In Bhagavad Gita 1.20, as the battle is about to begin, Arjuna, whose banner bears Hanuman, looks at the arrayed sons of Dhritarashtra and lifts his bow.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा
धार्तराष्ट्रान् कपिध्वजः
प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते
धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः ॥ १-२० ॥
atha vyavasthitāndṛṣṭvā
dhārtarāṣṭrān kapidhvajaḥ
pravṛtte śastrasampāte
dhanurudyamya pāṇḍavaḥ
English transliteration atha vyavasthitaandrishtvaa
dhaartaraashtraan kapidhvajah
pravritte shastrasampaate
dhanurudyamya paandavah ॥ 1.20 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Then, seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra drawn up in battle order, as the clash of weapons was about to begin, the son of Pandu, whose banner bore the emblem of Hanuman, raised his bow.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अथ atha | then |
| व्यवस्थितान् vyavasthitān | arrayed, standing in order |
| दृष्ट्वा dṛṣṭvā | seeing |
| धार्तराष्ट्रान् dhārtarāṣṭrān | the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra |
| कपिध्वजः kapidhvajaḥ | he whose banner bears the monkey (Hanumān) kapi (monkey) + dhvajaḥ (banner) |
| प्रवृत्ते pravṛtte | about to begin |
| शस्त्रसम्पाते śastrasampāte | the clash of weapons śastra (weapons) + sampāte (falling together) |
| धनुः dhanuḥ | the bow |
| उद्यम्य udyamya | raising |
| पाण्डवः pāṇḍavaḥ | the son of Pāṇḍu (Arjuna) |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–tha vya–vas–thi–tān–dṛṣ–ṭvā 8 syllables a-tha vya-vas-thi-taan-drish-tvaa
- dhār–ta–rāṣ–ṭrān ka–pidh–va–jaḥ | 8 syllables dhaar-ta-raash-traan ka-pidh-va-jah
- pra–vṛt–te śas–tra–sam–pā–te 8 syllables pra-vrit-te shas-tra-sam-paa-te
- dha–nu–rud–yam–ya pāṇ–ḍa–vaḥ || 1-20 8 syllables dha-nu-rud-yam-ya paan-da-vah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 1 Verse 20
Context
The conches have sounded on both sides (1.12–1.19). The narrative now focuses on Arjuna, the central figure of the Gita.
Meaning
At the very moment when the battle is about to start, Arjuna lifts his bow, ready to fight. His banner carries Hanuman, the devoted servant of Rama, symbol of strength joined with humility and devotion. Everything seems set for action. Yet this is the instant just before the turning point, when Arjuna will ask to see the enemy more closely.
The verse captures a familiar human moment: we are poised to act, the bow is raised, and then something in us asks to look again. The Gita honours that pause. Arjuna’s raised bow and his coming hesitation together hold the whole problem of the book: how to act rightly when action is unavoidable and its cost is real.
In Practice
Before your next significant action, pause for one full breath with your “bow raised.” Look again at what you are about to do and why.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga (The Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.