sva-janam

कृपया परयाऽऽविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत्

sva-janam — kinsmen

Seeing my own people standing here, Krishna, wanting to fight — my limbs give way, and my mouth goes dry.

निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव

sva-janam — kinsmen

And I see the omens are against us, Krishna. I foresee nothing good in killing my own people in battle.

तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान्

sva-bāndhavān — along with friends

So it is not for us to kill Dhritarashtra's sons, our own kin. How could we be happy, having killed our own people?

अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम्

sva-janam — kinsmen

Alas — we have resolved to commit a great wrong, ready to kill our own people out of greed for a kingdom and its comforts.

कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसंमूढचेताः

sva-bhāvaḥ — nature

My own nature is undone by this failure of nerve; my sense of what is right is confused. I ask you: tell me plainly what is best. I am your pupil. Instruct me.

अथ चैत्त्वमिमं धर्म्यं संग्रामं न करिष्यसि

sva-dharmam — one’s duty in accordance with the Vedas

But if you will not fight this rightful battle, you abandon your own duty and your good name, and you take on the wrong instead.

समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः

svam — own

Holding body, head and neck straight and unmoving, still, gaze steady and not looking about,

न तु मां शक्यसे द्रष्टुमनेनैव स्वचक्षुषा

sva-chakṣhuṣhā — with your physical eyes

But you cannot see me with these eyes of yours. I give you divine sight: behold.

अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्य मनन्तबाहुं शशिसूर्यनेत्रम्

sva-tejasā — by your own radiance

Without beginning, middle or end, of endless power, of endless arms, the moon and sun your eyes — I see you, your mouth a blazing fire of offering, scorching this world with your own radiance.

समदुःखसुखः स्वस्थः समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः

sva-sthaḥ — established in the self

the same in pain and pleasure, at home in the self, taking clod, stone and gold alike; the same toward what is wanted and unwanted, steady, the same under blame and praise;

त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा

sva-bhāva-jā — born of one’s innate nature

The faith of the embodied is of three kinds, arising from their own nature: of clarity, of restlessness and of inertia. Hear of them.

स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः

sva-karma — to one’s own prescribed duty

A person reaches perfection by devotion to their own work. Hear how one who is devoted to their own work attains it.

यतः प्रवृत्तिर्भूतानां येन सर्वमिदं ततम्

sva-karmaṇā — by one’s natural occupation

By worshipping through their own work the one from whom all beings arise and by whom all this is pervaded, a person reaches perfection.