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Part I: The Gloom of Arjuna.1397
the faces of his friends, the host of the Pandus. And Arjuna, looking, saw
arrayed on either side, grandsires, uncles, cousins, tutors, sons and brothers.
Gazing farther he saw, likewise, near relations and bosom friends. Loved
ones, benefactors, playmates, companions, and many others whose welfare
was dear to him, he saw standing opposed to him, fretting for the fight. And
also standing back of him, awaiting the word to join him in the fray, stood
others of like relationship, both of blood and of friendship.
And Arjuna, seeing these things, was overcome with gloom. Compassion,
pity, compunction, despondency, and sadness filled his heart, and, sighing
deeply, with sorrow permeating his tones, he spake thus to Krishna, who
stood by his side in the chariot:
“O Krishna now that I behold the faces and forms of my kindred and loved
ones, thus arrayed against each other, and chafing for the fight, my heart
faileth me. My legs tremble; mine arms refuse to do my bidding; my face is
drawn in agony; my skin burns as with a fever; my hair standeth upon end;
my brain reels; my whole body is convulsed with horror; my war-bow slips
from my fingers.
“Evil omens fill the air, and strange voices seem to speak around me, so
that I am overcome with confusion and indecision. What good can come
from my killing these my kindred, and loved ones, and friends? I desire not
the glory of victory, O Krishna. Nor do I long for the kingdoms or dominion;
nor do I seek for enjoyments of life, or pleasure; nor even life itself. These
things appear most vain and undesirable to me when those for whom they
were to be coveted have abandoned life and all else.
“Tutors, sons and fathers; grandsires and grandsons; uncles and nephews;
cousins, kindred all; and friends, comrades and companions, stand before
me, inviting my arrows. Even though these may desire to kill me; nay, may
even actually slay me—still do I wish not to slay them, even though the three
great regions of the universe be my reward, much less the petty thing we
call the earth, or the pettier kingdoms thereof.