Bhagavad Gita 1.28 — Kripaya Paraya Avishto — Word-by-Word Meaning
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता १.२८ — कृपया परयाऽऽविष्टो
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
अर्जुनः उवाच
arjunaḥ uvācha
Arjuna said
कृपया परया
kṛipayā parayā
by deep compassion; overwhelmed with pity
आविष्टः
āviṣhṭaḥ
overcome; filled
विषीदन्
viṣhīdan
lamenting; sorrowing
इदम् अब्रवीत्
idam abravīt
spoke these words
दृष्ट्वा
dṛiṣhṭvā
on seeing
इमम्
imam
these
स्वजनम्
sva-janam
kinsmen; own people
कृष्ण
kṛiṣhṇa
O Krishna
युयुत्सुम्
yuyutsum
eager to fight
समुपस्थितम्
samupasthitam
present; assembled
Complete Translation
Sanjaya said: Overcome with deep compassion and sorrowing, Arjuna spoke these words: O Krishna, seeing my own kinsmen present here, eager to fight...
Origin & History
Source: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 28
Author: Sage Veda Vyasa (Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva)
Period: Ancient (text compiled c. 5th–2nd century BCE)
In the first chapter, Arjuna Vishada Yoga, after surveying both armies and recognising his kinsmen, Arjuna is overwhelmed with compassion and grief. Sanjaya narrates to Dhritarashtra how Arjuna, sorrowing, began to address Krishna — the start of the lament that prompts the Lord's teaching of the Bhagavad Gita.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 1.28 describe?▼
It describes Arjuna being overcome with deep compassion and sorrow at the sight of his own kinsmen gathered and eager for battle. Filled with grief, he begins to speak to Krishna, opening his lament that runs through the rest of the first chapter.
Why is Arjuna so compassionate here?▼
Arjuna sees not enemies but his own family, teachers and friends ready to destroy one another. His noble heart is moved by pity for them, which, mingled with attachment and sorrow, gives rise to the moral crisis that the Gita addresses.
How does this verse begin the Gita's central problem?▼
This verse marks the start of Arjuna's outpouring of grief. His compassion-driven refusal to fight, expressed in the verses that follow, is the very predicament Krishna resolves through His teaching on duty, the eternal Self, and devotion.
Ready to start chanting?
See Benefits & How to Chant →