Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 Verse 26 — Meaning & Life Application
Sanskrit Shloka (Original)
तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान् | आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा ||१-२६||
Transliteration
tatrāpaśyatsthitānpārthaḥ pitṝnatha pitāmahān . ācāryānmātulānbhrātṛnputrānpautrānsakhīṃstathā ||1-26||
Word-by-Word Meaning
📖 Translation
1.26. Then, Arjuna (son of Pritha) saw there (in the armies) stationed, fathers and grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons and friends too.
।।1.26।।वहाँ अर्जुन ने उन दोनों सेनाओं में खड़े पिता के भाइयों, पितामहों, आचार्यों, मामों, भाइयों, पुत्रों, पौत्रों, मित्रों, श्वसुरों और सुहृदों को भी देखा।
How to Apply This Verse in Modern Life
💼 At Work & Career
In professional life, difficult decisions, competitive situations, or organizational restructuring often involve individuals with whom we have established relationships (mentors, colleagues, friends). This verse highlights how deeply personal connections can complicate professional obligations, requiring introspection and the courage to navigate difficult choices while acknowledging emotional attachments.
🧘 For Stress & Anxiety
The sudden realization of confronting loved ones or respected figures in an adversarial context can be a massive source of stress, emotional turmoil, and anxiety. It triggers deep internal conflict when personal affections clash with perceived duty or necessity, leading to mental anguish and the need for profound self-reflection to maintain composure.
❤️ In Relationships
This verse illustrates the inherent complexity of human relationships, especially when personal bonds become entangled in conflict or opposing interests. It reminds us that even in adversarial situations, the ties of family, friendship, and mentorship can persist, making boundaries and decision-making incredibly challenging and emotionally charged.
When to Chant/Recall This Verse
Solves These Life Problems
Key Message in One Line
“Our deepest emotional and ethical challenges often arise when duty calls us to confront those we love or respect, illuminating the complex interplay between personal bonds and external obligations.”
🕉️ Council of Sages
Compare interpretations from revered Acharyas and scholars
🌍 English Interpretations
Swami Sivananda
1.26 तत्र there? अपश्यत् saw? स्थितान् stationed? पार्थः Partha? पितृ़न् fathers? अथ also? पितामहान्grandfathers? आचार्यान् teachers? मातुलान् maternal uncles? भ्रातृ़न् brothers? पुत्रान् sons? पौत्रान् grandsons? सखीन् friends? तथा too.No Commentary.
Shri Purohit Swami
1.26 There Arjuna noticed fathers, grandfathers, uncles, cousins, sons, grandsons, teachers, friends;
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
1.26. Noticing all those kinsmen arrayed [in the army], the son of Kunti was overpowered by unmost compassion; and being despondent, he uttered this:
Swami Adidevananda
1.26 Then as Arjuna looked on, he saw standing there fathers and grand-fathers, teachers, uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons and comrades;
Swami Gambirananda
1.26 Then Partha (Arjuna) saw, marshalled among both the armies, (his) uncles as also grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers (and (cousins), sons, grandsons, as well as comrades and fathers-in-law and friends.
🇮🇳 Hindi Interpretations
Swami Chinmayananda
।।1.26।। No commentary.
Swami Ramsukhdas
1.26।। व्याख्या--'तत्रापश्यत् ৷৷. सेनयोरूभयोरपि'-- जब भगवान्ने अर्जुनसे कहा कि इस रणभूमिमें इकट्ठे हुए कुरुवंशियोंको देख, तब अर्जुनकी दृष्टि दोनों सेनाओंमें स्थित अपने कुटुम्बियोंपर गयी। उन्होंने देखा कि उन सेनाओंमें युद्धके लिये अपने-अपने स्थानपर भूरिश्रवा आदि पिताके भाई खड़े हैं, जो कि मेरे लिये पिताके समान हैं। भीष्म, सोमदत्त आदि पितामह खड़े हैं। द्रोण, कृप आदि आचार्य (विद्या पढ़ानेवाले और कुलगुरु) खड़े हैं। पुरुजित, कुन्तिभोज, शल्य, शकुनि आदि मामा खड़े हैं। भीम, दुर्योधन आदि भाई खड़े हैं। अभिमन्यु, घटोत्कच, लक्ष्मण (दुर्योधनका पुत्र) आदि मेरे और मेरे भाइयोंके पुत्र खड़े हैं। लक्ष्मण आदिके पुत्र खड़े हैं जो कि मेरे पौत्र हैं। दुर्योंधनके अश्वत्थामा आदि मित्र खड़े हैं और ऐसे ही अपने पक्षके मित्र भी खड़े हैं। द्रुपद, शैब्य आदि ससुर खड़े हैं। बिना किसी हेतुके अपने-अपने पक्षका हित चाहनेवाले सात्यकि, कृतवर्मा आदि सुहृद् भी खड़े हैं।सम्बन्ध-- अपने सब कुटुम्बियोंको देखनेके बाद अर्जुनने क्या किया--इसके आगेके श्लोकमें कहते हैं।
Swami Tejomayananda
।।1.26।।वहाँ अर्जुन ने उन दोनों सेनाओं में खड़े पिता के भाइयों, पितामहों, आचार्यों, मामों, भाइयों, पुत्रों, पौत्रों, मित्रों, श्वसुरों और सुहृदों को भी देखा।
📜 Sanskrit Commentaries
Sri Madhavacharya
।।1.26।।Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka. The commentary starts from 2.11.
Sri Anandgiri
।।1.26।।एवं स्थिते महानधर्मो हिंसेति विपरीतबुद्ध्या युद्धादुपरिरंसा पार्थस्य संप्रवृत्तेति कथयति तत्रेत्यादिना। सप्तम्या भगवदभ्यनुज्ञाने समरसमारम्भाय संप्रवृत्ते सतीत्येतदुच्यते। सेनयोरुभयोरपि स्थितान्पार्थोऽपश्यदिति संबन्धः। अथशब्दस्तथाशब्दपर्यायः। श्वशुरा भार्याणां जनयितारः। सुहृदो मित्राणि कृतवर्मप्रभृतयः।
Sri Vallabhacharya
।।1.26 1.27।।तत्रापश्यत् स्थितान् पार्थः 126 इत्यारभ्यएवमुक्त्वाऽर्जुनः 1।46 इत्यन्तं लोकसम्बन्धाभिमानेन अर्जुनः कातर्यतः स्वावस्थां निवेदयति।
Sridhara Swami
।।1.26।। ततः किं प्रवृत्तमित्यत आह। पितृ़न्। पितृव्यादीनित्यर्थः। पुत्रान्पौत्रानिति। दुर्योधनादीनां ये पुत्राः पौत्राश्च तानित्यर्थः। सखीन्मित्राणि। सुहृदः कृतोपकारांश्चापश्यत्।