The Bhagavad-Gita | Page 4

the Kauravas and Pandavas, and this
conversation is maintained in a war-chariot drawn up between the opposing hosts.
The poem has been turned into French by Burnouf, into Latin by Lassen, into Italian by
Stanislav Gatti, into Greek by Galanos, and into English by Mr. Thomson and Mr Davies,
the prose transcript of the last-named being truly beyond praise for its fidelity and
clearness. Mr Telang has also published at Bombay a version in colloquial rhythm,
eminently learned and intelligent, but not conveying the dignity or grace of the original.
If I venture to offer a translation of the wonderful poem after so many superior scholars,
it is in grateful recognition of the help derived from their labours, and because English
literature would certainly be incomplete without possessing in popular form a poetical
and philosophical work so dear to India.
There is little else to say which the "Song Celestial" does not explain for itself. The
Sanskrit original is written in the Anushtubh metre, which cannot be successfully
reproduced for Western ears. I have therefore cast it into our flexible blank verse,
changing into lyrical measures where the text itself similarly breaks. For the most part, I
believe the sense to be faithfully preserved in the following pages; but Schlegel himself
had to say: "In reconditioribus me semper poetafoster mentem recte divinasse affirmare
non ausim." Those who would read more upon the philosophy of the poem may find an
admirable introduction in the volume of Mr Davies, printed by Messrs Trubner & Co.
EDWIN ARNOLD, C.S.I.
CONTENTS

I. THE DISTRESS OF ARJUNA II. THE BOOK OF DOCTRINES III. VIRTUE IN
WORK IV. THE RELIGION OF KNOWLEDGE V. RELIGION OF RENOUNCING
WORKS VI. RELIGION BY SELF-RESTRAINT VII. RELIGION BY
DISCERNMENT VIII. RELIGION BY SERVICE OF THE SUPREME IX. RELIGION
BY THE KINGLY KNOWLEDGE AND THE KINGLY MYSTERY X. RELIGION BY
THE HEAVENLY PERFECTIONS XI. THE MANIFESTING OF THE ONE AND
MANIFOLD XII. RELIGION OF FAITH XIII. RELIGION BY SEPARATION OF
MATTER AND SPIRIT XIV. RELIGION BY SEPARATION FROM THE QUALITIES
XV. RELIGION BY ATTAINING THE SUPREME XVI. THE SEPARATENESS OF
THE DIVINE AND UNDIVINE XVII. RELIGION BY THE THREEFOLD FAITH
XVIII. RELIGION BY DELIVERANCE AND RENUNCIATION




CHAPTER I
Dhritirashtra: Ranged thus for battle on the sacred plain-- On Kurukshetra--say, Sanjaya!
say What wrought my people, and the Pandavas?
Sanjaya: When he beheld the host of Pandavas, Raja Duryodhana to Drona drew, And
spake these words: "Ah, Guru! see this line, How vast it is of Pandu fighting-men,
Embattled by the son of Drupada, Thy scholar in the war! Therein stand ranked Chiefs
like Arjuna, like to Bhima chiefs, Benders of bows; Virata, Yuyudhan, Drupada, eminent
upon his car, Dhrishtaket, Chekitan, Kasi's stout lord, Purujit, Kuntibhoj, and Saivya,
With Yudhamanyu, and Uttamauj Subhadra's child; and Drupadi's;-all famed! All
mounted on their shining chariots! On our side, too,--thou best of Brahmans! see
Excellent chiefs, commanders of my line, Whose names I joy to count: thyself the first,
Then Bhishma, Karna, Kripa fierce in fight, Vikarna, Aswatthaman; next to these Strong
Saumadatti, with full many more Valiant and tried, ready this day to die For me their king,
each with his weapon grasped, Each skilful in the field. Weakest-meseems- Our battle
shows where Bhishma holds command, And Bhima, fronting him, something too strong!
Have care our captains nigh to Bhishma's ranks Prepare what help they may! Now, blow
my shell!"
Then, at the signal of the aged king, With blare to wake the blood, rolling around Like to
a lion's roar, the trumpeter Blew the great Conch; and, at the noise of it, Trumpets and
drums, cymbals and gongs and horns Burst into sudden clamour; as the blasts Of
loosened tempest, such the tumult seemed! Then might be seen, upon their car of gold
Yoked with white steeds, blowing their battle-shells, Krishna the God, Arjuna at his side:
Krishna, with knotted locks, blew his great conch Carved of the "Giant's bone;" Arjuna
blew Indra's loud gift; Bhima the terrible-- Wolf-bellied Bhima-blew a long reed-conch;

And Yudhisthira, Kunti's blameless son, Winded a mighty shell, "Victory's Voice;" And
Nakula blew shrill upon his conch Named the "Sweet-sounding," Sahadev on his
Called"Gem-bedecked," and Kasi's Prince on his. Sikhandi on his car, Dhrishtadyumn,
Virata, Satyaki the Unsubdued, Drupada, with his sons, (O Lord of Earth!) Long-armed
Subhadra's children, all blew loud, So that the clangour shook their foemen's hearts, With
quaking earth and thundering heav'n.
Then 'twas- Beholding Dhritirashtra's battle set, Weapons unsheathing, bows drawn forth,
the war Instant to break-Arjun, whose ensign-badge Was Hanuman the monkey, spake
this thing To Krishna the Divine, his charioteer: "Drive, Dauntless One! to yonder open
ground Betwixt the armies; I would see more nigh These who will fight with us, those we
must slay To-day, in war's arbitrament; for,