happy; syama - become; madhava - O Krishna, husband of the goddess of fortune.
By killing those who now threaten us with war, we will cover ourselves with sin. Therefore, we cannot kill the sons of Dhrtarastra and our friends. What will we achieve, O Krishna, husband of the goddess of fortune? How can the death of relatives bring us happiness?

TEXTS 37–38



yady apy ete on pasyanti lobhopahata-cetasah 
kula-ksaya-krtam dosam mitra-drohe ca patakam
katham na jneiam asmabhih papad asman nivartitum 
kula-kshaya-krtam dosam prapasyadbhir janardana
yadi - if; api - even; ete — these; na - not; pasyanti - they see; lobha — by greed; upahata - covered; cetasah — those whose hearts; kula-ksaya - annihilation of the family; krtam - perfect; dosam — sin; mithra-drohe - in dispute with friends; ca — also; patakam - the result of sin; katham - how; na - not; jnayam - that which must be known; asmabhih - by us; papat - from sin; asmat - us; nivartitum — stop; kula-ksaya - by the extermination of the family; krtam - perfect; dosam — crime; prapasyadbhih - by those who see; janardana - O Krishna.
O Janardana, let these people, whose hearts were greedy, see no sin in killing relatives or in feuds with friends, but why should we, knowing what a serious crime is the destruction of a clan, participate in this villainy?

TEXT 39



kula-ksaye pranasyanti kula-dharmah sanatanah 
dharma nashte kulam krtsnam adharmo 'bhibhavaty uta
kula-ksaye - when the family is destroyed; pranasyanti - disappear; kula-dharmah - family traditions; sanatanah - the eternal; dharma - when religion is; nashte - is destroyed; kulam - the family; krtsnam - all; adharmah - godlessness; abhibhavati - becomes; uta - after all (said).
The extermination of the clan destroys the eternal family traditions, and the surviving family members forget the laws of religion.

TEXT 40



adharmabhibhavat krsna pradusyanti kula-striyah 
strisu dushtasu varsneyya jayate varna-sankarah
adharma - godlessness; abhibhavat - from the reign; krsna - O Krsna; pradusyanti - they are polluted; kula-striyah - women of the clan; strisu - in women; dushtasu - perverted; varшнейeya - O descendant of Vрининиa; jayate - is born; varna-sankarah - unwanted offspring.
When godlessness reigns in the family, O Krishna, the women in it are corrupted, and the corruption of women, O descendant of Vrishni, leads to the birth of unwanted offspring.

TEXT 41



sankaro narakayiva kula-ghnanam kulasya ca 
patanti pitaro hi esham lupta-pindodaka-kriyah
sankarah - unwanted offspring; narakaya - to hell; eva - unconditionally; kula-ghnanam - those who destroy the family; kulasya - of the family; ca — also; patanti - fall; pitarah - the ancestors; hi - of course; esam - of these; lupta - terminated; pinda - food offerings; udaka - and water; kriyah - rituals.
The increase in the number of unwanted children inevitably leads to the fact that family members and people who destroy family traditions go to hell. With the degeneration of the family, forefathers will fall, for the descendants cease to offer them food and water.

TEXT 42



doshair etaih kula-ghnanam varna-sankara-karakaih 
utsadyante jati-dharmah kula-dharmash ca sasvatah
dosaiих - by sins; etaih - by these; kula-ghnanam - destroying the family; varna-sankara - of undesired offspring; karakaih - the causes of appearance; utsadyante - cease; jati-dharmah - acts for the benefit of society; kula-dharmah - family traditions; ca — also; sasvatah - unshakable.
The sins of those who destroy family traditions and contribute to the appearance of unwanted children stop activities for the benefit of the family and society as a whole.

TEXT 43



utsanna-kula-dharmanam manusyanam 
janardana narake niyatam vaso bhavatity anusushruma
utsanna - destroyed; kula-dharmanam - those whose family traditions; manusyanam - of the people; janardana - O Krishna; naraka - in hell; niyatam - forever; vasah - staying; bhavati - is happening; iti - like that; anusushruma - heard (from mentors belonging to the chain of spiritual teachers).
O Krishna, the guardian of the human race, I heard from mentors belonging to the chain of spiritual teachers that those whose family traditions are broken are forever settled in hell.

TEXT 44



aho bata mahat papam kartum vyavasita vayam 
yad rajya-sukha-lobhena hantum sva-janam udyatah
aho - alas; bata - how strange; mahat - the greatest; papam — sin; kartum - to commit; vyavasitah - who have decided; vayam - we; yat - because; rajya-sukha-lobhena - because of the desire to enjoy the kingdom; hantum - to kill; sva-janam - relatives; udyatah - trying.
Is it not strange that we are now plotting the gravest sin? Motivated by the desire to enjoy the joys of reign, we are ready to kill our loved ones.

TEXT 45


yadi mam apratikaram ashastram sastra-panayah 
dhartarastra raane hanyus tan me kshetaram bhavet
yadi - if; mam - me; apratikaram - of no resistance; ashastram - unarmed; sastra-panayah - those who have arms in their hands; dhartarastrah - the sons of Dhrtarastra; wound - on the battlefield; hanyuh - let them kill; tat - that; me - for me; kshema-taram - better; bhavet - will be.
May the sons of Dhritarashtra with weapons in their hands better kill me on the battlefield, unarmed and not resisting.

TEXT 46


sanjaya uvcha 
evam uktvardzhunah sankhye rathopastha upavishat 
visrjya sa-saraham chapam shocka-samvigna-manasah
sanjayah uvaca - Sanjaya said; evam - like that; uktva - having uttered; arjunaÑ… - Arjuna; sankhye - on the battlefield; ratha — chariots; upashe - in the seat; upavishat - down; visrjya - giving up; sa-saram - with arrows; chapam - onion; shocka - grief; samvigna - stricken; manasah - one whose mind.
Sanjaya said: Having said this on the battlefield, Arjuna threw aside his bow and arrows and sat in a chariot, gripped by sorrow.