सञ्जय उवाच एवमुक्त्वाऽर्जुनः संख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्। विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः।।1.47।।
sañjaya uvāca evam uktvā arjunaḥ saṅkhye rathopastha upāviśhat visṛijya sa-śharaṁ chāpaṁ śhoka-saṁvigna-mānasaḥ
Translation
Sanjay said: Speaking thus, Arjun cast aside his bow and arrows, and sank into the seat of his chariot, his mind in distress and overwhelmed with grief.
Word Meanings
sañjayaḥ uvāca — Sanjay said; evam uktvā — speaking thus; arjunaḥ — Arjuna; saṅkhye — in the battlefield; ratha upasthā — on the chariot; upāviśhat — sat down; visṛijya — casting aside; sa-śharam — along with arrows; chāpaṁ — the bow; śhoka — with grief; saṁvigna — distressed; mānasaḥ — mind
Understanding the Verse
In this verse, Sanjay describes the profound emotional turmoil that Arjuna experiences on the battlefield. His reluctance to fight has now reached a breaking point. Overcome by grief and distress, Arjuna abandons his weapons, casting aside his bow and arrows, and sits down in his chariot, utterly dejected. This moment marks a dramatic turn in the battle, not just physically but also emotionally and spiritually. Arjuna’s actions reflect his inner confusion and crisis of conscience. As a warrior of great stature and devotion to Lord Krishna, it is completely unexpected for him to display such weakness. Arjuna, who had once demonstrated such devotion and faith in Krishna, especially when he chose to align himself with Krishna over a mighty army, now finds himself overcome with doubt and sorrow. Arjuna is not a novice warrior; he is an exalted being, the son of Indra, the king of the gods, and a spiritual disciple of the highest order. His past life as Nar, one of the Nar-Narayan twin incarnations, indicates his profound spiritual knowledge and connection to the divine. So, it is perplexing to see him abandon his duty as a warrior. His misery stems not from a lack of courage, but from his material attachments—his deep love and compassion for his family, the Kauravas, and his moral dilemma. This moment is a divine setup by Krishna, intended to create an opportunity for Arjuna to receive the knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita. By strategically confusing Arjuna, Krishna ensures that Arjuna will present his concerns, which Krishna will then address in the subsequent chapters. This exchange between Arjuna's emotional crisis and Krishna's guidance forms the core of the Bhagavad Gita, where Arjuna will be taught how to transcend his material attachments and fulfill his dharma.
