Chapter 1, Verse 28
कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत्। दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम्।।
kṛpayā parayāviṣṭo viṣīdann idam abravīt dṛṣṭvemaṁ sva-janaṁ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṁ samupasthitam
Meaning
Overwhelmed by extreme compassion and grief, Arjuna spoke these words in sorrow: O Krishna, seeing my own people standing here eager to fight —
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Arjuna's crisis begins with compassion — kṛpā. The same root gives us the words for mercy, grace, and loving tenderness in Sanskrit. It is important to notice that what overcomes Arjuna is not cowardice or self-interest; it is something that looks like a virtue: deep care for the people he loves. This is what makes his dilemma genuinely tragic and genuinely instructive.
Yet the Gita will distinguish between wisdom-rooted compassion (karuṇā) and sentiment-driven confusion dressed as compassion (kṛpā hṛdaya-daurbalyam — weakness of heart). True compassion does not paralyse; it acts for the long-term welfare of all concerned, even when the short-term action causes pain. False compassion mistakes comfort for care and avoidance for love.
Arjuna's grief in this moment is real and honourable. The Gita does not dismiss it. But over the course of the conversation with Krishna, it will be transmuted — not extinguished — into a higher quality of care that can act without being enslaved to its own sentiment. This is the alchemy at the heart of spiritual practice.
💡 Key Takeaway
True compassion acts for long-term welfare even when it causes short-term pain; distinguish between wise love and sentiment that masks avoidance.
Related Verses
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान्। सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः।।
yudhāmanyuś ca vikrānta uttamaujāś ca vīryavān saubhadro draupadeyāś ca sarva eva mahārathāḥ
The mighty Yudhamanyu, the valiant Uttamaujas, the son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu), and the sons of Draupadi — all are great chariot-warriors without exception.
अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः। नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः।।
anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā mad-arthe tyakta-jīvitāḥ nānā-śastra-praharaṇāḥ sarve yuddha-viśāradāḥ
And there are many other heroes armed with various weapons, all skilled in warfare and ready to lay down their lives for my sake.
अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम्। पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम्।।
aparyāptaṁ tad asmākaṁ balaṁ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam paryāptaṁ tv idam eteṣāṁ balaṁ bhīmābhirakṣitam
Our army, protected by Bhishma, is unlimited; whereas their army, protected by Bhima, is limited.