Bhagavad-gita As It Is - Vanipedia's Chapter Summary - Translations of BG 01
The First Chapter of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is sets the scene for the great dialogue between Lord Krsna and Arjuna. The narrative begins with a political assessment of the military strength, transitions into the sounding of war signals, and concludes with Arjuna's deep emotional and moral crisis upon seeing his kinsmen.
The Military Assessment (Verses 1–11)
The chapter opens with the inquiry of the blind King Dhrtarastra, who asks Sanjaya what his sons and the sons of Pandu did after assembling at Kuruksetra, desiring to fight (BG 1.1).
Sanjaya describes how King Duryodhana, after viewing the Pandava army, approaches his teacher, Drona, to point out the expert arrangement made by Drupada's son (BG 1.2–1.3). Duryodhana lists the great warriors on the opposing side, such as Bhima, Arjuna, Yuyudhana, and Virata, acknowledging their prowess (BG 1.4–1.6).
To encourage his own army, Duryodhana then enumerates his own commanders—Bhisma, Karna, Krpa, and others—who are "ever-victorious" and ready to die for him (BG 1.7–1.9). However, he notes a disparity in strength: while his own army is "immeasurable" and protected by Grandfather Bhisma, the Pandava strength is "limited" and protected by Bhima (BG 1.10). He orders all his captains to give full support to Bhisma at their respective strategic points (BG 1.11).
The Sounding of the Conchshells (Verses 12–19)
To cheer Duryodhana, the grandsire Bhisma blows his conchshell very loudly, sounding like a lion (BG 1.12). This triggers a tumultuous uproar of conchshells, drums, bugles, and horns from the Kuru side (BG 1.13).
On the other side, Lord Krsna and Arjuna, stationed on a chariot drawn by white horses, sound their transcendental conchshells (BG 1.14). Krsna blows the Pancajanya, and Arjuna blows the Devadatta. Bhima, the "performer of Herculean tasks," blows the Paundram (BG 1.15). King Yudhisthira and the other great warriors—Nakula, Sahadeva, the King of Kasi, and Drupada—all blow their respective conchshells (BG 1.16-18).
The result of this specific vibration is significant: it shatters the hearts of the sons of Dhrtarastra (BG 1.19).
Arjuna’s Observation of the Armies (Verses 20–27)
As the arrows are about to be released, Arjuna takes up his bow. He addresses Lord Krsna (Hrsikesa) as the "infallible one" and asks Him to draw the chariot between the two armies so he can see who is present and with whom he must contend (BG 1.20–1.22).
Lord Krsna steers the chariot into the midst of the armies, in front of Bhisma and Drona, and says, "Just behold, Partha, all the Kurus who are assembled here" (BG 1.24–1.25).
From this vantage point, Arjuna sees his intimate relations: fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, and friends present in both armies (BG 1.26). Upon seeing "all these different grades of friends and relatives," Arjuna becomes overwhelmed with compassion (BG 1.27).
Arjuna’s Lamentation and Arguments (Verses 28–46)
Arjuna’s spirit changes from a fighter to a lamenter. He describes his physical symptoms: his limbs quiver, his mouth dries up, his body trembles, and his bow, Gandiva, slips from his hand (BG 1.28–1.30).
He presents several arguments against fighting:
- Lack of Enjoyment: He sees no good in killing his kinsmen and desires no victory or kingdom if it means killing those for whom he desires them (BG 1.31–1.35).
- Fear of Sin: He argues that sin will overcome them if they slay such aggressors, and questions how they could be happy by killing their own kinsmen (BG 1.36–1.38).
- Destruction of Family Traditions: Arjuna explains that with the destruction of the dynasty, eternal traditions are vanquished, the family becomes involved in irreligion, and women become polluted. This leads to unwanted progeny (varna-sankara), creating a hellish situation where ancestors are deprived of oblations (BG 1.39–1.43).
Arjuna concludes that it would be better for the sons of Dhrtarastra to kill him unarmed and unresisting (BG 1.45).
The chapter ends with Sanjaya reporting that Arjuna, having spoken thus, cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the chariot, "his mind overwhelmed with grief" (BG 1.46).