Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 27

English Translation

The son of Kunti (Ajuna), seeing all those rlatives arrayed (there), became overwhelmed by supreme compassion and said this sorrowfully:

Detailed Commentary

Explanation: 'tān sarvān bandhūn avasthitān samīkṣya' -- According to the previous verse, Arjuna saw his great-grandfathers like Bahlika; brothers-in-law like Dhristadyumna, Shikhandi, Suratha; sister's husbands like Jayadratha, and other relatives in both armies. 'sa kaunteyaḥ kṛpayā parayāviṣṭaḥ' -- This means that Arjuna, son of Kunti, who had received the message to fight, and who was eager to see which warriors stood before him, requested Lord Krishna to place his chariot between the two armies. But now, he is overcome with intense timidity. Seeing close relatives in both armies, Arjuna began to think that no matter what, the loss would be theirs. In this way, his desire for battle ended, and timidity arose in his mind. The Lord has called this timidity 'kaśmalam' and 'hṛdayadaurbalyam', and Arjuna has accepted it as 'kārpaṇyadoṣopahatasvabhāvaḥ'. The term 'kṛpayāviṣṭaḥ' indicates that this timidity was not originally present in Arjuna, but has arisen now. This is an adventitious flaw, hence it will not persist. However, valor is Arjuna's inherent quality; it will remain. Extreme timidity is when people who, without reason, censure, disrespect, insult, and cause pain, stand before oneself, and yet one does not even contemplate killing them. Timidity so enveloped Arjuna that he was showing compassion even towards the unrighteous (adharmi), and was deviating from his Kshatriya Dharma. 'viṣīdannidamabravīt' -- Arjuna is distressed due to worries about family, lineage (kul), and country as a result of the war, and in this very distress, he speaks further in the verses to come.