तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितृं नाथ पितामहान्। आचार्यान् मातुलान् भ्रातृं पुत्रान् पौत्रान् सखींस्तथा।।1.26।।
tatrāpaśyat sthitān pārthaḥ pitṝn atha pitāmahān ācāryān mātulān bhrātṝn putrān pautrān sakhīṁs tathā śvaśurān suhṛdaś caiva senayoḥ ubhayor api
Translation
There, Arjuna could see stationed in both armies, his fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, cousins, sons, nephews, grand-nephews, friends, fathers-in-law, and well-wishers.
Word Meanings
tatra — there apaśyat — he could see sthitān — standing pārthaḥ — Arjuna pitṝn — fathers atha — also pitāmahān — grandfathers ācāryān — teachers mātulān — maternal uncles bhrātṝn — brothers putrān — sons pautrān — grandsons sakhīn — friends tathā — too śvaśurān — fathers-in-law suhṛdaḥ — well-wishers ca — also eva — certainly senayoḥ — of the armies ubhayor — of both parties api — including
Understanding the Verse
As Arjuna’s chariot is positioned in the center of the battlefield, he looks around and sees an overwhelming number of relatives in both the Pandava and Kaurava armies. These are not just warriors, but his own family members and close ones. Arjuna could see: Fathers: His own father Pandu and others. Grandfathers: The mighty Bheeshma and other elders. Teachers: Dronacharya and Kripacharya, who taught him martial arts. Maternal Uncles: Shalya and Shakuni, who were on the opposite side. Brothers: He saw his brothers Duryodhana, Dushasana, and others in the Kaurava army. Sons: Like his son Abhimanyu, who was fighting for the Pandavas. Cousins: Including the Kauravas, who were also his cousins. Friends: Such as Ashvatthama, Kritavarma, and others on the battlefield. Fathers-in-law and Well-wishers: People like Susharma and other relatives. For Arjuna, this was not just a battlefield of soldiers, but a painful sight of familiar faces, turning it into a personal emotional turmoil. Arjuna had to fight against people who were deeply connected to him by blood and affection. This contrast of family ties on both sides amplified his inner conflict. Arjuna was aware that this battle would bring suffering to his family, and he was shaken by the realization that those he cared for were fighting on opposing sides. In this verse, Lord Krishna is setting the stage for Arjuna’s internal struggle by highlighting the emotional complexities involved in the war. Krishna will soon guide Arjuna to overcome his doubts and dilemmas, but for now, Arjuna is caught in a painful moment of realization.
