The Bhagavad-Gita: Krishna's Counsel in Time of War [Paperback]

The Bhagavad-Gitahas been an essential text of Hindu culture in India since the time of its composition in the first century A.D. One of the great classics of world literature, it has inspired such diverse thinkers as Henry David Thoreau, Mahatma Gandhi, and T.S. Eliot; most recently, it formed the core of Peter Brook's celebrated production of theMahabharata.THE FIRST TEACHING



ARJUNA'S DEJECTION



Dhritarashtra



Sanjaya, tell me what my sons

and the sons of Pandu did when they met,

wanting to battle on the field of Kuru,

on the field of sacred duty? 1



Sanjaya



Your son Duryodhana, the king,

seeing the Pandava forces arrayed,

approached his teacher Drona

and spoke in command. 2



"My teacher, see

the great Pandava army arrayed

by Drupada's son,

your pupil, intent on revenge. 3



Here are heroes, mighty archers

equal to Bhima and Arjuna in warfare,

Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada,

your sworn foe on his great chariot. 4



Here too are Dhrishtaketu, Cekitana,

and the brave king of Benares;

Purujit, Kuntibhoja,

and the manly king of the Shibis. 5

Yudhamanyu is bold,

and Uttamaujas is brave;

the sons of Subhadra and Draupadi

all command great chariots. 6



Now, honored priest, mark

the superb men on our side

as I tell you the names

of my army's leaders. 7



They are you and Bhishma,

Karna and Kripa, a victor in battles,

your own son Ashvatthama,

Vikarna, and the son of Somadatta. 8



Many other heroes also risk

their lives for my sake,

bearing varied weapons

and skilled in the ways of war. 9



Guarded by Bhishma, the strength

of our army is without limit;

but the strength of their army,