Chapter 1
Arjuna Vishada Yoga
Last updated: 14 June 2026
अर्जुन विषाद योग
Total Shlokas: 47~10 min readSanskrit + Multi-language Meanings
Script:
Shloka 1
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच। धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः। मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय।।1.1।।
Show Meaning
Dhritarashtra, blind and anxious about the outcome, asks Sanjaya what his sons and the sons of Pandu did when they assembled on the sacred field of Kurukshetra, ready for battle.
Shloka 2
सञ्जय उवाच। दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा। आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत्।।1.2।।
Show Meaning
Sanjaya narrates that King Duryodhana, upon seeing the Pandava army arrayed in military formation, approached his teacher Drona to speak.
Shloka 3
पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम्। व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता।।1.3।।
Show Meaning
Duryodhana draws Drona's attention to the mighty army of the Pandavas, skillfully arranged by Drona's own intelligent disciple, Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Drupada.
Shloka 4
अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि। युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः।।1.4।।
Show Meaning
Duryodhana enumerates the great warriors on the Pandava side — heroic bowmen equal to Bhima and Arjuna in battle, including Yuyudhana (Satyaki), Virata, and the great chariot-warrior Drupada.
Shloka 5
धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान्। पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः।।1.5।।
Show Meaning
He continues listing Pandava heroes: Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, the valiant king of Kashi, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Shaibya — all outstanding among men.
Shloka 6
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान्। सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः।।1.6।।
Show Meaning
Also present are the mighty Yudhamanyu, the valorous Uttamauja, the son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu), and the five sons of Draupadi — all great chariot-warriors.
Shloka 7
अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम। नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते।।1.7।।
Show Meaning
Duryodhana then turns to naming the distinguished commanders on his own side, so that Drona may know their strength.
Shloka 8
भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः। अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च।।1.8।।
Show Meaning
He names the foremost warriors of the Kaurava army: Drona himself, Bhishma, Karna, the ever-victorious Kripa, Ashwatthama, Vikarna, and Bhurishrava, the son of Somadatta.
Shloka 9
अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः। नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः।।1.9।।
Show Meaning
Besides these, many other heroes are prepared to lay down their lives for Duryodhana's cause, all armed with various weapons and all skilled in the art of warfare.
Shloka 10
अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम्। पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम्।।1.10।।
Show Meaning
Duryodhana expresses concern that their army, protected by Bhishma, seems limited, while the Pandava army protected by Bhima appears formidable enough to overcome them.
Shloka 11
अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः। भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि।।1.11।।
Show Meaning
He therefore urges all the commanders to support and protect Bhishma from all sides while maintaining their respective positions in the battle formation.
Shloka 12
तस्य सञ्जनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः। सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान्।।1.12।।
Show Meaning
To raise Duryodhana's spirits, the grand patriarch Bhishma, the eldest of the Kuru dynasty, roared like a lion and blew his conch loudly.
Shloka 13
ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः। सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत्।।1.13।।
Show Meaning
Immediately after, conches, drums, kettledrums, tabors, and horns blared forth simultaneously, creating a tremendous tumultuous sound.
Shloka 14
ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ। माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः।।1.14।।
Show Meaning
Then, seated in their magnificent chariot yoked with white horses, Krishna and Arjuna also sounded their divine conches.
Shloka 15
पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनञ्जयः। पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः।।1.15।।
Show Meaning
Krishna blew his conch Panchajanya, Arjuna blew Devadatta, and Bhima of terrible deeds blew the great conch Paundra.
Shloka 16
अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ।।1.16।।
Show Meaning
King Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, blew Anantavijaya; Nakula and Sahadeva blew Sughosha and Manipushpaka respectively.
Shloka 17
काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः। धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः।।1.17।।
Show Meaning
The great archer king of Kashi, the mighty warrior Shikhandi, Dhrishtadyumna, Virata, and the unconquerable Satyaki also blew their conches.
Shloka 18
द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते। सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक्।।1.18।।
Show Meaning
Drupada, all five sons of Draupadi, and the mighty-armed Abhimanyu, son of Subhadra — each blew their respective conches from all sides.
Shloka 19
स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत्। नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन्।।1.19।।
Show Meaning
That tremendous sound reverberated through sky and earth, shattering the hearts of Dhritarashtra's sons with its fearsome echo.
Shloka 20
अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः। प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः।।1.20।।
Show Meaning
At that moment, seeing the Kauravas arrayed for battle and the clash of weapons about to begin, Arjuna raised his bow, ready to fight.
Page 1 of 3 · Shlokas 1–20 / 47
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 (Arjuna Vishada Yoga) about?
Chapter 1, Arjuna Vishada Yoga, deals with Arjuna's despair on seeing his kinsmen arrayed for battle, and his refusal to fight. It contains 47 verses and is part of the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna at Kurukshetra.
How many verses are in Chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita?
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 (Arjuna Vishada Yoga) has 47 shlokas (verses). On VedKosh each one is available with the original Sanskrit, transliteration, and meaning in Hindi and English.
What is the key teaching of Chapter 1?
The central teaching of Arjuna Vishada Yoga is Arjuna's despair on seeing his kinsmen arrayed for battle, and his refusal to fight. Read it as part of the unfolding wisdom Krishna gives Arjuna to resolve his moral crisis and act with clarity.