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Chapter 1 of 18

अर्जुन विषाद योग

Arjuna's Dilemma

The Gita opens not with a teaching but with a breakdown — a warrior who cannot fight.

47 verses

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 — Summary

Chapter 1 is the only chapter of the Bhagavad Gita in which Krishna says almost nothing. It is Arjuna's chapter, and it is a portrait of collapse. The blind king Dhritarashtra asks his charioteer Sanjaya what is happening on the field at Kurukshetra, and Sanjaya's answer becomes the frame for the entire dialogue that follows: everything in the Gita is being relayed, second-hand, to a man who cannot see.

The chapter moves through the armies in careful detail — Duryodhana counting his commanders, the conches sounding, the banners raised — and then narrows to a single man. Arjuna asks Krishna to drive his chariot into the space between the two armies so he can see who he has come to kill. What he sees are teachers, uncles, cousins, grandfathers. The greatest archer of his age then describes, in unflinching physical terms, what fear does to a body: his limbs give way, his mouth dries, his skin burns, his bow slips from his hand.

Arjuna's argument against fighting is not cowardice, and the Gita is careful about this. He argues from dharma — that killing kin destroys the family, that destroyed families corrupt their traditions, that corrupted traditions damn the ancestors. It is a moral case, sincerely made, and it is wrong. The remaining seventeen chapters are Krishna's answer to a good man reasoning his way to the wrong conclusion.

Key Themes

Grief that argues like philosophy

Arjuna does not simply refuse to fight; he builds a case, invoking social ruin and ancestral sin. The Gita's first move is to show that despair is articulate — that it can borrow the vocabulary of duty and sound entirely reasonable. Krishna's later rebuke lands on precisely this point: Arjuna speaks wise words while grieving for those who need no grief.

The chariot between the armies

Arjuna asks to be placed in the middle — senayor ubhayor madhye — and it is from that exact position, committed to neither side, that the entire teaching is given. The image has been read for centuries as the human condition itself: the moment of choice, before the act, with everything visible on both sides.

Vishada as the doorway

The chapter is titled Arjuna Vishada Yoga — the yoga of Arjuna's despair. Calling despair a 'yoga' is deliberate. In the Gita's reading, the crisis is not an obstacle to the teaching; it is the condition that makes the teaching possible. Nothing Krishna says would have been heard by an Arjuna who was confident.

Key Verses of Chapter 1

Where Chapter 1 Sits in the Gita

Nothing precedes this chapter; it is where the dialogue begins. It ends with Arjuna silent and disarmed, which sets up Chapter 2, where Krishna finally speaks and the teaching proper begins.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens in Chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita?

The two armies assemble at Kurukshetra, the conches are blown, and Arjuna asks Krishna to drive his chariot between the two forces. Seeing his own teachers, cousins, and grandfather arrayed against him, he is overcome with grief, argues that the war will destroy the family and its dharma, and finally drops his bow and refuses to fight. Krishna does not yet reply — his answer begins in Chapter 2.

Why is Chapter 1 called Arjuna Vishada Yoga?

Vishada means despair or dejection. The chapter is named for Arjuna's collapse rather than for any teaching, because in the Gita's view the despair is itself the beginning of the spiritual path — the crisis that makes a person capable of hearing what they could not hear while confident.

How many verses are in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1?

Chapter 1 has 47 verses. Most are spoken by Sanjaya, narrating the scene to Dhritarashtra, with Duryodhana and Arjuna speaking directly; Krishna speaks only a single verse in the entire chapter.

1.1

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच |

Dhritarashtra said What did my people and the sons of Pandu do when they had assembled to…

1.2

सञ्जय उवाच |

. Sanjaya said Having seen the army of the Pandavas drawn up in battle-array, King Duryod…

1.3

पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् |

. "Behold, O Teacher!

1.4

अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि |

. Here are heroes, mighty archers, eal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna, Yoyudhana (Satyaki),…

1.5

धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान् |

. "Dhrishtaketu, chekitana and the valiant king of Kasi, Purujit and Kuntibhoja and Saibya…

1.6

युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् |

. "The strong Yodhamanyu and the brave Uttamaujas, the son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu, the son…

1.7

अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम |

. "Know also, O best among the twice-born!

1.8

भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः |

. "Thyself and Bhishma, and Karna and also Kripa, the victorious in war, Asvatthama, Vikar…

1.9

अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः |

. "And also many other heroes who are ready to give up their lives for my sake, armed with…

1.10

अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् |

. "This army of ours marshalled by Bhishma is insufficient, whereas that army of theirs ma…

1.11

अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः |

. "Therefore do ye all, stationed in your respective positions, in the several divisions o…

1.12

तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः |

. His glorious grandsire (Bhishma), the oldest of the Kauravas, in order to cheer Duryodha…

1.13

ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः |

. Then (following Bhishma), conches and kettledrums, tabors, drums and cow horns blared fo…

1.14

ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ |

. Then, also, Madhava (Krishna) and the son of Pandu (Arjuna), seated in the magnificent c…

1.15

पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः |

. Hrishikesha blew the Panchajanya and Arjuna blew the Devadatta and Bhima (the wolf-belli…

1.16

अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः |

. The king Yodhishthira, the son of Kunti, blew the Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva blew…

1.17

काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः |

. The king of Kasi, an exellent archer, Sikhandi, the mighty car-warrior, Dhrishtadyumna a…

1.18

द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते |

. Drupada and the sons of Draupadi, O Lord of the earth, and the son of Subhadra, the migh…

1.19

स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत् |

. That tumultuous sound rent the hearts of (the members of) Dhritarashtra's party, making …

1.20

अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान् कपिध्वजः |

. Then, seeing the people of Dhritarashtra’s party standing arrayed and the discharge of w…

1.21

अर्जुन उवाच |

Arjuna said In the middle between the two armies, place my chariot, O krishna, so that I …

1.22

यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् |

. Arjuna said In the middle between the two armies, place my chariot, O krishna, so that …

1.23

योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः |

. For I desire to observe those who are assembled here to fight, wishing to please in batt…

1.24

सञ्जय उवाच |

. Sanjaya said Thus addressed by Arjuna, Krishna, having stationed that best of chariots,…

1.25

भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् |

. In front of Bhishma and Drona, and all the rulers of the earth, said: "O Arjuna (son of …

1.26

तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान् |

. Then, Arjuna (son of Pritha) saw there (in the armies) stationed, fathers and grandfathe…

1.27

श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि |

. (He saw) fathers-in-law and friends also in both the armies. The son of Kunti, Arjuna, s…

1.28

कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् |

. Arjuna said Seeing these, my kinsmen, O krishna, arrayed, eager to fight.

1.29

सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति |

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

1.30

गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते |

. The (bow) Gandiva slips from my hand, and also my skins burns all over; I am unable even…

1.31

निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव |

. And I see adverse omens, O Kesava. I do not see any good in killing my kinsmen in battle…

1.32

न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च |

. I desire not victory, O Krishna, nor kingdom, nor pleasures. Of what avail is dominion t…

1.33

येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च |

. Those for whose sake we desire kingdom, enjoyments and pleasures, stand here in battle, …

1.34

आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः |

. Teachers, fathers, sons and also grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandson…

1.35

एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन |

. These I do not wish to kill, though they kill me, O Krishna, even for the sake of domini…

1.36

निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन |

. By killing these sons of Dhritarashtra, what pleasure can be ours, O Janardana?

1.37

तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान् |

. Therefore, we should not kill the sons of Dhritarashtra, our relatives; for how can we b…

1.38

यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः |

. Though they, with intelligence overpowered by greed, see no evil in the destruction of f…

1.39

कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम् |

. Why should not we who clearly see evil in the destruction of families, learn to turn awa…

1.40

कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः |

. In the destruction of a family, the immemorial religious rites of that family perish; on…

1.41

अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः |

. By the prevalence of impiety, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupt; and , w…

1.42

सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च |

. Confusion of castes leads to hell the slayers of the family, for their forefathers fall,…

1.43

दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः |

. By these evil deeds of the destroyers of the family, which cause confusion of castes, th…

1.44

उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन |

. We have heard, O Janardana, that inevitable is the dwelling for an unknown period in hel…

1.45

अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् |

. Alas!

1.46

यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः |

. If the sons of Dhritarashtra with weapons in hand should slay me in battle, unresisting …

1.47

सञ्जय उवाच |

. Sanjaya said Having thus spoken in the midst of the battlefield, Arjuna, casting away h…