न च तस्मान्मनुष्येषु कश्चिन्मे प्रियकृत्तमः । भविता न च मे तस्मादन्यः प्रियतरो भुवि
Among men, none will be dearer to me than he; nor will there be anyone on earth more beloved by me than him.
अध्येष्यते च य इमं धर्म्यं संवादमावयोः । ज्ञानयज्ञेन तेनाहमिष्टः स्यामिति मे मतिः
He who studies this righteous dialogue between us, by the sacrifice of knowledge, I consider myself worshipped by him—such is my conviction.
श्रद्धावाननसूयश्च श्रृणुयादपि यो नरः। सोपि मुक्तः शुभाँल्लोकान्प्राप्नुयात्पुण्यकर्मणां
And even the man who hears it with faith and without envy, he too, being virtuous, attains the auspicious worlds and is liberated.
कच्चिदेतच्छ्रुतं पार्थ त्वयैकाग्रेण चेतसा । कच्चिदज्ञानसंमोहः प्रनष्टस्ते धनंजय
O Partha, have you listened to this with a focused mind? Has your confusion born of ignorance been destroyed, O Dhananjaya?
नष्टो मोहः स्मृतिर्लब्धा त्वत्प्रसादान्मयाऽच्युत । स्थितोऽस्मि गतसंदेहः करिष्ये वचनं तव
My delusion is gone, memory has been restored, by your grace, O Achyuta. I stand firm, free from doubt; I will act according to your word.
इत्यहं वासुदेवस्य पार्थस्य च महात्मनः। संवादमिममश्रौषमद्भुतं रोमहर्षणम्
Thus I heard this wondrous, hair-raising dialogue between Vasudeva and the great-hearted Partha.
व्यासप्रसादाच्छ्रुतवानेतद्गुह्यमहं परम्। योगं योगेश्वरात्कृष्णात्साक्षात्कथयतः स्वयम्
By Vyasa’s favor, I have heard this supreme and secret yoga directly from Krishna, the Lord of Yoga, as he himself spoke it.
राजन्संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य संवादमिममद्भुतम् । केशवार्जुवयोः पुण्यं हृष्यामि च मुहुर्मुहुः
O King, recalling again and again this wondrous and holy conversation between Keshava and Arjuna, I rejoice again and again.
तच्च संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य रूपमत्यद्भुतं हरेः। विस्मयो मे महान्राजन्हृष्यामि च पुनः पुनः
And recalling again and again the exceedingly wondrous form of Hari, great amazement fills me, O King, and I rejoice repeatedly.
यत्र योगेश्वरः कृष्णो यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धरः । तत्र श्रीर्विजयो भूतिर्ध्रुवा नीतिर्मतिर्मम
Wherever Krishna, Lord of Yoga, is, and wherever Arjuna, wielder of the bow, is, there surely are fortune, victory, prosperity, and steadfast righteousness—such is my conviction.
गीता सुगीता कर्तव्या किमन्यैः शास्त्रसंग्रहैः । या स्वयं पद्मनाभस्य सुखपद्माद्विनिःसृता
The Gita, well sung, should be practiced; what need is there for other collections of scriptures? That which has emerged from the blissful lotus of Padmanabha himself.
सर्वशास्त्रमयी गीता सर्वदेवमयो हरिः। सर्वतीर्थमयी गङ्गा सर्वदेवमयो मनुः
The Gita is the essence of all scriptures; Hari is the essence of all gods. The Ganga is the essence of all sacred places; Manu is the essence of all gods.
गीता गङ्गा च गायत्री गोविन्देति हृदि स्थिते। चतुर्गकारसंयुक्ते पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते
When the Gita, the Ganga, the Gayatri, and the name Govinda dwell in the heart, united by the four syllables beginning with 'ga', there is no rebirth.
षट्शतानि सविंशानि श्लोकानां प्राह केशवः। अर्जुनः सप्तपञ्चाशत्सप्तषष्टिं तु सञ्जयः
Keshava spoke six hundred and twenty verses; Arjuna spoke fifty-seven, and Sanjaya sixty-six.
धृतराष्ट्रः श्लोकमेकं गीताया मानमुच्यते । भारतामृतसर्वस्वगीताया मथितस्य च। सारमुद्धृत्य कृष्णेन अर्जुनस्य मुखे हुतम्
Dhritarashtra spoke one verse; this is the measure of the Gita. The essence of the nectar of the Bharata, churned out, was offered by Krishna into the mouth of Arjuna.
ततो धनंजयं दृष्ट्वा बाणगाण्डीवधारिणम् । पुनरेव महानादं व्यसृजन्त महारथाःक
Then, seeing Dhananjaya, the wielder of the Gandiva bow, the great chariot-warriors again let out a mighty roar.
पाण्डवाः सोमकाश्चैव ये चैषामनुयायिनः । दध्मुश्च मुदिताः शङ्खान्वीराः सागरसंभवान्
The Pandavas, the Somakas, and all their followers, joyfully blew their conch shells, heroes born of the ocean.
ततो भेर्यश्च पेश्यश्च क्रकचा गोविषाणिकाः । सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त ततः शब्दो महानभूत्
Then drums, cymbals, tabors, and cow-horns were suddenly sounded together, and a great noise arose.
तथा देवाः सगन्धर्वाः पितरश्च जनाधिप । सिद्धचारणसङ्घाश्च समीयुस्ते दिदृक्षया
Thus, the gods with the Gandharvas, the ancestors, the lord of men, and assemblies of Siddhas and Charanas gathered, eager to witness.
ऋषयश्च महाभागाः पुरस्कृत्य शतक्रतुम् । समीयुस्तत्र सहिता द्रुष्टुं तद्वैशसं महत्
And the great sages, having placed Indra at their forefront, came together there to see that immense carnage.
ते सेने स्तिमिते सञ्जे वीक्षमाणे परस्परम् । गङ्गायमुनयोर्वेगो यथैवैत्य परस्परम्
Those armies stood motionless, gazing at each other, like the currents of the Ganga and Yamuna meeting one another.
एवं प्रवत्ते ते सेने निःशब्दे जनसंसदि । चित्रे पट इवालेख्ये दर्शनीयतरे शुभे
Thus, those armies stood silent amidst the gathering of people, splendid and striking to behold, like a painting on a beautiful canvas.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो दृष्ट्वा युद्धाय समवस्थिते। ते सेने सागरप्रख्ये मुहुः प्रज्वलिते नृप
Then, Yudhishthira, seeing the armies assembled for battle, those armies vast as the ocean, repeatedly blazing forth, O king—
विमुच्य कवचं वीरो निक्षिप्य च वरायुधम् । अवरुह्य रथात्क्षिप्रं पद्म्यामेव कृताञ्जलिः
The heroic one removed his armor, set aside his mighty weapon, quickly descended from his chariot, and with folded hands, stood in the midst.
पितामहमभिप्रेक्ष्य धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः । वाग्यतः प्रययौ धीरः प्राङ्भुखो रिपुवाहिनीम्
Beholding the grandsire, King Yudhishthira, steadfast in speech, approached the enemy host, facing east, with composure.
तं प्रयान्तमभिप्रेभ्य कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः । अवतीर्य रथात्तूर्णं भ्रातृभिः सहितोऽन्वयात्
Seeing him advance, Kunti's son Dhananjaya swiftly descended from his chariot and followed, accompanied by his brothers.
वासुदेवश्च भगवान्पृष्ठतोऽनुजगाम तम् । तथा मुख्याश्च राजानस्तच्चित्ता जग्मुरुत्सुकाः
And the blessed Vasudeva followed behind him; likewise, the chief kings, their minds intent, eagerly went forth.
किं ते व्यवसितं राजन्यदस्मानपहाय वै। प्रद्म्यामेव प्रयातोऽसि प्राङ्मुखो रिपुवाहिनीम्
What have you resolved, O king, that you leave us and proceed alone, facing the enemy host in the midst?
क्व गमिष्यसि राजेन्द्र निक्षिप्तकवचायुधः। दंशितेष्वरिसैन्येषु भ्रातॄनुत्सृज्य पार्थिव
Where will you go, O king, having laid aside your armor and weapons, leaving your brothers among the hostile armies?
एवं गते त्वयि ज्येष्ठे मम भ्रातरि भारत। भीमे दुनोति हृदयं ब्रूहि गन्ता भवान्क्व नु
As you, my elder brother, depart thus, O Bharata, Bhima's heart is troubled; tell us, where indeed will you go?