Bhagavad Gita: First Lesson - The Beginning of Arjuna's Dilemma

Verses and Translation 

Verse 1: > धृतराष्ट्र उवाच | > धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः | > मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ||

Translation: > Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, assembled in the holy land of Kurukshetra and desirous to fight, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do?

Verse 2: > सञ्जय उवाच | > दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा | > आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ||

Translation: > Sanjaya said: O King, after observing the Pandava army arrayed in military formation, King Duryodhana approached his teacher and spoke the following words.

Verse 3: > पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् | > व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ||

Translation: > Behold, O Teacher, this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed by your wise disciple, the son of Drupada.

Verse 4: > अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि | > युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ||

Translation: > Here in this army are many heroic bowmen equal in fighting to Bhima and Arjuna: great fighters like Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada.

Verse 5: > धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान् | > पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः ||

Translation: > There are also great, heroic, powerful fighters like Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, and the king of Kasi, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Shaibya.

Verse 6: > युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् | > सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ||

Translation: > There are the mighty Yudhamanyu, the valiant Uttamauja, Abhimanyu, and the sons of Draupadi—all great warriors.

Verse 7: > अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम | > नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते ||

Translation: > O best of the Brahmanas, let me tell you about the commanders who are especially qualified to lead my military force.

Verse 8: > भवन्तु भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः | > अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ||

Translation: > There are personalities like yourself, Bhishma, Karna, Kripa, Ashwatthama, Vikarna, and the son of Somadatta, called Bhurishrava, who are always victorious in battle.

Verse 9: > अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः | > नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ||

Translation: > There are many other heroes who are prepared to lay down their lives for my sake. All of them are well equipped with various weapons and are experienced in military science.

Verse 10: > अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् | > पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ||

Translation: > Our strength is immeasurable, and we are perfectly protected by Grandfather Bhishma, whereas the strength of the Pandavas, carefully protected by Bhima, is limited.