Bhagavad Gita BG 2.1
Chapter 2, Verse 1 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
सञ्जय उवाच । तं तथा कृपयाऽऽविष्टमश्रुपूर्णाकुलेक्षणम् । विषीदन्तमिदं वाक्यमुवाच मधुसूदनः ॥ १ ॥
sañjaya uvāca taṃ tathā kṛpayāviṣṭam aśru-pūrṇākulekṣaṇam viṣīdantam idaṃ vākyam uvāca madhusūdanaḥ
Meaning
Sanjaya said: To him who was thus overcome with pity, his eyes filled with tears and distressed, Krishna spoke these words.
Understanding
Chapter 2 opens with Sanjaya's narration — Arjuna sits overwhelmed with grief, eyes full of tears. The image is powerful: the greatest warrior of his age, reduced to tears. Krishna — called Madhusudana (killer of the demon Madhu) — now speaks. The title 'Madhusudana' reminds us that Krishna destroys inner demons too — and Arjuna's grief and confusion are just such inner demons that need to be slain.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कृपया | kṛpayā | with compassion / with pity |
| आविष्टम् | āviṣṭam | overcome / seized |
| अश्रुपूर्णाकुलेक्षणम् | aśru-pūrṇākulekṣaṇam | eyes full of tears and distressed |
| विषीदन्तम् | viṣīdantam | lamenting / grieving |
| मधुसूदनः | madhusūdanaḥ | Krishna (slayer of the demon Madhu) |
| सञ्जय उवाच | sañjaya uvāca | Sanjaya said (speaker attribution) |
| तम् | tam | to him / him (Arjuna, accusative) |
| तथा | tathā | thus / in that way / so |
| इदम् वाक्यम् | idam vākyam | these words / this speech |
| उवाच | uvāca | spoke / said (Krishna) |