In Bhagavad Gita 1.27, Arjuna sees fathers-in-law and well-wishers in both armies, and, beholding all these kinsmen arrayed for battle, he is deeply moved.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव
सेनयोरुभयोरपि
तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः
सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान् ॥ १-२७ ॥
śvaśurānsuhṛdaścaiva
senayorubhayorapi
tānsamīkṣya sa kaunteyaḥ
sarvānbandhūnavasthitān
English transliteration shvashuraansuhridashchaiva
senayorubhayorapi
taansameekshya sa kaunteyah
sarvaanbandhoonavasthitaan ॥ 1.27 ॥
Translation / Meaning
fathers-in-law and well-wishers, in both the armies. Seeing all these kinsmen standing arrayed, the son of Kunti
Verses 1.26–1.27 describe what Arjuna saw; the sentence about his reaction continues into 1.28.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| श्वशुरान् śvaśurān | fathers-in-law |
| सुहृदः suhṛdaḥ | well-wishers |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | also |
| सेनयोः senayoḥ | in the armies |
| उभयोः ubhayoḥ | both |
| अपि api | also |
| तान् tān | them |
| समीक्ष्य samīkṣya | seeing |
| सः saḥ | he |
| कौन्तेयः kaunteyaḥ | the son of Kuntī (Arjuna) |
| सर्वान् sarvān | all |
| बन्धून् bandhūn | kinsmen |
| अवस्थितान् avasthitān | standing arrayed |
Word-wise Chanting
- śva–śu–rān–su–hṛ–daś–cai–va 8 syllables shva-shu-raan-su-hri-dash-chai-va
- se–na–yo–ru–bha–yo–ra–pi | 8 syllables se-na-yo-ru-bha-yo-ra-pi
- tān–sa–mīkṣ–ya sa kaun–te–yaḥ 8 syllables taan-sa-meeksh-ya sa kaun-te-yah
- sar–vān–ban–dhū–na–vas–thi–tān || 1-27 8 syllables sar-vaan-ban-dhoo-na-vas-thi-taan
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 27
Context
The list of relatives from 1.26 continues, and the sentence carries into Arjuna’s emotional response in 1.28.
Meaning
“In both the armies” is the key phrase. Arjuna’s kin are not only on the other side; they are everywhere. Any victory will be built on the loss of people he loves, on both sides. Sanjaya calls him Kaunteya, son of Kunti, stressing again the family bond that unites the opposing camps.
The word bandhu, kinsman, also means one who is bound to us. Arjuna sees the web of bonds that holds his whole world together and realises that the battle will tear it. Every serious human conflict has this quality: the opponent is also, in some way, ourselves. The Gita begins its answer by first letting us feel this truth.
In Practice
In a current disagreement, name what you and the other person share. Let that shared ground shape the way you speak, even if you still disagree.
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.