Summary Chapter 1 - OBSERVING THE ARMIES ON THE BATTLEFIELD OF KURUKSHETRA

CHAPTER 1 Arjuna Viṣāda-yōga

Dharma-kṣetre 1.1

Duryodhana’s Diplomacy 1.3-11

Signs of Victory for the Pāṇḍavas 1.14–20

Kṛṣṇa as Bhakta-vatsala 1.21–27

Arjuna’s Reasons for not Fighting 1.28-46

As the opposing armies stand poised for battle, Arjuna, the mighty warrior, sees his intimate relatives, teachers and friends in both armies ready to fight and sacrifice their lives. Overcome by grief and pity, Arjuna fails in strength, his mind becomes bewildered, and he gives up his determination to fight.

INTRODUCTION: PREPARATIONS FOR WAR (1–13)

Dhṛtarāṣṭra asks Sañjaya about the events that took place at Kurukṣetra. Sañjaya describes how Duryodhana, using diplomacy, solves the problem of encouraging Droṇācārya without insulting Bhīṣma and others. Bhīṣma rallies his soldiers with the sound of his conchshell. Yet the symbolism of the conchshell indicates their defeat.

1: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry to Sañjaya: Blind Dhṛtarāṣṭra, partial to his own sons, inquires what his sons and the Pāṇḍavas did on the battlefield.

2-11: Duryodhana’s Fear and Diplomacy in Describing the Armies: Duryodhana goes to Droṇācārya and describes the warriors of the Pāṇḍavas’ army and his own army and compares them.

12-19: Blowing of Conchshells (Signs of Victory of the Pāṇḍavas): Lord Kṛṣṇa and the Pāṇḍavas blow their conchshells shattering the hearts of the opposite party.

SIGNS OF VICTORY (14–20)

Sañjaya describes various signs of victory for the Pāṇḍava army, especially the transcendental sound of the conchshells of Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, which shattered the hearts of the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. 

12-19: Blowing of Conchshells (Signs of Victory of the Pāṇḍavas): Lord Kṛṣṇa and the Pāṇḍavas blow their conchshells shattering the hearts of the opposite party.

20-27: Arjuna Observes the Armies

KṚṢṆA AS BHAKTA-VATSALA (21–27)

Kṛṣṇa appears as the chariot driver of Arjuna, revealing His quality as bhakta-vatsala. Arjuna orders Kṛṣṇa to place his chariot between the two armies because he wants to see who is present. Seeing those assembled for battle, Arjuna becomes hesitant to fight.

20-27: Arjuna Observes the Armies

20-25: Desiring to see the supporters of Duryodhana, Arjuna asks Kṛṣṇa to take the chariot between the two armies.

26-27: Seeing different kinds of relatives, Arjuna becomes overwhelmed with compassion.

ARJUNA’S DOUBTS (28–46)

Compassion: Arjuna, being a softhearted devotee, becomes overwhelmed with compassion and forgets himself when he sees his relatives before him. He has become fearful due to a material conception of life.
Enjoyment: He argues that he will not be able to enjoy his kingdom if it is won at the cost of the lives of his family members. He fears sinful reactions for killing his kinsmen.
Saintliness and fear of sinful reactions: Arjuna argues that killing one’s family is sinful and will lead to hell. The higher principle is that real religion is whatever Kṛṣṇa says or wants.
Destruction of family: Arjuna further argues that the destruction of the dynasty will lead to unchaste women, unwanted children, and the end of spiritual culture. Arjuna, having decided not to fight, finally casts aside his bow and sits down on the chariot. 

28-46: Arjuna’s Reasons Not to Fight

28-30: First reason – Compassion for relatives and the resultant bodily symptoms

31-35: Second reason – Foreseeing no enjoyment in victory

36-38: Third reason – Fear of sinful reactions

39-43: Fourth reason – Harmful effects of destroying the family

44-46: Arjuna, being griefstriken, decides not to fight.