Chapter 1 of 18 · 47 verses · 16 min
Bhagavad Gita chapter 1: A hero falls apart
Facing his own family across the battlefield, the hero Arjuna breaks down and refuses to fight.
Two branches of one royal family are about to go to war. Arjuna, the finest archer of his age, asks his friend and charioteer Krishna to drive him between the armies so he can see who he is about to fight. He sees teachers, cousins, uncles and friends — and he breaks down. The whole Gita begins here: not in a temple, but in a moment of panic, grief and moral confusion that anyone can recognise.
The line to remember · 1.47“Arjuna drops his bow and sinks down, overwhelmed with grief.”All 47 verses — tap any one to read it
- 1.1A blind king asks: “What is happening on the battlefield?”
- 1.2His helper can see it all in a vision, and starts to tell the story.
- 1.3Prince Duryodhana points at the other army and grumbles to his old teacher.
- 1.4He names the strong heroes on the other side.
- 1.5He keeps listing famous kings in the other army.
- 1.6Even the young warriors over there are champions.
- 1.7“Now let me name the heroes on our side,” he says, to calm his own nerves.
- 1.8He lists his best fighters, one by one.
- 1.9“Many brave people are ready to fight for me.”
- 1.10He brags that his army is bigger — but inside, he is worried.
- 1.11“Stay in your places, and protect our leader Bhishma!”
- 1.12Old Bhishma roars like a lion and blows his conch shell: the battle is about to start.
- 1.13Drums, horns and conches blast everywhere. It is very loud.
- 1.14Krishna and Arjuna, in their chariot with white horses, blow their conches back.
- 1.15Krishna, Arjuna and strong Bhima each blow a great conch.
- 1.16Arjuna’s brothers blow theirs too.
- 1.17One by one, the kings on Arjuna’s side join in.
- 1.18The whole army sounds together, like one big roar.
- 1.19The sound shakes the earth, the sky and the hearts of the other army.
- 1.20Just before the fighting starts, Arjuna lifts his bow and turns to Krishna.
- 1.21“Krishna, please drive my chariot into the middle.”
- 1.22“I want to see who I have to fight.”
- 1.23“Let me look at the people who came to fight for the wrong side.”
- 1.24Krishna drives the chariot into the middle of the battlefield.
- 1.25He stops in front of the elders and says: “Look at them, Arjuna.”
- 1.26Arjuna sees grandfathers, teachers, uncles, cousins and friends — on both sides.
- 1.27His own family is about to fight each other. His heart breaks.
- 1.28“Krishna, my legs feel weak and my mouth is dry.”
- 1.29“I’m shaking. My bow is slipping from my hand.”
- 1.30“I can’t stand up straight. My mind is spinning.” He is having a panic attack.
- 1.31“I don’t want to win if it means hurting my own family.”
- 1.32“What good is a kingdom, or even life, without them?”
- 1.33“The people we wanted to share it with are standing right there.”
- 1.34“Teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers — all of them are here.”
- 1.35“Even if they hurt me, I don’t want to hurt them.”
- 1.36“How could we ever be happy after this? We would only feel guilty.”
- 1.37“It’s wrong to fight our own family.”
- 1.38“Greed has blinded them. They can’t see the harm.”
- 1.39“But we can see it. Why not step back?”
- 1.40“When families break, their good ways are lost too.”
- 1.41“Then people forget what is right, and everything gets messy.”
- 1.42“That mess hurts everyone, even those who came before us.”
- 1.43“Breaking a family breaks the customs that hold people together.”
- 1.44“We were always taught that this brings great sadness.”
- 1.45“How sad — we’re ready to do something terrible just to rule a kingdom.”
- 1.46“It would be better if I just let them hurt me.”
- 1.47Arjuna drops his bow, sits down and cries.
Traditional summary
Arjuna Visada Yoga: Arjuna's Dilemma
The first chapter of the Bhagavad Gita - Arjuna Vishada Yoga introduces the setup, the setting, the characters and the circumstances that led to the epic battle of Mahabharata, fought between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. It outlines the reasons that led to the revelation of the of Bhagavad Gita. As both armies stand ready for the battle, the mighty warrior Arjuna, on observing the warriors on both sides becomes increasingly sad and depressed due to the fear of losing his relatives and friends and the consequent sins attributed to killing his own relatives. So, he surrenders to Lord Krishna, seeking a solution. Thus, follows the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita.
