Krishna and Arjuna
Table of Contents
We are here for battle on the sacred plain on Kurukshetra.
Sanjaya, what happened between my people and the Pandavas?
The host of Pandavas, Raja Duryodhana, said:
Ah, Guru! The Pandu fighting-men are many. They were embattled by the son of Drupada, your scholar in the war!
They have chiefs like:
- Arjuna, like to Bhima chiefs
- Benders of bows; Virata, Yuyudhan, Drupada, eminent upon his car, Dhrishtaket, Chekitan, Kasi’s stout lord, Purujit, Kuntibhoj, and
- Saivya, With Yudhamanyu, and Uttamauj Subhadra’s child; and Drupadi’s;-all famed!
They are all mounted on their shining chariots.
Our side has excellent chiefs:
- You
- Bhishma
- Karna
- Kripa fierce in fight
- Vikarna
- Aswatthaman
Then:
- Strong Saumadatti, with full many more Valiant and tried, ready this day to die for me, each with his weapon grasped, Each skilful in the field.
Our battle shows where Bhishma holds command,
Bhima, fronting him, something too strong!
Have care our captains nigh to Bhishma’s ranks
Prepare what help they may! Now, blow my shell!
Then, at the signal of the aged king, with blare to wake the blood, rolling around, like to a lion’s roar, the trumpeter blew the great Conch. Trumpets and drums, cymbals and gongs and horns burst into sudden clamour.
The tumult seemed like the blasts of loosened tempest!
Then might be seen, upon their car of gold Yoked with white steeds, blowing their battle-shells, Krishna the God, Arjuna at his side:
Krishna, with knotted locks, blew his great conch carved of the “Giant’s bone;”
Arjuna blew Indra’s loud gift; Bhima the terrible–Wolf-bellied Bhima-blew a long reed-conch;
Yudhisthira, Kunti’s blameless son, winded a mighty shell, “Victory’s Voice.”
Nakula blew shrill upon his conch named the “Sweet-sounding,” Sahadev on his Called"Gem-bedecked," and Kasi’s Prince on his.
Sikhandi on his car, Dhrishtadyumn, Virata, Satyaki the Unsubdued, Drupada, with his sons, (O Lord of Earth!)
Long-armed Subhadra’s children, all blew loud, So that the clangour shook their foemen’s hearts, With quaking earth and thundering heav’n.
Then beholding Dhritirashtra’s battle set, weapons unsheathing, bows drawn forth, the war instant to break-Arjun, whose ensign-badge was Hanuman the monkey, spoke to Krishna:
Drive, Dauntless One to the open ground between the armies. I would see more these who will fight with us, those we must slay today, in war’s arbitrament.
On bloodshed all are bent who throng this plain, obeying Dhritirashtra’s sinful son.
Thus, by Arjuna prayed, (O Bharata!)
Between the hosts that heavenly Charioteer drove the bright car, reining its milk-white steeds where Bhishma led,and Drona,and their Lords.
See where your kindred of the Kurus stand
The Prince marked on each hand the kinsmen of his house, grandsires and sires, uncles and brothers and sons, cousins and sons-in-law and nephews, mixed with friends and honoured elders;
Some this side, some that side ranged: and, seeing those opposed, such kith grown enemies-Arjuna’s heart melted with pity:
Krishna! as I behold those who come here to shed their common blood my members fail, my tongue dries in my mouth, a shudder thrills my body, and my hair bristles with horror.
From my weak hand slips Gandiv, the goodly bow; a fever burns my skin to parching; hardly may I stand;
The life within me seems to swim and faint;
Nothing do I foresee save woe and wail!
It is not good, O Keshav! nought of good
Can spring from mutual slaughter! Lo, I hate triumph and domination, wealth and ease, thus sadly won! Aho! what victory
Can bring delight, Govinda! what rich spoils could profit; what rule recompense; what span of life itself seem sweet, bought with such blood?
Seeing that these stand here, ready to die, for whose sake life was fair, and pleasure pleased, and power grew precious:-grandsires, sires, and sons, brothers, and fathers-in-law, and sons-in-law, elders and friends!
Shall I deal death on these Even though they seek to slay us?
Not one blow, O Madhusudan! will I strike to gain the rule of all Three Worlds; then, how much less to seize an earthly kingdom! Killing these must breed but anguish, Krishna!
If they be guilty, we shall grow guilty by their deaths; Their sins will light on us, if we shall slay those sons of Dhritirashtra, and our kin; What peace could come of that, O Madhava?
For if indeed, blinded by lust and wrath, these cannot see, or will not see, the sin of kingly lines o’erthrown and kinsmen slain, How should not we, who see, shun such a crime– We who perceive the guilt and feel the shame– O thou Delight of Men, Janardana?
By overthrow of houses perishes their sweet continuous household piety, and-rites neglected, piety extinct– enters impiety upon that home;
Its women grow unwomaned, whence there spring mad passions, and the mingling-up of castes, sending a Hell-ward road that family, and whoso wrought its doom by wicked wrath.
Nay, and the souls of honoured ancestors fall from their place of peace, being bereft of funeral-cakes and the wan death-water.
So teach our holy hymns. Thus, if we slay kinsfolk and friends for love of earthly power,
Ahovat! what an evil fault it were! Better I deem it, if my kinsmen strike, to face them weaponless, and bare my breast to shaft and spear, than answer blow with blow.
So speaking, in the face of those two hosts, Arjuna sank upon his chariot-seat, and let fall bow and arrows, sick at heart.