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Chapter 1 · Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra · 46 verses

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Questions & crisisChapter 1 · Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra
1.452.1

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 1.46

The bow falls

सञ्जय उवाच

एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः संख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् ।

विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्न‍मानसः ॥ ४६ ॥

sañjaya uvāca

evam uktvārjunaḥ saṅkhye

rathopastha upāviśat

visṛjya sa-śaraṁ cāpaṁ

śoka-saṁvigna-mānasaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Arjuna, having thus spoken on the battlefield, cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the chariot, his mind overwhelmed with grief.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Arjuna Overwhelmed with Grief

  1. 1Sañjaya says Arjuna set aside his bow and arrows and sat on the chariot, overwhelmed with grief.
  2. 2Arjuna had stood up on the chariot to observe his enemy’s situation.
  3. 3His sorrow was so great that he sat down again.
  4. 4Prabhupāda describes Arjuna as kind and soft-hearted.
  5. 5Such a person, serving the Lord with devotion, is fit to receive self-knowledge.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 1, Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra: withdrawal and overwhelming grief.

What it teaches

Study note

A physical action reveals the depth of the inner crisis.

How it feels

Interpretive

Paralysis

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Grief & illusion

Overcome with grief, Arjuna lays down his bow.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where am I abandoning a responsibility because my understanding has become confused?

Practice

Before withdrawing, seek appropriate spiritual guidance and examine the duty involved.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 1 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 1.28Compassion entangled with attachmentBG 2.7The moment Arjuna becomes a discipleBG 18.73My illusion is gone

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Ask about BG 1.46 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.