Chapter 1 • Verse 28

Arjuna Vishada Yoga

The Yoga of Arjuna's Dejection

Sanskrit Verse

kripayas parayavishto vishidann idam abravit, drishtvenam svajanam krishna yuyutsum samupasthitam

Translation & Meaning

Arjuna, overwhelmed with deep compassion, spoke in grief: 'O Krishna, seeing my own kinsmen standing here ready to fight.' The Sanskrit word 'kripa' (compassion) is significant — Arjuna's crisis is born not from cowardice but from genuine love and moral sensitivity that recognize the horror of killing one's own family.

Key Teachings

  • •Compassion is the foundation from which all genuine ethical inquiry begins
  • •Grief in the face of imminent violence is a mark of moral depth, not weakness
  • •The deepest spiritual crises arise not from hatred but from love confronting duty

Topics

compassiongrieffamilymoral dilemmasorrow
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