tān samīkṣya sa kaunteyaḥ
sarvān bandhūn avasthitān
kṛpayā parayāviṣṭo
viṣīdann idam abravīt
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 1.27
When the son of Kunti, Arjuna, saw all these different grades of friends and relatives, he became overwhelmed with compassion and spoke thus.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
No commentary by Srila Prabhupada
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
No commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur
Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:
1.26 – 1.47 Arjuna said — Sanjaya said — Sanjaya continued: The high-minded Arjuna, extremely kind, deeply friendly, and supremely righteous, having brothers like himself, though repeatedly deceived by the treacherous attempts of your people like burning in the lac-house etc., and therefore fit to be killed by him with the help of the Supreme Person, nevertheless said, ‘I will not fight.’ He felt weak, overcome as he was by his love and extreme compassion for his relatives. He was also filled with fear, not knowing what was righteous and what unrighteous. His mind was tortured by grief, because of the thought of future separation from his relations. So he threw away his bow and arrow and sat on the chariot as if to fast to death.
The Supreme Lord Krishna, Hrsikesa, the master of the senses. The Supreme Controller, internally and externally of all living entities evolving and evolved. Who although the Supreme Lord of all, yet descended down to Earth out of His causeless mercy for the redemption of the faithful and even more, He condescended to be Arjuna’s chariot driver, carrying out his wish to station their chariot in such a commanding position as to be able to readily view the belligerent Kauravas and put within the range of his vision such heroes as Bhishmadeva, Dronacarya and Kripa and the Kings of royal dynasties. At that time the Supreme Lord Krishna said to Arjuna: see what chances there are for the Kauravas victory over thee.
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
What did Arjuna do then? In answer to this the verse states: seeing, responding, overwhelmed, overcome, besieged with or possessed by despondency. Visidan means grief stricken or greatly despondent.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka.
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
In answer to the question what did Arjuna do next? Sanjaya replies with a mood to console the blind Dhritarastra whose mind was visibly disturbed by the doubt that his son Duryodhana might not be victorious but could indeed lose the entire kingdom. Dhritarastra previously had not the slightest intention of giving back to the Pandavas, the children of his deceased brother Pandu, their rightful share of the kingdom. Then when the Pandavas had to suffer further miseries in the forest for 13 years did he consider giving them a reprieve. But in the process of undergoing various trails and tribulations of forest life, Arjuna received many divine weapons from Siva and Indra and his mighty Gandiva bow bestowed upon him by Agni. Arjuna although being protected by Lord Krishna and fully capable of defeating the belligerent warriors of the Kaurava army when he saw so many of his family and friends arrayed against him he became overwhelmed with compassion for them.
One might wonder how is it possible that just before battle such a mighty warrior as Arjuna is smitten so untimely with feelings of compassion. Arjuna is being referred to as Kaunteya the son of Kunti who is the exalted sister of Vasudeva who Lord Krishna accepted as His father. Vasudeva was so magnanimous and compassionate that he forgave Kamsa who was an incurable sinner. So feeling some pity for them Arjuna forlornly spoke the words found in the next verse.
Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:
1.27 Sri Sankaracharya did not comment on this sloka. The commentary starts from 2.10.
Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:
1.12 — 1.29 Sri Abhinavgupta did not comment upon this sloka.
Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:
tan samiksya sa kaunteyah
sarvan bandhun avasthitan
krpaya parayavisto
visidann idam abravit
Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:
tān — all of them; samīkṣya — after seeing; saḥ — he; kaunteyaḥ — the son of Kuntī; sarvān — all kinds of; bandhūn — relatives; avasthitān — situated; kṛpayā — by compassion; parayā — of a high grade; āviṣṭaḥ — overwhelmed; viṣīdan — while lamenting; idam — thus; abravīt — spoke.
