20. Arjuna
beheld the vast army assembled for the war, and before the missiles began to
fly, lifted his bow and uttered the following words to his charioteer Krishna
21. O
infallible one, place my chariot between both the forces that are assembled
here
22. I
would like to observe those who stand here desirous of battle and the ones whom
I must face as opponents
23. I
desire to see who all have assembled here to favour the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra
24. Krishna
moved the chariot and placed it in the middle of the forces
25. He
strategically placed it (instead of placing it in front of Duryodhana and
increasing the energy, he placed it in front of his favourite relatives and
drained his energy) and made Arjuna face his grandsire Bhishma and Guru Drona, and the other benevolent rulers and said, “Arjuna,
see these Kauravas!”
26. There
Arjuna observed both the armies. He could only see fathers, grandfathers,
teachers, brothers, sons, grandsons, friends, uncles, other loving beings and
well wishers
27. That
son of Kunti, beholding his relatives, keenly observed them and overwhelmed
with compassion and despondency uttered the following words
28. O
Krishna, seeing my relatives assembled and eager for the fight, my body is
losing all its energy and my mouth becomes dry
29. My
entire frame is trembling, my hair stands on its end, my bow, which has the
name Gandiva, slips from my hand and my skin burns
30. Krishna,
I have lost the strength to even stand, my mind is in a turmoil. I behold bad
omens
31. In
this war, I am unable to see the benefits of killing my relatives. Now, I do
not desire victory, kingdom, and other pleasures
32. What
benefit do we achieve by possessing the kingdom without the people?
33. They
for whose sake, we are desiring sovereignty, enjoyments, and pleasures are
arrayed for this battle prepared to give up their life and wealth
34. Teachers,
parents, children, grandparents, uncles, brothers, brothers-in-law, marital
relatives are assembled here against us
35. Even
for the sake of the three worlds, I will not slay them. For the sake of this
earth, will I kill them?
36. What
happiness do we achieve by slaying this army of Dhritarashtra? Even if we kill
these aggressors, only sins will overtake us
37. Therefore,
killing our relatives is something that I will not be able to do. Krishna, how
can we be happy by killing our own relatives?
38. Owing
to their greed, they are unable to appreciate the evil that arises from the
quarrel within a family and extermination of the race
39. But
shouldn’t we who understand those sins abstain from it?
40. When
a race is destroyed, the eternal customs and values are lost. And iniquity
surrounds everyone
41. When
iniquity increases in proportions, immorality follows. Family ladies become
corrupt, unwanted progeny comes into being and races intermingle
42. Unwanted
progeny ensures social evils and makes life hell to those who are pure and
those that intermingle. The familial rites end. And without food and water,
ancestors fall from heaven
43. When
races intermingle eternal rites of families become extinct
44. I
have heard that the ones whose family rites become extinct always dwell in hell
45. Because
of the desire to rule this land, I have resolved to perpetrate such a great sin
of killing my own kinsmen. Alas! How strange is it?
46. Wouldn’t
it be better to remain unarmed and be killed by Dhritarashtra’s men in this
war?
47. Having spoken these words, Arjuna, with his mind
troubled in grief, threw his bows and arrows away, and sat down in his
chariot’s floor
To know Lord Krishna's resolve, click https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07S3L25TP
