Bhagavad Gita BG 1.26
Chapter 1, Verse 26 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान् । आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा ॥ २६ ॥
tatrāpaśyat sthitān pārthaḥ pitṝn atha pitāmahān ācāryān mātulān bhrātṝn putrān pautrān sakhīṃs tathā
Meaning
There, Arjuna saw standing before him fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and friends.
Understanding
This verse catalogues every category of male relationship in ancient Indian society — parents (pitṝn), grandparents (pitāmahān), teachers (ācāryān), maternal uncles (mātulān), brothers (bhrātṝn), sons (putrān), grandsons (pautrān), and friends (sakhīn). Arjuna recognises every single category of person he loves most standing in the opposing army. The emotional effect is overwhelming.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| पितॄन् | pitṝn | fathers / father-figures |
| पितामहान् | pitāmahān | grandfathers |
| आचार्यान् | ācāryān | teachers / preceptors |
| मातुलान् | mātulān | maternal uncles |
| पुत्रान् | putrān | sons |
| सखीन् | sakhīn | friends / companions |
| तत्र | tatra | there / in that place |
| अपश्यत् | apaśyat | saw / beheld |
| स्थितान् | sthitān | standing / arrayed there |
| पार्थः | pārthaḥ | Arjuna (son of Pritha/Kunti) |
| अथ | atha | also / and then |
| भ्रातॄन् | bhrātṝn | brothers |
| पौत्रान् | pautrān | grandsons |
| तथा | tathā | also / as well / and |