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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 1.46
सञ्जय उवाच
एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः संख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् ।
विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः ॥ ४६ ॥
sañjaya uvāca
evam uktvārjunaḥ saṅkhye
rathopastha upāviśat
visṛjya sa-śaraṁ cāpaṁ
śoka-saṁvigna-mānasaḥ
Sañjaya said: Arjuna, having thus spoken on the battlefield, cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the chariot, his mind overwhelmed with grief.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
Sañjaya says Arjuna set aside his bow and arrows and sat on the chariot, overwhelmed with grief.
Arjuna had stood up on the chariot to observe his enemy’s situation, but his sorrow was so great that he sat down again.
Prabhupāda describes Arjuna as kind and soft-hearted; such a person, serving the Lord with devotion, is fit to receive self-knowledge.
These notes cover verses 1.44–46
Conclusion — Arjuna decides not to fight and casts aside his bow and arrows
28 — 1.46) Arjuna’s saintliness is revealed by the following points:
Softheartedness (1.28)
Does not want to kill even for exchange of three worlds (1.35)
Ready to forgive any aggressors (1.36)
Considers evil consequences even at the risk of refusing obligation to fight (1.37 – 1.38)
Conscious of obligations to protect family traditions and morals (1.39 – 1.44)
He does not think that: “I am transcendental and I have no obligations”
Arjuna being saintly is conscious of moral principles – How he can kill one’s relatives based on selfish motives (1.44)
Ready to be killed unarmed, but not retaliate (1.45)
Custom according to Ksatriya fighting principles – unarmed and unwilling foe should not be attacked
These symptoms are due to softheartedness resulting from being a great devotee
Kept his bow down (even broke his vow of not keeping the bow once lifted) (1.46) Conclusion: Such a kind and softhearted person is fit to receive self-knowledge (1.46 purport)
End of chapter 1
Bhagavad Gita Notes 1 Chapter 1 Appendix CHAPTER 1 Appendix Selected Texts extracted from “Surrender unto Me”
Paralysis
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Grief & illusion
Overcome with grief, Arjuna lays down his bow.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
Where am I abandoning a responsibility because my understanding has become confused?
Before withdrawing, seek appropriate spiritual guidance and examine the duty involved.
Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.