Summery of Chapter 1

Chapter one begins with Dhritarashtra asking Samjaya what the sons of the warring clans are doing. Samjaya replies by narrating what Duryodhana, Dhritarashtra’s eldest son, said to his teacher. Duryodhana praises the warriors of his clan and the adversarial clan. He claims his clan is more sufficient in power than the adversarial clan and implores his clansmen to protect the Bhīṣma (Duryodhana’s top army Commander) phalanx. Then a bit of philosophy is interjected in verse 12: “But indeed, never was I not, were you not, nor these rulers of people were not, and indeed nor we all will not be, henceforth.” After this a narration of blowing of named conch shells and the clamoring of other battlefield instruments ensues creating a tumultuous sound that caused the earth to reverberate with sound.

From this, the subject of narration switches to Arjuna, the third son of the opposing clan, with his response to the previous events, just narrated. Arjuna lifting his bow asks Krisha, his charioteer, to position his war-chariot holding him and Krishna between both armies. Arjuna stares at the the Kaurava warriors and wonders who wants to fight him in this battle among the Kaurava warriors.  Arjuna also gazed at all the kin and friends that he grew up with in both armies and “was filled with extreme compassion.” From this Arjuna became physically and mentally became despondent stating he has seen adverse omens and foresees no good in killing a kinsman in battle. Arjuna takes a position of asceticism ready to give up possible earthly boons from a victory in this battle seeing that many warriors in this battle will abandon life and wealth. Arjuna becomes a pacifist and tells Krishna all the reasons why he should not fight.

From here turns to the last part of the chapter that starts out very agnostic, but quickly becomes a quite incendiary passage, even in current India. Interpretations can range from “good fences make good neighbors” to outright class warfare that the caste system often incites, even today. Arjuna states, “greed corrupts a family”. Arjuna goes on to state that the corruption of the family destroys family virtues and lawlessness pervades the entire family, which corrupts the women of the family. Then the corrupted women mix with other social groups (castes). When this intermixing of social groups occurs, torment arises in the family, ancestors are dishonored, and family rituals cease. This all results in an abode of chaos. Arjuna then speaks of the immorality of this battle and sides with surrender dropping his bow and sitting down in his chariot “with his mind agitated with grief”.