Chapter 1Verse 20 of 47

Bhagavad Gita 1.20

अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः । प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः ॥

atha vyavasthitān dṛṣṭvā dhārtarāṣṭrān kapi-dhvajaḥ | pravṛtte śastra-sampāte dhanur udyamya pāṇḍavaḥ ||

Translation

Then, O king, the son of Pandu, whose standard was the monkey, having seen the sons of Dhritarashtra drawn up in order, while the discharge of weapons was about to begin, raised his bow.

Arjuna lifts his bow. The action is the smallest possible commitment: weight in the arms, weapon ready. Kapi-dhvaja, the monkey on his standard is Hanuman, the bond from a previous age. The flag carries a whole earlier story into this moment. Before the first arrow flies, Arjuna does what he came to do. The reversal that will fill the rest of the chapter has not begun yet. One verse of intact resolve.

Reflection

When was the last time you raised the bow before the doubt arrived?

Read this verse in its chapter: Chapter One

Ask the Gita about this verse →