Chapter 1 Verse 27
Arjun Viṣhād Yog
श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि। तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान्।।1.27।।
tān samīkṣhya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvān bandhūn avasthitān kṛipayā parayāviṣhṭo viṣhīdann idam abravīt
Word Meanings
| tān | these |
| samīkṣhya | on seeing |
| saḥ | they |
| kaunteyaḥ | Arjun, the son of Kunti |
| sarvān | all |
| bandhūn | relatives |
| avasthitān | present |
| kṛipayā | by compassion |
| parayā | great |
| āviṣhṭaḥ | overwhelmed |
| viṣhīdan | deep sorrow |
| idam | this |
| abravīt | spoke |
Translation
He saw fathers-in-law and friends in both the armies. The son of Kunti, Arjuna, seeing all those kinsmen thus standing arrayed, spoke sorrowfully, deeply filled with pity.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
Arjuna sees friends and relatives on both sides of the battlefield and is overcome with deep pity. He is no longer able to think of victory or duty in the old way because he feels the human cost of the fight.
Philosophically, this moment shows how compassion can break through rigid ideas of right action. True spiritual insight begins when we recognize the living beings behind labels like enemy, friend, or duty.
This sorrow is not just weakness. It is a wake-up call to examine motives, to balance duty with love, and to seek a wiser path that reduces harm rather than only following roles or rules.
Life Application
- Pause and look at the human side of every conflict before acting; notice who will be hurt by your choice.
- Let compassion inform your decisions, but also reflect on long-term consequences so you do not act only from immediate feeling.
- When torn, talk to a calm, wise person or take quiet time to clarify values before making a move.
Reflection Question
When my duties and my love point different ways, which voice do I listen to and why?