The first chapter concluded with the complete collapse of the great hero, Arjuna. Now, the second chapter, “Sankhya Yoga” or “The Yoga of Knowledge,” opens with Sanjaya’s narration of this pivotal moment. The first verse, known as the Sanjaya Uvacha Tam Tatha verse, sets the stage for the divine instruction to begin, describing the patient’s condition just before the divine physician speaks.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच
तं तथा कृपयाविष्टमश्रुपूर्णाकुलेक्षणम् ।
विषीदन्तमिदं वाक्यमुवाच मधुसूदनः ॥ १ ॥Transliteration
sañjaya uvāca
taṁ tathā kṛpayāviṣṭamaśrupūrṇākulekṣaṇam |
viṣīdantamidaṁ vākyamuvāca madhusūdanaḥ || 1 ||Word for Word Translation
sañjayaḥ uvāca – Sanjaya said; tam – unto him (Arjuna); tathā – thus; kṛpayā āviṣṭam – overwhelmed with compassion; aśru-pūrṇa-ākula – full of tears; īkṣaṇam – whose eyes; viṣīdantam – lamenting; idam – this; vākyam – sentence; uvāca – said; madhusūdanaḥ – the killer of the demon Madhu (Krishna).
English Translation
Sanjaya said: Seeing Arjuna thus overwhelmed with compassion, his mind grieving, and his eyes full of tears, Madhusudana, Krishna, spoke the following words.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
This verse acts as a bridge, connecting the raw emotion of Chapter 1 to the divine wisdom of Chapter 2. Sanjaya paints a vivid picture of Arjuna’s state for King Dhritarashtra.
- Kṛpayāviṣṭam (Overwhelmed with compassion): Sanjaya confirms that Arjuna’s state is not cowardice but one of being completely possessed by `kṛpā`, or a deep, sorrowful compassion.
- Aśrupūrṇākulekṣaṇam (Eyes full of tears): This is a powerful image. The eyes of the world’s greatest archer, renowned for his pinpoint focus, are now clouded and obscured by a flood of tears. His vision, both physically and metaphorically, is blurred by emotion.
- Madhusūdanaḥ (The Slayer of Madhu): It is highly significant that Sanjaya uses this name for Krishna at this exact moment. By reminding the king that Krishna is the powerful slayer of great demons, he is foreshadowing that Krishna is about to slay the demon of grief and illusion that has now possessed his dear friend, Arjuna.
This poignant description of Arjuna’s vulnerability is the necessary prelude to the Gita’s teachings. It is only because Arjuna is in this state of complete confusion and sorrow that he is open enough to receive the divine knowledge he is about to be given.
Conclusion
This opening verse of the second chapter teaches a profound lesson about the nature of grace. Often, it is not in our moments of strength, but in our moments of complete vulnerability and brokenness, that we are most open to receiving profound wisdom and guidance. Arjuna, the invincible hero, had to be brought to his knees by his own heart before he could become a true disciple.
Krishna’s response, which begins in the next verse, is not just a conversation between friends; it is the response of the divine to a soul in sincere crisis. This verse perfectly sets the scene, showing us that before the light of wisdom can enter, the darkness of our own confusion and sorrow must first be fully acknowledged and felt.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 – Verse 2 – Kutastva Kashmalam Idam
