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← Chapter 2: The Yoga of Knowledge

Verse 2.1

Speaker: Sanjaya

Sanskrit

सञ्जय उवाच तं तथा कृपयाविष्टमश्रुपूर्णाकुलेक्षणम्। विषीदन्तमिदं वाक्यमुवाच मधुसूदनः॥

Transliteration (IAST)

sañjaya uvāca taṁ tathā kṛpayāviṣṭam aśru-pūrṇākulekṣaṇam viṣīdantam idaṁ vākyam uvāca madhusūdanaḥ

Word-by-Word Meanings

kṛpayā-with compassion/pity
āviṣṭam-overwhelmed
aśru-pūrṇa-full of tears
viṣīdantam-lamenting
madhusūdanaḥ-Krishna, slayer of Madhu

Translation

Sanjaya said: To him who was thus overwhelmed with pity, whose eyes were filled with tears and who was despondent, Madhusudana (Krishna) spoke these words.

Commentary

This verse sets the stage for Krishna's teaching. Sanjaya narrates to Dhritarashtra how Krishna responded to Arjuna's emotional breakdown. The use of 'Madhusudana' subtly reminds us that Krishna is about to slay Arjuna's ignorance just as he slew the demon Madhu.

Themes

dutysurrender