Diya Scripture guide
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1: Arjuna’s Crisis
Read all 47 verses of Bhagavad Gita chapter 1, The Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency, in Sanskrit with transliteration and English translation.
The short answer
Chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita, traditionally titled The Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency, has 47 verses.
In Diya's summary: Arjuna sees the human cost of battle and collapses into moral confusion. Below are all 47 verses of chapter 1 in Sanskrit, each with a transliteration and Diya's English translation.
Bhagavad Gita chapter 1 in English
Every verse below comes from Diya's Bhagavad Gita library, in verse order.
| Sanskrit and transliteration | English |
|---|---|
| 1.1 धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः। मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय॥ dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ | māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāścaiva kimakurvata sañjaya || | Tell me, O Sanjaya, Assembled on Kurukshetra, the sacred field, eager for battle, what indeed did my people and the Pandavas do? |
| 1.2 दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा। आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत्॥ dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṃ vyūḍhaṃ duryodhanastadā | ācāryamupasaṅgamya rājā vacanamabravīt || | King Duryodhana, seeing the Pandava army arrayed for battle, approached his teacher Drona and spoke these words. |
| 1.3 पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम्। व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता॥ paśyaitāṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāmācārya mahatīṃ camūm | vyūḍhāṃ drupadaputreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā || | Behold, O Teacher, this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed by the son of Drupada, your gifted pupil. |
| 1.4 अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि। युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः॥ atra śūrā maheṣvāsā bhīmārjunasamā yudhi | yuyudhāno virāṭaśca drupadaśca mahārathaḥ || | Here are heroes, mighty archers, the equals in battle of Bhima and Arjuna—the great warriors Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada. |
| 1.5 धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान्। पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः॥ dhṛṣṭaketuścekitānaḥ kāśirājaśca vīryavān | purujitkuntibhojaśca śaibyaśca narapuṅgavaḥ || | The valiant Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, and the king of Kashi; the best of people, Purujit, Kunti-Bhoja, and Shaivya. |
| 1.6 युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान्। सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः॥ yudhāmanyuśca vikrānta uttamaujāśca vīryavān | saubhadro draupadeyāśca sarva eva mahārathāḥ || | The powerful Yudhamanyu, the brave Uttamaujas, the son of Subhadra, and the sons of Draupadi—all lords of great chariots. |
| 1.7 अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम। नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते॥ asmākaṃ tu viśiṣṭā ye tānnibodha dvijottama | nāyakā mama sainyasya saṃjñārthaṃ tānbravīmi te || | Hear also of the twice-born! the names of those who (are) distinguished amongst ourselves, the leaders of my army. These I relate (to you) for your information. |
| 1.8 भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः। अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च॥ bhavānbhīṣmaśca karṇaśca kṛpaśca samitiñjayaḥ | aśvatthāmā vikarṇaśca saumadattistathaiva ca || | Among them are you, Bhishma, Karna, and Kripa—victorious in battle—along with Ashvatthama, Vikarna, and the son of Somadatta. |
| 1.9 अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः। नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः॥ anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā madarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ | nānāśastrapraharaṇāḥ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ || | And many other heroes also, skilled in battle, and armed with many kinds of weapons, are here, determined to lay down their lives for my sake. |
| 1.10 अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम्। पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम्॥ aparyāptaṃ tadasmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam | paryāptaṃ tvidameteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhirakṣitam || | Duryodhana says, “Our force, guarded by Bhishma, seems more than sufficient, while theirs, guarded by Bhima, seems limited.” |
| 1.11 अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः। भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि॥ ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu yathābhāgamavasthitāḥ | bhīṣmamevābhirakṣantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi || | Station yourselves at every approach, each in your assigned place, and protect Bhishma above all. |
| 1.12 तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः। सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान्॥ tasya sañjanayanharṣaṃ kuruvṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ | siṃhanādaṃ vinadyoccaiḥ śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau pratāpavān || | To encourage Duryodhana, the powerful elder Bhishma roared like a lion and blew his conch. |
| 1.13 ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः। सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत्॥ tataḥ śaṅkhāśca bheryaśca paṇavānakagomukhāḥ | sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śabdastumulo’bhavat || | Then, following Bhishma, conches and kettle-drums, tabors, trumpets and cowhorns blared forth suddenly from the Kaurava side and the noise was tremendous. |
| 1.14 ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ। माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः॥ tataḥ śvetairhayairyukte mahati syandane sthitau | mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaścaiva divyau śaṅkhau pradadhmatuḥ || | Then, Madhava and Arjuna, standing in their great chariot yoked with white horses, blew their divine conches. |
| 1.15 पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः। पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः॥ pāñcajanyaṃ hṛṣīkeśo devadattaṃ dhanañjayaḥ | pauṇḍraṃ dadhmau mahāśaṅkhaṃ bhīmakarmā vṛkodaraḥ || | Hrishikesha blew the Panchajanya, Dhananjaya, the Devadatta, and Vrikodara, the doer of terrific deeds, his large conch Paundra. |
| 1.16 अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ॥ anantavijayaṃ rājā kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | nakulaḥ sahadevaśca sughoṣamaṇipuṣpakau || | King Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, sounded Anantavijaya, while Nakula and Sahadeva sounded Sughosha and Manipushpaka. |
| 1.17 काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः। धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः॥ kāśyaśca parameṣvāsaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahārathaḥ | dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaśca sātyakiścāparājitaḥ || | The expert archer king of Kashi, the great warrior Shikhandi, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and the unconquered Satyaki were also among those sounding their conches. |
| 1.18 द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते। सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक्॥ drupado draupadeyāśca sarvaśaḥ pṛthivīpate | saubhadraśca mahābāhuḥ śaṅkhāndadhmuḥ pṛthakpṛthak || | O Lord of Earth! Drupada and the sons of Draupadi, and the mighty-armed son of Subhadra, all, also blew each his own conch. |
| 1.19 स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत्। नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन्॥ sa ghoṣo dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ hṛdayāni vyadārayat | nabhaśca pṛthivīṃ caiva tumulo vyanunādayan || | And the terrific noise resounding throughout heaven and earth rent the hearts of Dhritarashtra's party. |
| 1.20 अथ व्यवस्थितान् दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः। प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः॥ atha vyavasthitān dṛṣṭvā dhārtarāṣṭrānkapidhvajaḥ | pravṛtte śastrasampāte dhanurudyamya pāṇḍavaḥ || | Then, seeing Dhritarashtra's sons arrayed and the clash of weapons about to begin, Arjuna, whose banner bore the monkey, raised his bow. |
| 1.21 हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते। सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत॥ hṛṣīkeśaṃ tadā vākyamidamāha mahīpate | senayorubhayormadhye rathaṃ sthāpaya me’cyuta || | O King, Arjuna then addressed Hrishikesha: 'O Achyuta, place my chariot between the two armies.'. |
| 1.22 यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान्। कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन्रणसमुद्यमे॥ yāvadetānnirīkṣe’haṃ yoddhukāmānavasthitān | kairmayā saha yoddhavyamasminraṇasamudyame || | "That I may see those who stand here prepared for war, and on this eve of battle know with whom I have to fight." |
| 1.23 योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः। धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः॥ yotsyamānānavekṣe’haṃ ya ete’tra samāgatāḥ | dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddheryuddhe priyacikīrṣavaḥ || | I want to see those gathered here for battle, ready to please the misguided son of Dhritarashtra. |
| 1.24 एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत। सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम्॥ evamukto hṛṣīkeśo guḍākeśena bhārata | senayorubhayormadhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam || | Commanded thus by Gudakesha, Hrishikesha, O Bharata, drove that grandest of chariots to a place between the two hosts. |
| 1.25 भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम्। उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति॥ bhīṣmadroṇapramukhataḥ sarveṣāṃ ca mahīkṣitām | uvāca pārtha paśyaitānsamavetānkurūniti || | Facing Bhishma, Drona, and all the rulers of the earth, he then spoke thus: "Behold, O Partha, all the Kurus gathered together!" |
| 1.26 तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान्। आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा॥ tatrāpaśyatsthitānpārthaḥ pitṝnatha pitāmahān | ācāryānmātulānbhrātṝnputrānpautrānsakhīṃstathā || | There Partha saw, stationed in the two armies, fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and comrades. |
| 1.27 श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि। तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान्॥ śvaśurānsuhṛdaścaiva senayorubhayorapi | tānsamīkṣya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvānbandhūnavasthitān || | He also saw fathers-in-law and friends in both armies. Then, the son of Kunti surveyed all those kinsmen stationed in their ranks. |
| 1.28 कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत्। दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम्॥ kṛpayā parayāviṣṭo viṣīdannidamabravīt | dṛṣṭvemaṃ svajanaṃ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṃ samupasthitam || | Overcome by deep compassion and sorrow, Arjuna said, 'O Krishna, I see my own kinsmen assembled here, eager to fight.'. |
| 1.29 सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति। वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते॥ sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṃ ca pariśuṣyati | vepathuśca śarīre me romaharṣaśca jāyate || | "My limbs fail me, and my mouth is parched. I shiver all over, and my hair stands on end." |
| 1.30 गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते। न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः॥ gāṇḍīvaṃ sraṃsate hastāttvakcaiva paridahyate | na ca śaknomyavasthātuṃ bhramatīva ca me manaḥ || | "The bow Gandiva slips from my hand, and my skin burns. Neither can I stand upright; my mind is in a whirl." |
| 1.31 निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव। न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे॥ nimittāni ca paśyāmi viparītāni keśava | na ca śreyo’nupaśyāmi hatvā svajanamāhave || | "And I see adverse omens, O Keshava. Nor do I see any good in killing these my own people in battle." |
| 1.32 न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च। किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा॥ na kāṅkṣe vijayaṃ kṛṣṇa na ca rājyaṃ sukhāni ca | kiṃ no rājyena govinda kiṃ bhogairjīvitena vā || | "I desire neither victory nor empire, nor pleasure, O Krishna. Of what avail is dominion to us, O Govinda; of what avail are pleasures or even life?" |
| 1.33 येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च। त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च॥ yeṣāmarthe kāṅkṣitaṃ no rājyaṃ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca | ta ime’vasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṃstyaktvā dhanāni ca || | Those for whom we seek kingdom, enjoyment, and happiness now stand in battle, ready to give up life and wealth. |
| 1.34 आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः। मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा॥ ācāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrāstathaiva ca pitāmahāḥ | mātulāḥ śvaśurāḥ pautrāḥ śyālāḥ sambandhinastathā || | Among them are truly teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other relatives. |
| 1.35 एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन। अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते॥ etānna hantumicchāmi ghnato’pi madhusūdana | api trailokyarājyasya hetoḥ kiṃ nu mahīkṛte || | Even though these were to kill me, O killer of Madhu, I could not wish to kill them, not even for the sake of dominion over the three worlds, how much less for the sake of the earth! |
| 1.36 निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन। पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः॥ nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrānnaḥ kā prītiḥ syājjanārdana | pāpamevāśrayedasmānhatvaitānātatāyinaḥ || | What joy would be ours from killing the sons of Dhritarashtra? Sin alone would cling to us if we killed these aggressors. |
| 1.37 तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान्। स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव॥ tasmānnārhā vayaṃ hantuṃ dhārtarāṣṭrānsvabāndhavān | svajanaṃ hi kathaṃ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava || | Therefore ought we not to kill our kindred, the sons of Dhritarashtra. For how could we, O Madhava, gain happiness by the killing of our own kinsmen? |
| 1.38 यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः। कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम्॥ yadyapyete na paśyanti lobhopahatacetasaḥ | kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ mitradrohe ca pātakam || | Their minds overcome by greed, they do truly not see the wrong in destroying a family or the sin in betraying friends. |
| 1.39 कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम्। कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन॥ kathaṃ na jñeyamasmābhiḥ pāpādasmānnivartitum | kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ prapaśyadbhirjanārdana || | Why should we, O Janardana, who see clearly the evil due to the decay of families, not turn away from this sin? |
| 1.40 कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः। धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत॥ kulakṣaye praṇaśyanti kuladharmāḥ sanātanāḥ | dharme naṣṭe kulaṃ kṛtsnamadharmo’bhibhavatyuta || | When a family is destroyed, its ancient family duties perish. when dharma is lost, adharma overwhelms the whole family. |
| 1.41 अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः। स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः॥ adharmābhibhavātkṛṣṇa praduṣyanti kulastriyaḥ | strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇasaṅkaraḥ || | When adharma prevails, O Krishna, the women of the family are corrupted; when they are corrupted, O Varshneya, varna-mixture arises. |
| 1.42 सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च। पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः॥ saṅkaro narakāyaiva kulaghnānāṃ kulasya ca | patanti pitaro hyeṣāṃ luptapiṇḍodakakriyāḥ || | Such varna-mixture leads to hell for the family and its destroyers; their ancestors fall, deprived of the rites of rice-ball and water offerings. |
| 1.43 दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः। उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः॥ doṣairetaiḥ kulaghnānāṃ varṇasaṅkarakārakaiḥ | utsādyante jātidharmāḥ kuladharmāśca śāśvatāḥ || | Through these faults of the destroyers of families, which produce varna-mixture, the enduring duties of community and family are ruined. |
| 1.44 उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन। नरके नियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम॥ utsannakuladharmāṇāṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ janārdana | narake niyataṃ vāso bhavatītyanuśuśruma || | We have heard, O Janardana, that inevitable is the dwelling in hell of those people in whose families religious practices have been destroyed. |
| 1.45 अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम्। यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः॥ aho bata mahatpāpaṃ kartuṃ vyavasitā vayam | yadrājyasukhalobhena hantuṃ svajanamudyatāḥ || | Alas, we are involved in a great sin, in that we are prepared to kill our kinsmen, from greed of the pleasures of a kingdom! |
| 1.46 यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः। धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत्॥ yadi māmapratīkāramaśastraṃ śastrapāṇayaḥ | dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyustanme kṣemataraṃ bhavet || | If the sons of Dhritarashtra, weapons in hand, were to kill me, unresisting and unarmed, in the battle, that would be better for me. |
| 1.47 एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः सङ्ख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्। विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः॥ evamuktvārjunaḥ saṅkhye rathopastha upāviśat | visṛjya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ śokasaṃvignamānasaḥ || | After speaking, Arjuna dropped his bow and arrows and sank into the chariot seat, his mind overwhelmed by sorrow. |
You can read all 18 chapters in Diya. To see where chapter 1 sits in the whole text, start with the 18 chapters of the Bhagavad Gita, or read how to start the Bhagavad Gita as a beginner.
Next chapter: Chapter 2: The Teaching Begins.
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Questions people ask
How many verses are in Bhagavad Gita chapter 1?
Chapter 1 has 47 verses.
What is chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita called?
Its traditional title is The Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency. Diya calls it Arjuna’s Crisis.
What is Bhagavad Gita chapter 1 about?
In Diya's summary: Arjuna sees the human cost of battle and collapses into moral confusion.
Research notes
Sources
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- Bhagavad Gita chapter 1 (Diya Gita library)
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- Bhagavad Gita chapter titles (Diya Gita library)
DiyaPublished by Houdini Apps, LLC
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