Shloka 20

Arjuna Vishada Yoga — The Yoga of Arjuna's Despondency

Devanagari script

अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः हृषीके...

Transliteration

atha vyavasthitān dṛṣṭvā dhārtarāṣṭrān kapi-dhvajaḥ pravṛtte śastra-sampāte dhanur udyamya pāṇḍavaḥ hṛṣīke...

Translation

Then Arjuna, the son of Pāṇḍu, whose banner bore the emblem of Hanumān, seeing Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons drawn up in battle array, and as the clash of weapons was about to begin, lifted his bow and spoke these words to Hṛṣīkeśa (Śrī Kṛṣṇa).

Gita Press Meaning

पाठ अपूर्ण है। पूर्ण श्लोक (1.20) में अर्जुन (कपिध्वज) द्वारा सामने व्यवस्थित धृतराष्ट्र-पक्ष को देखकर, औपचारिक आरम्भ के क्षण में धनुष उठाने और फिर कृष्ण (हृषीकेश) से संबोधित होकर आगे संवाद आरम्भ होने का वर्णन आता है।

Critical Edition Meaning

Input text is truncated. In the complete verse (1.20), Arjuna—bannered with Hanumān—seeing the Dhārtarāṣṭras arrayed and as the formal engagement is about to commence, raises his bow and addresses Hṛṣīkeśa, initiating the request that leads into the teaching context.

Comparative Note

विश्लेषण सीमित है क्योंकि श्लोक का अंतिम भाग उपलब्ध नहीं है। कृपया 1.20 का पूर्ण देवनागरी पाठ दें ताकि शब्दार्थ, अनुवाद और संभावित पाठांतर (यदि कोई) ठीक से दर्ज किए जा सकें।

Word by Word

• अथ: then; thereafter
• Root: अथ

• व्यवस्थितान्: arrayed; standing in formation
• व्यवस्थितान्: Karma
• Root: व्यवस्थित (√स्था + वि + अव + सम्, क्त)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Root: √दृश्

• धार्तराष्ट्रान्: the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; the Kauravas
• धार्तराष्ट्रान्: Karma
• Root: धार्तराष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिक)

• कपिध्वजः: he whose banner bears Hanumān (Arjuna)
• कपिध्वजः: Karta
• Root: कपिध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)

• प्रवृत्ते: when (it was) begun; upon commencing
• प्रवृत्ते: Adhikarana
• Root: प्रवृत्त (√वृत् + प्र, क्त)

• शस्त्रसम्पाते: in the clash/encounter of weapons
• शस्त्रसम्पाते: Adhikarana
• Root: शस्त्रसम्पात (प्रातिपदिक)

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)

• उद्यम्य: having raised; having lifted up
• Root: √यम् (उद् + √यम्)

• पाण्डवः: the son of Pāṇḍu (Arjuna)
• पाण्डवः: Karta
• Root: पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)

• हृषीकेशम्: Hṛṣīkeśa (Kṛṣṇa), the Lord of the senses
• हृषीकेशम्: Karma
• Root: हृषीकेश (प्रातिपदिक)

Speakers

• Sañjaya (narrator)
• Arjuna (begins to speak, verse continues)

Primary Concepts

• Moral hesitation (viṣāda) prelude
• Agency and deliberation
• Teacher-student setup

Key Themes

• Threshold moment
• Shift from description to dialogue
• Emergence of inner conflict

FAQs

Psychological significance?

The verse signals a transition from external readiness to inward appraisal: Arjuna’s attention shifts from the scene to reflection, setting up the coming emotional and ethical struggle.

Metaphysical meaning?

As the dialogue begins, the narrative prepares for philosophical inquiry—how to act rightly amid competing obligations—though 1.20 itself is primarily transitional.

Contextual relevance?

This is the hinge where the epic tableau gives way to the pedagogical frame: Arjuna turns to Kṛṣṇa, prompting the discourse that becomes the Gītā’s core.

Modern Application?

Represents the moment before decisive action when one pauses to seek guidance—an ethically significant step in high-stakes decisions.