19. That tumultuous sound rent the hearts of (the people) of Dhritarashtra's party, making both heaven and earth resound.
20-22. Then seeing the people of Dhritarashtra’s party regularly marshalled, while the discharge of weapons began, Arjuna, the son of Pandu, whose ensign was a monkey, O King of earth, took up his bow and said thus to Krishna: O Achyuta (Immortal), place my chariot between the two armies, that I may just see those who stand here desirous to fight, and know with whom I must fight in this strife of battle. 23. "I will observe those who are assembled here and are about to engage in battle desirous to do service in war to the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra". SANJAYA SAID: 24-25. O descendant of Bharata, Hrishikesa (Krishna) thus addressed by Gudakesa (Arjuna) stationed that excellent car between the two armies in front of Bhisma and Drona and all the rulers of earth, and said: "O son of Pritha, look at these assembled Kauravas." 26-27. Then the son of Pritha saw arrayed there in both the armies fathers and grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons and comrades, father-in-law and friends. 27-28. When the son of Kunti saw all the kinsmen standing, he was overcome with deepest pity and said thus in sorrow: ARJUNA SAID: 28-29. Seeing these kinsmen, O Krishna, arrayed and desirous to fight, my limbs droop down, and my mouth is dried up. A tremor comes on my body and my hairs stand on end. 30. The Gandiva slips from my hand, and my skin is intensely burning. I am also unable to stand and my mind is whirling round, as it were. 31. And, O Kesava, I see omens foreboding evil. Nor do I see any good from killing my kinsmen in battle. 32. I desire not victory, O Krishna, nor kingdom, nor pleasures. Of what avail is
dominion to us, O Govinda ? Of what avail are pleasures and even life ? 33-34. They for whose sake dominion, enjoyments and pleasures are sought by us are here standing, having staked their life and wealth; teachers, fathers, sons as well as grandfathers; maternal uncles, father-in-law grandsons, brothers-in-law as also (other) relatives. 35. These, O slayer of Madhu, I do not wish to kill, though they kill me, even for the sake of dominion over the three worlds; how much less, for the sake of the earth! 36. O Janardana, what delight shall be ours after killing the sons of Dhritarashtra ? On killing these felons, sin only will take hold of us. 37. We had then better not slay our own kinsmen, the sons of Dhritarashtra; for, how can we be happy, O Madhava, after slaying our own people ? 38-39. Though these, whose intelligence is stricken by greed, perceive no evil in the extinction of
families and no sin in treachery to friends, yet, O Janardana, should not we, who clearly see evil in the extinction of a family, learn to refrain from this sinful deed ? 40. On the extinction of a family, the immemorial dharmas of that family disappear. When the dharmas disappear, impiety (adharma) overtakes the whole family. 41. By the prevalence of impiety, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupt. Women corrupted, there will be intermingling of castes (varna-samkara), O descendent of Vrishnis. 42. Confusion of castes leads the family of these destroyers of families also to hell; for, their forefathers fall (down to hell), deprived of the offerings of pinda (rice-ball) and water. 43. By these evil deeds of the destroyers of families, which cause the intermingling of castes, the eternal dharmas of castes and families are subverted. 44. We have heard, O Janardana, that necessary is the dwelling in hell of the men whose family dharmas are subverted. 45. Alas! We have resolved to commit a great sin, inasmuch as we are endeavouring to slay our kinsmen out of a craving for the pleasus of dominion. 46. It would be better for me, if the sons of Dhritarashtra, with arms in hand, should slay me unarmed and unresisting in the battle. SANJAYA SAID: 47. Having said thus, Arjuna, sorrow-stricken in mind, cast aside his bow and arrows in the midst of the battle and sat down in the chariot.