In Bhagavad Gita 1.26, Arjuna looks at the armies and sees fathers, grandfathers, teachers, uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons and friends standing ready for battle.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः
पितॄनथ पितामहान्
आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्
पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा ॥ १-२६ ॥
tatrāpaśyatsthitānpārthaḥ
pitṝnatha pitāmahān
ācāryānmātulānbhrātṝn
putrānpautrānsakhīṃstathā
English transliteration tatraapashyatsthitaanpaarthah
pitreenatha pitaamahaan
aachaaryaanmaatulaanbhraatreen
putraanpautraansakheemstathaa ॥ 1.26 ॥
Translation / Meaning
There Partha saw standing fathers and grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and friends,
Verses 1.26–1.27 form one sentence describing what Arjuna saw.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| तत्र tatra | there |
| अपश्यत् apaśyat | saw |
| स्थितान् sthitān | standing |
| पार्थः pārthaḥ | Pārtha (Arjuna) |
| पितॄन् pitṝn | fathers |
| अथ atha | also |
| पितामहान् pitāmahān | grandfathers |
| आचार्यान् ācāryān | teachers |
| मातुलान् mātulān | maternal uncles |
| भ्रातॄन् bhrātṝn | brothers |
| पुत्रान् putrān | sons |
| पौत्रान् pautrān | grandsons |
| सखीन् sakhīn | friends |
| तथा tathā | also |
Word-wise Chanting
- tat–rā–paś–yat–sthi–tān–pār–thaḥ 8 syllables tat-raa-pash-yat-sthi-taan-paar-thah
- pi–tṝ–na–tha pi–tā–ma–hān | 8 syllables pi-tree-na-tha pi-taa-ma-haan
- ā–cār–yān–mā–tu–lān–bhrā–tṝn– 8 syllables aa-chaar-yaan-maa-tu-laan-bhraa-treen-
- put–rān–paut–rān–sa–khīṃs–ta–thā || 1-26 8 syllables put-raan-paut-raan-sa-kheems-ta-thaa
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 26
Context
Krishna has told Arjuna to behold the Kurus (1.25). This verse describes what Arjuna sees; the sentence continues in 1.27.
Meaning
The list is deliberately long and personal. Arjuna does not see an army; he sees relationships: the elders who raised him, the teachers who trained him, the brothers and cousins he grew up with, the young sons of the family. “Grandfathers” includes Bhishma, and “teachers” Drona and Kripa. Every category of love and respect stands in the enemy ranks.
This is the moment when an abstract duty becomes a human tragedy. Wars, conflicts and difficult decisions often look clear from a distance and unbearable up close. The Gita does not shrink from this. It allows Arjuna to feel the full weight of what he sees, because only from honest feeling can real wisdom grow.
In Practice
Bring to mind the people affected by a decision you face. See them one by one, as specifically as Arjuna does, before deciding.
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.