[1.1] Dhåtaräñöra said: O Saïjaya, after my sons and the sons of Päëòu assembled in the place of pilgrimage at Kurukñetra, desiring to fight, what did they do?

[1.2] Saïjaya said: O King, after looking over the army arranged in military formation by the sons of Päëòu, King Duryodhana went to his teacher and spoke the following words.

[1.3] O my teacher, behold the great army of the sons of Päëòu, so expertly arranged by your intelligent disciple the son of Drupada.

[1.4] Here in this army are many heroic bowmen equal in fighting to Bhéma and Arjuna: great fighters like Yuyudhäna, Viräöa and Drupada.

[1.5] There are also great, heroic, powerful fighters like Dhåñöaketu, Cekitäna, Käçiräja, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Çaibya.

[1.6] There are the mighty Yudhämanyu, the very powerful Uttamaujä, the son of Subhadrä and the sons of Draupadé. All these warriors are great chariot fighters.

[1.7] But for your information, O best of the brähmaëas, let me tell you about the captains who are especially qualified to lead my military force.

[1.8] There are personalities like you, Bhéñma, Karëa, Kåpa, Açvatthämä, Vikarëa and the son of Somadatta called Bhüriçravä, who are always victorious in battle.

[1.9] There are many other heroes who are prepared to lay down their lives for my sake. All of them are well equipped with different kinds of weapons, and all are experienced in military science.

[1.10] Our strength is immeasurable, and we are perfectly protected by Grandfather Bhéñma, whereas the strength of the Päëòavas, carefully protected by Bhéma, is limited.

[1.11] All of you must now give full support to Grandfather Bhéñma, as you stand at your respective strategic points of entrance into the phalanx of the army.

[1.12] Then Bhéñma, the great valiant grandsire of the Kuru dynasty, the grandfather of the fighters, blew his conchshell very loudly, making a sound like the roar of a lion, giving Duryodhana joy.

[1.13] After that, the conchshells, drums, bugles, trumpets and horns were all suddenly sounded, and the combined sound was tumultuous.

[1.14] On the other side, both Lord Kåñëa and Arjuna, stationed on a great chariot drawn by white horses, sounded their transcendental conchshells.

[1.15] Lord Kåñëa blew His conchshell, called Päïcajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhéma, the voracious eater and performer of herculean tasks, blew his terrific conchshell, called Pauëòra.

[1.19] The blowing of these different conchshells became uproarious. Vibrating both in the sky and on the earth, it shattered the hearts of the sons of Dhåtaräñöra.

[1.20] At that time Arjuna, the son of Päëòu, seated in the chariot bearing the flag marked with Hanumän, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows. O King, after looking at the sons of Dhåtaräñöra drawn in military array, Arjuna then spoke to Lord Kåñëa these words.

[1.23] Let me see those who have come here to fight, wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhåtaräñöra.

[1.24] Saïjaya said: O descendant of Bharata, having thus been addressed by Arjuna, Lord Kåñëa drew up the fine chariot in the midst of the armies of both parties.

[1.25] In the presence of Bhéñma, Droëa and all the other chieftains of the world, the Lord said, Just behold, Pärtha, all the Kurus assembled here.

[1.26] There Arjuna could see, within the midst of the armies of both parties, his fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, friends, and also his fathers-in-law and well-wishers.

[1.27] When the son of Kunté, Arjuna, saw all these different grades of friends and relatives, he became overwhelmed with compassion and spoke thus.

[1.28] Arjuna said: My dear Kåñëa, seeing my friends and relatives present before me in such a fighting spirit, I feel the limbs of my body quivering and my mouth drying up.

[1.29] My whole body is trembling, my hair is standing on end, my bow Gäëòéva is slipping from my hand, and my skin is burning.

[1.30] I am now unable to stand here any longer. I am forgetting myself, and my mind is reeling. I see only causes of misfortune, O Kåñëa, killer of the Keçé demon.

[1.31] I do not see how any good can come from killing my own kinsmen in this battle, nor can I, my dear Kåñëa, desire any subsequent victory, kingdom, or happiness.

[1.36] Sin will overcome us if we slay such aggressors. Therefore it is not proper for us to kill the sons of Dhåtaräñöra and our friends. What should we gain, O Kåñëa, husband of the goddess of fortune, and how could we be happy by killing our own kinsmen?

[1.39] With the destruction of dynasty, the eternal family tradition is vanquished, and thus the rest of the family becomes involved in irreligion.

[1.40] When irreligion is prominent in the family, O Kåñëa, the women of the family become polluted, and from the degradation of womanhood, O descendant of Våñëi, comes unwanted progeny.

[1.41] An increase of unwanted population certainly causes hellish life both for the family and for those who destroy the family tradition. The ancestors of such corrupt families fall down, because the performances for offering them food and water are entirely stopped.

[1.42] By the evil deeds of those who destroy the family tradition and thus give rise to unwanted children, all kinds of community projects and family welfare activities are devastated.

[1.43] O Kåñëa, maintainer of the people, I have heard by disciplic succession that those who destroy family traditions dwell always in hell.

[1.44] Alas, how strange it is that we are preparing to commit greatly sinful acts. Driven by the desire to enjoy royal happiness, we are intent on killing our own kinsmen.

[1.45] Better for me if the sons of Dhåtaräñöra, weapons in hand, were to kill me unarmed and unresisting on the battlefield.

[1.46] Saïjaya 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.