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Arjuna Viṣāda · 46 verses

Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra

Arjuna’s compassion and grief at the thought of fighting his own relatives.

1 · Verse notes (46)2 · Stories (25)Read on Vedabase
1

Verse notes

Every verse in simple words, from Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Tap a verse to study it in depth.

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  1. BG 1.1The Sacred Battlefield

    Study this verse
    • Dhṛtarāṣṭra asks Sañjaya what his sons and Pāṇḍu’s sons did after gathering at holy Kurukṣetra, ready to fight.
    • Dhṛtarāṣṭra fears that the holy place will favor Pāṇḍu’s virtuous sons and doubts his own sons’ victory.
    • Although both sides belong to one family, Dhṛtarāṣṭra treats Pāṇḍu’s sons as separate, showing his partiality.
    • Kṛṣṇa’s presence at Kurukṣetra indicates that He will remove the irreligious and establish the truly religious.
    • Study the Gītā carefully with Kṛṣṇa’s devotee, following Arjuna’s understanding rather than interpretations shaped by personal motives.

  2. BG 1.2Duryodhana’s Hidden Fear

    Study this verse
    • Sañjaya said that Duryodhana saw the Pāṇḍavas’ army arranged for battle, went to his teacher, and spoke.
    • Dhṛtarāṣṭra lacked spiritual vision. He knew his sons lacked religious understanding, while the Pāṇḍavas were pious from birth.
    • Dhṛtarāṣṭra wondered about the holy place’s influence. Sañjaya reassured him that his sons would not compromise.
    • The serious situation led Duryodhana to approach Droṇācārya, the commander in chief, even though Duryodhana was king.
    • Duryodhana acted like a skilled politician, but his outward diplomacy could not hide his fear of the Pāṇḍavas’ army.

  3. BG 1.3Duryodhana Warns His Teacher

    Study this verse
    • Duryodhana asks his teacher to see the great army of Pāṇḍu’s sons, expertly arranged by his intelligent disciple, Drupada’s son.
    • After a political quarrel with Droṇācārya, Drupada performed a sacrifice and received the blessing of a son able to kill him.
    • Droṇācārya knew this, yet generously taught all his military secrets to that son, Dhṛṣṭadyumna.
    • Dhṛṣṭadyumna then arranged the Pāṇḍavas’ army. Duryodhana presented this as his teacher’s mistake to make him alert and firm in battle.
    • Duryodhana warned that being lenient toward his dear students, the Pāṇḍavas—especially Arjuna—would lead Droṇācārya to defeat.

  4. BG 1.4Strong Fighters in the Army

    Study this verse
    • The army has heroic bowmen equal to Bhīma and Arjuna, including Yuyudhāna, Virāṭa and Drupada.
    • Dhṛṣṭadyumna was not a major obstacle for Droṇācārya, who had great military skill.
    • Many other fighters were causes of fear for Duryodhana.
    • Duryodhana saw these fighters as great obstacles to victory.
    • He knew Bhīma and Arjuna’s strength, so he compared the other fighters with them.

  5. BG 1.5Great and Powerful Fighters

    Study this verse
    • The verse names Dhṛṣṭaketu, Cekitāna, Kāśirāja, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Śaibya as great, heroic, powerful fighters.
    • No purport text is provided.
    • No further details about these fighters are supplied.
    • Prabhupāda’s explanation cannot be summarized without the purport.
    • No purport-based life lesson can be added.

  6. BG 1.6Great Chariot Fighters

    Study this verse
    • Mighty Yudhāmanyu, powerful Uttamaujā, Subhadrā’s son and Draupadī’s sons are all great chariot fighters.
    • No purport text was provided.
    • No further explanation of these warriors is supplied.
    • No devotional conclusion from the purport can be included.
    • No purport-supported life lesson can be added.

  7. BG 1.7Qualified Military Leaders

    Study this verse
    • The speaker addresses the best of the brāhmaṇas and offers to name the captains especially qualified to lead his military force.
    • No purport text was provided.
    • The purport’s explanation cannot be summarized without its text.
    • No life lesson is added without support from the purport.
    • Please provide the purport to complete this study note.

  8. BG 1.8Victorious Warriors and Their Families

    Study this verse
    • Duryodhana names great warriors who are always victorious in battle.
    • Vikarṇa is Duryodhana’s brother, and Aśvatthāmā is Droṇācārya’s son.
    • Bhūriśravā, also called Saumadatti, is the son of the King of the Bāhlīkas.
    • Karṇa is Arjuna’s half brother, born to Kuntī before her marriage to King Pāṇḍu.
    • Kṛpācārya’s twin sister married Droṇācārya.

  9. BG 1.9Duryodhana’s Confidence

    Study this verse
    • Many other heroes are ready to die for Duryodhana, well equipped with weapons and skilled in military science.
    • These warriors include Jayadratha, Kṛtavarmā and Śalya.
    • The purport explains that their deaths in the Battle of Kurukṣetra were already certain.
    • They would die because they had joined the side of the sinful Duryodhana.
    • Yet Duryodhana felt sure of victory because of his friends’ combined strength.

  10. BG 1.10Duryodhana Compares the Armies

    Study this verse
    • Duryodhana says his strength, protected by Bhīṣma, is immeasurable, while the Pāṇḍavas’ strength, protected by Bhīma, is limited.
    • He sees Grandfather Bhīṣma as the most experienced general.
    • He considers Bhīma far less experienced than Bhīṣma.
    • He always envies Bhīma, knowing that only Bhīma could kill him.
    • Bhīṣma’s presence makes Duryodhana firmly confident of victory.

  11. BG 1.11Protecting Grandfather Bhīṣma

    Study this verse
    • Duryodhana tells everyone to fully support Bhīṣma while staying at their assigned entrances to the army formation.
    • After praising Bhīṣma, Duryodhana speaks diplomatically so the other warriors will not feel less important.
    • Bhīṣma is the greatest hero, but he is old. Others must guard all sides and hold their positions so enemies cannot break through.
    • Duryodhana believes that the Kurus’ victory depends on Bhīṣma’s presence.
    • Duryodhana expects Bhīṣma and Droṇācārya to support him despite their affection for the Pāṇḍavas. They had remained silent when Draupadī appealed for justice, and he hopes they will again set that affection aside.

  12. BG 1.12Bhīṣma Blows His Conchshell

    Study this verse
    • Bhīṣma, the fighters’ grandfather, blew his conchshell like a lion’s roar, giving Duryodhana joy.
    • Bhīṣma understood Duryodhana’s heart and compassionately tried to cheer him.
    • The conchshell also indirectly signaled that Duryodhana had no chance of victory.
    • This was because the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa was on the other side.
    • Still, Bhīṣma had a duty to fight and would spare no effort.

  13. BG 1.13A Sudden Tumultuous Sound

    Study this verse
    • Conchshells, drums, bugles, trumpets and horns suddenly sounded together, making a tumultuous sound.
    • No purport is provided in the supplied text.
    • No purport explanation of the instruments is available here.
    • No purport explanation of the combined sound is available here.
    • A purport-based life lesson cannot be added without the purport.

  14. BG 1.14Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna’s Conchshells

    Study this verse
    • Lord Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna sounded their transcendental conchshells from a great chariot drawn by white horses.
    • Unlike Bhīṣmadeva’s conchshell, their conchshells are described as transcendental.
    • Their sound showed that the other side had no hope of victory, because Kṛṣṇa was with the Pāṇḍavas.
    • Victory and fortune awaited Arjuna. Wherever Kṛṣṇa is present, the goddess of fortune is also present.
    • Agni, the fire-god, had given Arjuna the chariot. It could conquer all sides throughout the three worlds.

  15. BG 1.15Kṛṣṇa Directs the Senses

    Study this verse
    • Kṛṣṇa blew Pāñcajanya, Arjuna blew Devadatta, and mighty, big-eating Bhīma blew his terrific conchshell, Pauṇḍra.
    • Kṛṣṇa is Hṛṣīkeśa, the owner of all senses. Living beings and their senses are parts of Him.
    • From within each heart, Kṛṣṇa guides the senses according to one’s surrender. He directly controls His pure devotee Arjuna’s senses.
    • The names reflect activities: Dhanañjaya points to Arjuna’s gathering wealth for sacrifices; Vṛkodara points to Bhīma’s great appetite and mighty deeds.
    • The conchshells encouraged the Pāṇḍava soldiers and announced the opposing side’s destined defeat, for that side lacked Kṛṣṇa, the supreme director.

  16. BG 1.16Conchshells and a Warning

    Study this verse
    • Yudhiṣṭhira blew Ananta-vijaya, while Nakula and Sahadeva blew Sughoṣa and Maṇipuṣpaka.
    • Sañjaya tactfully warned Dhṛtarāṣṭra that deceiving the sons of Pāṇḍu to enthrone his own sons was unwise.
    • The signs already showed that the whole Kuru dynasty would be killed in the battle.
    • From Bhīṣma to grandsons like Abhimanyu, along with kings from many states, all present were doomed.
    • Dhṛtarāṣṭra was responsible for this catastrophe because he encouraged his sons’ policy.

  17. BG 1.17Conchshells and a Warning

    Study this verse
    • The King of Kāśī, Śikhaṇḍī, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Virāṭa, and Sātyaki blew their conchshells.
    • Sañjaya tactfully told Dhṛtarāṣṭra that his policy was unwise.
    • Dhṛtarāṣṭra had deceived the sons of Pāṇḍu and sought the throne for his own sons.
    • The signs showed that the whole Kuru dynasty would be killed in the battle.
    • Dhṛtarāṣṭra was responsible for this disaster because he encouraged his sons’ policy.

  18. BG 1.18Conchshells and a Warning

    Study this verse
    • Drupada, the sons of Draupadī, Subhadrā’s mighty-armed son, and other warriors blew their conchshells.
    • Sañjaya tactfully warned Dhṛtarāṣṭra that deceiving Pāṇḍu’s sons to give his own sons the throne was unwise.
    • The signs showed that the whole Kuru dynasty would be killed in the battle.
    • From Bhīṣma to grandsons like Abhimanyu, along with kings from many states, all present were doomed.
    • Dhṛtarāṣṭra caused this disaster by encouraging his sons’ policy.

  19. BG 1.19Confidence in Lord Kṛṣṇa

    Study this verse
    • The loud conchshell sounds filled the sky and earth, shattering the hearts of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons.
    • The conchshells of Bhīṣma and Duryodhana’s other supporters did not shatter the Pāṇḍavas’ hearts.
    • The Pāṇḍavas’ conchshell sounds, however, shattered the hearts of the opposing side.
    • Prabhupāda explains that this was due to the Pāṇḍavas’ confidence in Lord Kṛṣṇa.
    • One who takes shelter of the Supreme Lord has nothing to fear, even in the greatest calamity.

  20. BG 1.20Signs of Assured Victory

    Study this verse
    • Arjuna saw the opposing army, took up his bow on the chariot bearing Hanumān’s flag, and spoke to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
    • The sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra felt discouraged by the Pāṇḍavas’ unexpected military arrangement, guided directly by Kṛṣṇa.
    • Hanumān’s flag was a sign of victory because he had helped Lord Rāma defeat Rāvaṇa.
    • Kṛṣṇa is Rāma Himself. Wherever Rāma is, Hanumān and Sītā, the goddess of fortune, are present, so Arjuna had no reason to fear.
    • Kṛṣṇa personally guided Arjuna, His eternal devotee. These favorable conditions showed that victory was assured.

  21. BG 1.21Kṛṣṇa’s Loving Service

    Study this verse
    • Arjuna asks Kṛṣṇa, the infallible one, to place his chariot between the armies so he can see whom he must fight.
    • Kṛṣṇa mercifully serves His friend. He is called infallible because His affection for His devotees never fails.
    • Even while serving as Arjuna’s charioteer, Kṛṣṇa remains the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord of all senses.
    • The devotee gladly serves Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa gladly serves His devotee. He takes greater pleasure in receiving His pure devotee’s orders than giving orders.
    • Arjuna did not want to fight his relatives. Duryodhana rejected peace, and Arjuna wanted to see who was determined to wage this unwanted war.

  22. BG 1.22Arjuna Wants to See

    Study this verse
    • Arjuna asks Kṛṣṇa to place his chariot between the armies so he can see whom he must fight.
    • Kṛṣṇa mercifully serves His friend and never fails in His affection for His devotees.
    • Even as Arjuna’s charioteer, Kṛṣṇa remains the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
    • The Lord and His devotee lovingly serve each other. Kṛṣṇa takes pleasure in accepting His pure devotee’s orders.
    • Arjuna does not want to fight his relatives. Duryodhana refuses peace, and Arjuna wants to see who insists on this unwanted war.

  23. BG 1.23Seeing the Opposing Fighters

    Study this verse
    • Arjuna wants to see those who came to fight to please the evil-minded son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
    • Duryodhana and his father planned to take the Pāṇḍavas’ kingdom by evil means.
    • Those who joined Duryodhana’s side shared his evil intentions.
    • Arjuna wanted to identify them and judge their strength, not discuss peace.
    • Arjuna was confident of victory because Kṛṣṇa was by his side.

  24. BG 1.24Remembering Kṛṣṇa Constantly

    Study this verse
    • Sañjaya said that Kṛṣṇa placed the fine chariot between both armies at Arjuna’s request.
    • Arjuna is called Guḍākeśa because he conquered sleep and ignorance through friendship with Kṛṣṇa.
    • As a great devotee, Arjuna never forgot Kṛṣṇa, whether awake or asleep.
    • Constantly thinking of Kṛṣṇa helps a devotee conquer sleep and ignorance. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or samādhi.
    • As Hṛṣīkeśa, Kṛṣṇa directs everyone’s senses and mind. He understood Arjuna’s purpose and placed the chariot accordingly.

  25. BG 1.25Kṛṣṇa Knows Arjuna’s Mind

    Study this verse
    • Before Bhīṣma, Droṇa and the other chieftains, Kṛṣṇa told Arjuna to behold all the assembled Kurus.
    • As the Supersoul, Kṛṣṇa knew Arjuna’s thoughts. The name Hṛṣīkeśa shows that He knew everything.
    • Pārtha means the son of Pṛthā, or Kuntī, who was the sister of Kṛṣṇa’s father, Vasudeva.
    • As Arjuna’s friend and relative, Kṛṣṇa had agreed to be his charioteer.
    • Kṛṣṇa’s words were friendly joking that anticipated Arjuna’s thoughts. He did not expect His aunt’s son to refuse to fight.

  26. BG 1.26Arjuna Sees His Relatives

    Study this verse
    • Arjuna saw relatives, teachers, friends, and well-wishers among the armies on both sides.
    • His grandfathers included Bhīṣma and Somadatta.
    • His teachers included Droṇācārya and Kṛpācārya.
    • He saw maternal uncles like Śalya and Śakuni, and brothers like Duryodhana.
    • He also saw friends like Aśvatthāmā and well-wishers like Kṛtavarmā. Many friends were among the armies.

  27. BG 1.27Arjuna Is Overwhelmed with Compassion

    Study this verse
    • Seeing the different groups of friends and relatives, Arjuna became overwhelmed with compassion and began to speak.
    • The purport section provided is blank.
    • No explanation from Prabhupāda’s purport is available here.
    • Further explanations or life lessons would require the purport.
    • Please provide the purport to complete this study note.

  28. BG 1.28Arjuna’s Compassion

    Study this verse
    • Arjuna tells Kṛṣṇa that seeing his friends and relatives ready to fight makes his limbs tremble and his mouth dry.
    • Genuine devotion to the Lord brings godly qualities; education and culture alone do not.
    • Arjuna feels compassion for soldiers on both sides, knowing that they may soon die.
    • Seeing so many of his relatives eager to fight overwhelms and astonishes him.
    • His trembling and dry mouth show a pure devotee’s softheartedness, not weakness.

  29. BG 1.29Arjuna’s Signs of Fear

    Study this verse
    • Arjuna’s body trembles, his hair stands on end, Gāṇḍīva slips from his hand, and his skin burns.
    • Trembling and hair standing on end can come from spiritual ecstasy or great material fear.
    • There is no fear in transcendental realization. Arjuna’s symptoms come from fear of losing life.
    • His impatience makes his bow slip, and his burning heart causes his skin to feel hot.
    • All these symptoms arise from a material conception of life.

  30. BG 1.30Confusion and Real Self-Interest

    Study this verse
    • Arjuna tells Kṛṣṇa he cannot stand any longer, is forgetting himself, and sees only misfortune as his mind reels.
    • The purport explains that impatience and weakness of mind caused Arjuna’s confusion.
    • Too much attachment to material things brings fear and loss of mental balance.
    • Arjuna expected only painful results from battle; even victory would bring him sorrow.
    • Our real self-interest lies in Viṣṇu, or Kṛṣṇa. Forgetting this brings material suffering.

  31. BG 1.31Arjuna Sees No Happiness

    Study this verse
    • Arjuna sees no good in killing his relatives and wants no victory, kingdom or happiness afterward.
    • Conditioned souls seek happiness in bodily relationships, forgetting that their true self-interest is in Kṛṣṇa.
    • Arjuna appears to forget his moral duties as a kṣatriya, or warrior.
    • He needs a kingdom to support himself, but reclaiming it requires fighting his relatives.
    • Rather than fight, Arjuna plans to live alone in the forest in frustration.

  32. BG 1.32Whose Pleasure Comes First?

    Study this verse
    • Arjuna asks what use kingdom, happiness or life would be without those for whom he desires them.
    • Arjuna calls Kṛṣṇa Govinda, the object of pleasure for cows and the senses, hoping He will understand what satisfies Arjuna.
    • Govinda is not meant to serve our senses. By satisfying His senses, our own senses are automatically satisfied.
    • Arjuna’s affection and natural compassion make him unwilling to fight. He fears having no loved ones with whom to share his wealth after victory.
    • A devotee seeks the Lord’s pleasure, accepting wealth for His service only if He wills it.

  33. BG 1.33Arjuna’s Concern for His Family

    Study this verse
    • Arjuna sees his teachers and relatives ready to risk their lives and property on the battlefield.
    • His affection and natural compassion for his family make him unwilling to fight.
    • He fears that victory will leave no friends or relatives with whom to share his wealth.
    • Arjuna wants Govinda, Kṛṣṇa, to satisfy his senses, but satisfying Govinda brings satisfaction to our own senses.
    • A devotee accepts wealth for the Lord’s service only if the Lord desires it.

  34. BG 1.34Arjuna’s Affection for His Relatives

    Study this verse
    • Arjuna sees his relatives standing before him, ready to give up their lives and property in battle.
    • His natural compassion makes him unwilling to fight, and he fears having no relatives left to share his wealth.
    • Arjuna wants Govinda, Kṛṣṇa, to satisfy his senses, but the Lord is not meant to serve our desires.
    • When we seek to satisfy Govinda’s senses rather than our own, our senses are automatically satisfied.
    • A devotee accepts wealth for the Lord’s service only if the Lord desires it.

  35. BG 1.35Satisfying Govinda, Not Ourselves

    Study this verse
    • Arjuna refuses to fight his relatives even for the three worlds and sees no pleasure in killing the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
    • His refusal partly comes from natural compassion. He also fears having no family or friends with whom to share his wealth after victory.
    • Govinda is not meant to satisfy our senses. When we seek to satisfy His senses instead, our own senses are automatically satisfied.
    • A devotee accepts wealth for the Lord’s service only when the Lord desires it, not for personal enjoyment.
    • A devotee does not take revenge on wrongdoers, but the Lord does not tolerate harm done to His devotees.

  36. BG 1.36Arjuna Fears Sin and Misfortune

    Study this verse
    • Arjuna says killing his relatives and friends would bring sin, not happiness or gain.
    • The purport explains that Vedic rules allow aggressors to be killed without sin.
    • Arjuna was saintly, but a warrior and ruler must be saintly without being cowardly.
    • Arjuna preferred forgiving his relatives to killing them for a temporary kingdom and its pleasures.
    • Arjuna called Kṛṣṇa the husband of the goddess of fortune, fearing misfortune. But Kṛṣṇa never brings misfortune to anyone, especially His devotees.

  37. BG 1.37Arjuna Questions the Duty to Fight

    Study this verse
    • Arjuna asks why they should destroy their family when they see the sin, even if others are blinded by greed.
    • A kṣatriya is expected to accept a rival’s challenge to battle or gamble.
    • Duryodhana’s party had challenged Arjuna, so he was obliged to fight.
    • Arjuna saw the evil consequences that the other side might not see and decided not to fight.
    • An obligation is binding when its effects are good, but not when its effects are bad.

  38. BG 1.38Seeing the Harm in Fighting

    Study this verse
    • Arjuna asks why they should destroy a family when they see the sin, even if others are blinded by greed.
    • A warrior is expected to accept a rival’s challenge to battle or gamble.
    • Duryodhana’s party had challenged Arjuna, so he faced an obligation to fight.
    • Arjuna thought the other side might not see the harmful results, but he saw them and decided not to fight.
    • An obligation is binding when its result is good, but not when its result is harmful.

  39. BG 1.39Protecting Family Spiritual Traditions

    Study this verse
    • When a dynasty is destroyed, its eternal family tradition is lost, and the remaining family falls into irreligion.
    • Religious traditions in the varṇāśrama system help family members grow properly and gain spiritual values.
    • Elders are responsible for the family's purifying practices from birth to death.
    • If elders die, these practices may stop, and younger members may develop irreligious habits and lose their chance for spiritual salvation.
    • Therefore, family elders should not be killed for any purpose.

  40. BG 1.40Family and Spiritual Progress

    Study this verse
    • The verse says that irreligion in a family leads to the degradation of women and the birth of unwanted children.
    • Prabhupāda explains that a good population is the basis of peace, prosperity and spiritual progress.
    • Varṇāśrama principles support such a population, which depends on women’s chastity and faithfulness.
    • Elders should protect women and children. Family religious practices help women remain faithful and avoid adultery.
    • Irresponsible men also encourage adultery. The resulting unwanted population puts society at risk of war and disease.

  41. BG 1.41Family Duties and Devotion

    Study this verse
    • Unwanted population brings hellish life to families and those who destroy family traditions. Ancestors fall when food and water offerings stop.
    • Rules for fruitive activities require regular offerings to ancestors through worship of Viṣṇu.
    • Food first offered to Viṣṇu can free ancestors from sinful reactions, ghostly life and other suffering.
    • Those not practicing devotional life must perform these family rituals; those engaged in devotion need not.
    • Devotional service to the Supreme Lord fulfills these obligations and can deliver hundreds and thousands of ancestors from misery.

  42. BG 1.42Family Tradition and Society

    Study this verse
    • Evil deeds that destroy family tradition and produce unwanted children ruin community projects and family welfare activities.
    • These activities, set out in sanātana-dharma, or varṇāśrama-dharma, help people attain ultimate salvation.
    • Irresponsible leaders who break this tradition bring chaos to society.
    • As a result, people forget the aim of life—Viṣṇu.
    • Prabhupāda calls such leaders blind; those who follow them are led into chaos.

  43. BG 1.43Hearing from Proper Authorities

    Study this verse
    • Arjuna tells Kṛṣṇa he has heard through disciplic succession that those whose family traditions are destroyed dwell always in hell.
    • Arjuna bases his argument on hearing from authorities, not on his own experience.
    • Real knowledge requires help from someone already established in that knowledge.
    • The varṇāśrama system requires atonement for sinful acts before death. This is called prāyaścitta.
    • Those who keep committing sinful acts must atone; otherwise, they suffer miserable lives on hellish planets.

  44. BG 1.44Avoiding Sinful Acts

    Study this verse
    • Arjuna laments that they are ready to kill their own relatives to enjoy royal happiness.
    • Selfish motives can lead people to sinful acts, even killing close family members.
    • History has many examples of such acts.
    • As a saintly devotee of the Lord, Arjuna always keeps moral principles in mind.
    • Like Arjuna, we should take care to avoid sinful acts.

  45. BG 1.45Arjuna Would Not Fight

    Study this verse
    • Arjuna says it would be better if Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons killed him unarmed and unresisting on the battlefield.
    • Warrior rules forbid attacking an enemy who is unarmed and unwilling to fight.
    • Arjuna decided not to fight even if the enemy attacked him.
    • He did not consider how determined the other side was to fight.
    • His soft-heartedness came from being a great devotee of the Lord.

  46. BG 1.46Arjuna Overwhelmed with Grief

    Study this verse
    • Sañjaya says Arjuna set aside his bow and arrows and sat on the chariot, overwhelmed with grief.
    • Arjuna had stood up on the chariot to observe his enemy’s situation.
    • His sorrow was so great that he sat down again.
    • Prabhupāda describes Arjuna as kind and soft-hearted.
    • Such a person, serving the Lord with devotion, is fit to receive self-knowledge.
2

Stories

The Mahābhārata background, and stories Prabhupāda tells in his purports. Tap one to read it.

The story · Devavrata renounces succession and vows lifelong celibacy so Śāntanu can marry Satyavatī; the later Kuru succession depends on that decision. Bhīṣma becomes guardian of a dynasty divided by injustice.

Background only: the Gītā verses below mention the people involved, but don't tell this story themselves.

BG 1.8BG 1.11-12BG 1.25-26
Back to step 1Arjuna's journeyNext · Step 3 of 7 · 10 minThe key ideasSee how karma, the soul, devotion and surrender link together. Follow a guided path.