2.4 katham bhIshmam

SrI:  SrImathE SatakOpAya nama:  SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama:  SrImath varavaramunayE nama:

Chapter 2

<< Chapter 2 verse 3

SlOkam – Original

arjuna uvAcha
katham bhIshmamaham sankyE dhrONam cha madhusUdhana |
ishubhi: prathiyOthsyAmi pUjArhAvarisUdhana ||

word-by-word meaning

arisUdhana  – Oh destroyer of enemies!
madhusUdhana – killer of asura named madhu!
aham – I
sankyE – in the battle
pUjArhau – worthy of worship
bhIshmam – bhIshma (the grand-sire)
dhrONam cha prathi – towards dhrONa (the teacher)
katham – how
yOthsyAmi – will I fight?

Simple Translation

Oh destroyer of enemies! Oh killer of asura named madhu! How will I fight in the battle against bhIshma (the grand-sire), dhrONa (the teacher) who are worthy of worship?

Rendering based on ALkoNdavilli gOvindhAchArya swAmy’s English translation of gIthA bhAshyam

Arjuna not appreciating the wise counselling of Bhagavān, because he was still agitated with sentiments of friendship and pity, and with dread of what may be right and what may be wrong, again delivered himself thus:-

‘Madhusūdana[2. The 74th name of God…]! How can I, with darts, fight against Bhīshma and Droṇa[3. Both are preceptors of Pānḍavas and Kauravas. Bhīshma is the son of Śantanu (See Geneal Tree at end of Chapter 1) and is a Kshatriya. He is called Bhīshma or “the Dreadful” because of his vow in abdicating the kingdom of his father in favor of a step-mother’s sons. He is one of the leading characters of the Mahābhārata, a model of faithfulness and loyalty. In the great war he became the generalissimo of the Kaurava army. He was mortally wounded by Arjuna on the 10th day. Droṇa is a Brāhmaṇa by birth, the son of Rishi Bharadvāja. After his leaving the court of Pāñchāḷa in disgust, he was entrusted by Bhīshma with the education of the five Pāṇdus and the hundred young Kuru princes. He assumed command of the Kuru army after Bhīshmā’s disablement.]? O Striker of foes! are they not on the other hand fit to worship?’

>> Chapter 2 verse 5

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