In Bhagavad Gita 2.1, Sanjaya describes Arjuna overcome by pity, his eyes full of tears, and tells how Krishna, the slayer of Madhu, begins to speak to him.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
तं तथा कृपयाविष्टम्
अश्रुपूर्णाकुलेक्षणम्
विषीदन्तमिदं वाक्यम्
उवाच मधुसूदनः ॥ २-१ ॥
taṃ tathā kṛpayāviṣṭam
aśrupūrṇākulekṣaṇam
viṣīdantamidaṃ vākyam
uvāca madhusūdanaḥ
English transliteration tam tathaa kripayaavishtam
ashrupoornaakulekshanam
visheedantamidam vaakyam
uvaacha madhusoodanah ॥ 2.1 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Sanjaya said: To him who was thus overcome with pity, whose eyes were full of tears and troubled, and who was sinking in despair, Madhusudana spoke these words.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| तम् tam | to him |
| तथा tathā | thus |
| कृपया kṛpayā | by pity |
| आविष्टम् āviṣṭam | overcome |
| अश्रुपूर्णाकुलेक्षणम् aśrupūrṇākulekṣaṇam | whose eyes were full of tears and troubled aśru (tears) + pūrṇa (full) + ākula (troubled) + īkṣaṇam (eyes) |
| विषीदन्तम् viṣīdantam | grieving, despondent |
| इदम् idam | these |
| वाक्यम् vākyam | words |
| उवाच uvāca | spoke |
| मधुसूदनः madhusūdanaḥ | Madhusūdana (Kṛṣṇa) |
Word-wise Chanting
- taṃ ta–thā kṛ–pa–yā–viṣ–ṭam– 8 syllables tam ta-thaa kri-pa-yaa-vish-tam-
- aś–ru–pūr–ṇā–ku–le–kṣa–ṇam | 8 syllables ash-ru-poor-naa-ku-le-ksha-nam
- vi–ṣī–dan–ta–mi–daṃ vāk–yam– 8 syllables vi-shee-dan-ta-mi-dam vaak-yam-
- u–vā–ca ma–dhu–sū–da–naḥ || 2-1 8 syllables u-vaa-cha ma-dhu-soo-da-nah
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 2 Verse 1
Context
Chapter 1 ended with Arjuna sinking down on the chariot, bow cast aside (1.47). Chapter 2, the Yoga of Knowledge, opens with Sanjaya describing the moment before Krishna’s teaching begins.
Meaning
Sanjaya paints Arjuna in three strokes: overwhelmed by pity, eyes brimming with tears, sinking in despondency. The great warrior is now a grieving man. Krishna is called Madhusudana, the slayer of the demon Madhu, a hint that he is about to slay a different demon, the delusion within Arjuna’s mind.
The verse marks the threshold of the Gita’s teaching. Everything before it shows the problem; everything after it is the answer. Spiritual teaching becomes possible when sorrow is honest and the heart is open. Krishna does not speak while Arjuna is confident; he speaks when Arjuna has nothing left to defend.
In Practice
When someone you care about is overwhelmed, let them finish expressing their sorrow before you offer advice. Listen fully first.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge). 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.