Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 47

English Translation

Sanjaya narrated: Having said so, Arjuna, with a mind afflicted with sorrow, sat down on the chariot in the midst of the battle, casting aside the bow along with the arrows.

Detailed Commentary

।।1.47।। Explanation: 'Having spoken thus, Arjuna... his mind agitated by sorrow' -- Waging war is the root of all calamities. By engaging in war, the family will be destroyed in this world, and hell (naraka) will be attained in the afterlife. Understanding these points with logic and proof, Arjuna, distressed by sorrow, decided not to wage war. In that very battlefield where he had arrived with enthusiasm, holding his bow, he laid down his Gaṇḍīva bow with his left hand and arrows with his right, and sat down in the middle of the chariot, where he stood, in a posture of profound sorrow. The primary reason for Arjuna's sorrowful state is Bhagavān (Krishna) positioning the chariot before Bhishma and Droṇa, and asking Arjuna to behold the Kuru warriors. Seeing them, the hidden *moha* (attachment/delusion) within Arjuna awakened. With the awakening of *moha*, Arjuna states that in war, our family members will be killed. The death of family members is indeed a great loss. Duryodhana and others, due to greed (*lobha*), are not concerned about this loss. But considering how many calamities will commence with war, we should abstain from such a sin (*papa*). We have stood upon the battlefield to destroy our family out of greed for kingdom and happiness – this is a great mistake we have made! Therefore, not waging war, even if the warriors standing before me kill me, who is unarmed, it would be for my own good. In this way, due to *moha*, Arjuna sees good in withdrawing from war and even in his own death. Ultimately, due to that very *moha*, he abandons his bow along with his arrows and sits down in dejection (*viṣāda*). Such is the power (*mahimā*) of *moha* that Arjuna, who was ready for battle, is now, having laid down his bow, intensely tormented by sorrow! Thus, with the utterance of the divine names Om, Tat, Sat, in the Upanishadic Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā, which is imbued with the knowledge of Brahman (Brahmavidyā) and the science of Yoga (Yogaśāstra), in the dialogue between Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, the first chapter, named 'Arjuna Viṣāda Yoga', concludes. ।।1।।