Sanjaya uvacha | Tam tathaa kripayaavishhtam ashru-poorna-akulekshanam | Visheedantam idam vaakyam uvacha Madhusoodanah ||1||
अनुवाद
Sanjaya said: Seeing Arjuna full of compassion, his mind depressed, his eyes full of tears, Madhusudana (Krishna) spoke the following words.
शब्दार्थ
सञ्जय उवाच
Sanjaya said
तम्
to him (Arjuna)
तथा
thus
कृपया आविष्टम्
overwhelmed by compassion
अश्रु-पूर्ण-आकुल-ईक्षणम्
with eyes full of tears and bewildered
विषीदन्तम्
lamenting
इदम् वाक्यम् उवाच
spoke these words
मधुसूदनः
Krishna, the slayer of Madhu
टीका
Commentary
Chapter 2 begins with a pivotal moment — Arjuna has collapsed in his chariot, overcome by grief, compassion, and confusion. It is here that Krishna, referred to as Madhusudana (the destroyer of the demon Madhu), steps in as the divine teacher.
Arjuna’s tears represent not weakness but the genuine suffering of a sensitive soul confronted with an impossible choice. He sees teachers, uncles, sons, and friends arrayed on both sides and cannot bring himself to act.
Krishna’s epithet Madhusudana is significant — just as Krishna slew the demon Madhu who threatened the cosmic order, he is about to slay the demon of Arjuna’s confusion and delusion (moha).
This verse marks the transition from the Arjuna Vishada Yoga (Chapter 1 — the yoga of Arjuna’s grief) to the Sankhya Yoga (Chapter 2 — the yoga of divine wisdom), where Krishna begins his systematic philosophical teachings.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Bhagavad Gita 2.1 mean?
- Sanjaya said: Seeing Arjuna full of compassion, his mind depressed, his eyes full of tears, Madhusudana (Krishna) spoke the following words.
- What is the Sanskrit text of Bhagavad Gita 2.1?
- The original Sanskrit verse is: Sanjaya uvacha | Tam tathaa kripayaavishhtam ashru-poorna-akulekshanam | Visheedantam idam vaakyam uvacha Madhusoodanah ||1||
- What are the key themes of this verse?
- This verse explores: compassion, grief, surrender, krishna.