01 · The question on the battlefield
The Bhagavad Gita is a conversation inside the Mahabharata, told by Sanjaya to the blind king Dhritarashtra.
The Bhagavad Gita is a conversation inside the Mahabharata, told by Sanjaya to the blind king Dhritarashtra.
On the field of Kurukshetra, two armies of one family stood ready for war.
On the field of Kurukshetra, two armies of one family stood ready for war.
Arjuna asked his charioteer Krishna to place the chariot between the two armies.
Arjuna asked his charioteer Krishna to place the chariot between the two armies.
There he saw elders, teachers, uncles, brothers, sons and friends on both sides.
There he saw elders, teachers, uncles, brothers, sons and friends on both sides.
His body trembled, and his bow began to slip from his hand.
His body trembled, and his bow began to slip from his hand.
He said he did not want a victory that would cost the lives of his own family.
He said he did not want a victory that would cost the lives of his own family.
He feared that a war within a family would destroy its traditions and harm many people.
He feared that a war within a family would destroy its traditions and harm many people.
In chapter one, verse forty-seven, Sanjaya says: “Having spoken this way on the battlefield, Arjuna put down his bow and arrows and sat down in the chariot, his mind shaken by sorrow.”
In chapter one, verse forty-seven, Sanjaya says: “Having spoken this way on the battlefield, Arjuna put down his bow and arrows and sat down in the chariot, his mind shaken by sorrow.”
The Gita begins here, with a good man who cannot see the right thing to do.
The Gita begins here, with a good man who cannot see the right thing to do.
Saylumo English explanation · Bhagavad Gītā 1.1, 1.47 (cited: 1.1, 1.20–47) · Original Saylumo English explanation and translation of selected teachings. Not the complete Bhagavad Gita and not a quotation of any modern translation. · Source & license