ARJUNA'S DILEMMA

[gokulkr]

ARJUNA'S DILEMMA

 

 

Dhritaraashtra said: O Sanjaya, assembled in the holy field of

Kurukshetra and eager to fight, what did my people and the

Paandavas do? (1.01)

 

Sanjaya said: Seeing the battle formation of the Paandava's army,

King Duryodhana approached his guru, Drona, and spoke these words:

(1.02)

 

O master, behold this mighty army of the sons of Paandu, arranged

in battle formation by your talented disciple, the son of Drupada.

(1.03)

 

There are many heroes and mighty archers equal to Bheema and Arjuna

in war such as Yuyudhaana and Viraata; and the great warrior,

Drupada; (1.04)

 

Dhrishtaketu, Chekitaana, and the heroic King of Kaashi; Purujit,

Kuntibhoja, and the great man Saibya; (1.05)

 

The valiant Yudhaamanyu, the formidable Uttamauja, the son of

Subhadraa, and the sons of Draupadi; all of them are great

warriors. (1.06)

 

Also know, O best among the twice born, the distinguished ones on

our side. I name the commanders of my army for your information.

(1.07)

 

Yourself, Bheeshma, Karna, and the victorious Kripa; Ashvatthaamaa,

Vikarna, and the son of Somadatta. (1.08)

 

And many other heroes who have risked their lives for me. They are

armed with various weapons, and all are skilled in warfare. (1.09)

 

Our army, commanded by Bheeshma, is invincible; while their army,

protected by Bheema, is easy to conquer. (1.10)

 

Therefore all of you, occupying your respective positions on all

fronts, protect Bheeshma only. (1.11)

 

The mighty Bheeshma, the eldest man of the Kuru dynasty, roared as

a lion and blew his conch loudly bringing joy to Duryodhana. (1.12)

 

After that, conches, kettledrums, cymbals, drums, and trumpets were

sounded together. The commotion was tremendous. (1.13)

 

Then Lord Krishna and Arjuna, seated in a grand chariot yoked with

white horses, blew their celestial conches. (1.14)

 

Krishna blew His conch, Paanchajanya; Arjuna blew his conch,

Devadatta; and Bheema, the doer of formidable deeds, blew (his) big

conch, Paundra. (1.15)

 

The son of Kunti, King Yudhishthira, blew (his conch) Anantavijaya,

while Nakula and Sahadeva blew Sughosha and Manipushpaka conches,

respectively. (1.16)

 

The King of Kaashi, the mighty archer; Shikhandi, the great

warrior; Dhristadyumna, Viraata, and the invincible Saatyaki;

(1.17)

 

King Drupada, and the sons of Draupadi; the mighty son of

Subhadraa; all of them blew their respective conches, O lord of the

earth. (1.18)

 

The tumultuous uproar, resounding through earth and sky, tore the

hearts of the Kauravas. (1.19)

 

Seeing the sons of Dhritaraashtra standing; and the war about to

begin; Arjuna, whose banner bore the emblem of Hanumana, took up

his bow; and (1.20)

 

Spoke these words to Lord Krishna: O Lord, (please) stop my chariot

between the two armies until I behold those who stand here eager

for battle and with whom I must engage in this act of war.

(1.21-22)

 

I wish to see those who are willing to serve the evil-minded son of

Dhritaraashtra by assembling here to fight the battle. (1.23)

 

Sanjaya said: O King, Lord Krishna, as requested by Arjuna, placed

the best of all the chariots in the midst of the two armies; (1.24)

 

Facing Bheeshma, Drona, and all other Kings; and said to Arjuna:

Behold these assembled Kurus! (1.25)

 

There Arjuna saw his uncles, grandfathers, teachers, maternal

uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and comrades. (1.26)

 

Seeing fathers-in-law, all those kinsmen, and other dear ones

standing in the ranks of the two armies, (1.27)

 

Arjuna was overcome with great compassion and sorrowfully said: O

Krishna, seeing my kinsmen standing with a desire to fight, (1.28)

 

My limbs fail and my mouth becomes dry. My body quivers and my

hairs stand on end. (1.29)

 

The bow, Gaandeeva, slips from my hand and my skin intensely burns.

My head turns, I am unable to stand steady and, O Krishna, I see

bad omens. I see no use of killing my kinsmen in battle. (1.30-31)

 

I desire neither victory nor pleasure nor kingdom, O Krishna. What

is the use of the kingdom, or enjoyment, or even life, O Krishna?

(1.32)

 

Because all those, for whom we desire kingdom, enjoyments, and

pleasures, are standing here for the battle, giving up their lives

and wealth. (1.33)

 

Teachers, uncles, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-

law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other relatives. (1.34)

 

I do not wish to kill them, who are also about to kill, even for

the sovereignty of the three worlds, let alone for this earthly

kingdom, O Krishna. (1.35)

 

O Lord Krishna, what pleasure shall we find in killing the sons of

Dhritaraashtra? Upon killing these felons we shall incur sin only.

(1.36)

 

Therefore, we should not kill our brothers, the sons of

Dhritaraashtra. How can we be happy after killing our kinsmen, O

Krishna? (1.37)

 

Though they, blinded by greed, do not see evil in the destruction

of the family, or sin in being treacherous to friends. (1.38)

 

Why shouldn't we, who clearly see evil in the destruction of the

family, think about turning away from this sin, O Krishna? (1.39)

 

With the destruction of the family, the eternal family traditions

are destroyed, and immorality prevails due to the destruction of

family traditions. (1.40)

 

And when immorality prevails, O Krishna, the women of the family

become corrupted; when women are corrupted, social problems arise.

(1.41)

 

This brings the family and the slayers of the family to hell,

because the spirits of their ancestors are degraded when deprived

of ceremonial offerings of rice-ball and water. (1.42)

 

The everlasting qualities of Varna and family traditions of those

who destroy their family are ruined by the sinful act of

illegitimacy. (1.43)

 

Note: Varna means color, or the make up and the hue of mind; a

social division or order of society such as caste in India.

 

We have been told, O Krishna, that people whose family traditions

are destroyed necessarily dwell in hell for a long time. (1.44)

 

Alas! We are ready to commit a great sin by striving to slay our

kinsmen because of greed for the pleasures of the kingdom. (1.45)

 

It would be far better for me if the sons of Dhritaraashtra should

kill me with their weapons in battle while I am unarmed and

unresisting. (1.46)

 

Sanjaya said: Having said this in the battle field and casting

aside his bow and arrow, Arjuna sat down on the seat of the chariot

with his mind overwhelmed with sorrow. (1.47)