The wave of compassion that flooded Arjuna’s heart now crashes over him, manifesting as a profound physical and emotional breakdown. The twenty-eighth verse, known as the Kripaya Parayavisto verse, marks the moment Arjuna’s internal grief becomes external. The Kripaya Parayavisto verse is the beginning of his famous, heart-wrenching lament, where he voices the full extent of his despair to Lord Krishna.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच
कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् ।
दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् ॥ २८ ॥Transliteration
arjuna uvāca
kṛpayā parayāviṣṭo viṣīdannidambravīt |
dṛṣṭvemaṁ svajanaṁ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṁ samupasthitam || 28 ||Word for Word Translation
arjunaḥ uvāca – Arjuna said; kṛpayā – by compassion; parayā – supreme; āviṣṭaḥ – overwhelmed; viṣīdan – lamenting; idam – this; abravīt – he spoke; dṛṣṭvā – having seen; imam – these; svajanam – kinsmen; kṛṣṇa – O Krishna; yuyutsum – eager to fight; samupasthitam – all present.
English Translation
Arjuna said: O Krishna, seeing my kinsmen present here so eager to fight, I am now overwhelmed by supreme compassion and lamenting, I speak these words.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
The Kripaya Parayavisto verse is a direct continuation of the previous verse’s emotional climax. Arjuna, the mighty warrior, now openly confesses his state to his divine friend. There are two key emotional states he describes:
- Kṛpayā parayāviṣṭaḥ: He is “overwhelmed by supreme compassion.” The compassion he felt before has now completely taken him over. It is no longer just a feeling; it has become his entire state of being.
- Viṣīdan: This means “lamenting” or “falling into sorrow.” His compassion is not a joyful, loving feeling; it is a painful, grieving one, born from the realization of the impending destruction of his loved ones.
He addresses Krishna directly, using his personal name. This is an intimate plea. The cause of his grief is seeing his “svajanam”—his own people, his kinsmen—gathered and “yuyutsum,” eager for war. The fact that they *want* to fight is part of the tragedy. He sees the madness of the situation, where his beloved family is enthusiastically marching toward their own annihilation. The Kripaya Parayavisto verse is the cry of a man whose heart can no longer bear the weight of what he is seeing.
Conclusion
The Kripaya Parayavisto verse teaches a profound lesson about the nature of grief and empathy. It shows that even the strongest among us can be brought to their knees not by an external enemy, but by the internal pain of profound compassion. Arjuna’s breakdown is not a sign of weakness but a testament to his deep humanity. He is not a cold-hearted killer; he is a man who loves his family deeply.
This verse marks the official transition of the Bhagavad Gita from a prelude to war into a deep, spiritual dialogue. Arjuna’s problem is no longer a military one that can be solved with his bow, the Gandiva. It is a spiritual crisis that can only be solved with wisdom. The Kripaya Parayavisto verse is the moment the student, broken and confused, finally turns to the master for answers.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 – Verse 29 – Sidanti Mama Gatrani
