Gita 1.28
Arjuna Vishada Yoga
कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् । अर्जुन उवाच । दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् ॥२८॥
kṛpayā parayāviṣṭo viṣīdann idam abravīt arjuna uvāca dṛṣṭvemaṁ svajanaṁ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṁ samupasthitam
In essence: Compassion is not weakness—it is the soul recognizing what the mind has been trained to ignore.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "Guruji, the verse says Arjuna was overwhelmed by 'kripa'—compassion. But later Krishna seems to criticize him. Was his compassion wrong?"
Guru: "Read carefully what Krishna criticizes. He criticizes Arjuna's delusion, his misplaced reasoning, his confusion of levels. He never criticizes the compassion itself. Compassion is a door. Arjuna opened the door correctly. But he stopped in the doorway instead of walking through to wisdom."
Sadhak: "What's the difference between compassion that paralyzes and compassion that liberates?"
Guru: "Compassion that paralyzes says: 'I feel their pain, so I cannot act.' Compassion that liberates says: 'I feel their pain, I see the larger truth, and I act from that larger seeing.' Arjuna has the feeling. He needs the seeing. That's what Krishna will provide."
Sadhak: "He calls them 'svajanam'—my own people. But weren't some of them genuinely evil? Duryodhana had tried to kill them many times."
Guru: "Notice Arjuna doesn't say 'I see good people and bad people.' He says 'I see my own people.' At this moment, moral categorization has given way to felt connection. This is both his clarity and his confusion. He sees truly that they are connected. He hasn't yet seen that action can flow from connection without violation."
Sadhak: "The word 'avishta'—possessed—is strong. Like a deity possessing a devotee."
Guru: "Indeed. Compassion at this intensity is not ordinary emotion—it's a form of possession. Something larger than Arjuna's individual psychology has taken hold. The Divine sometimes works through crisis. This possession by compassion will become the vessel through which Krishna's teaching is poured."
Sadhak: "I notice he says 'yuyutsum'—desiring to fight. His kinsmen WANT to fight. Doesn't that reduce his responsibility?"
Guru: "A profound observation. They are 'yuyutsum'—eager for battle. They chose this. Arjuna didn't force them here. Yet his compassion extends even to those who chose wrongly. This is the nature of true kripa—it doesn't ask whether the sufferer 'deserves' sympathy. It feels their future pain regardless of their current desire."
Sadhak: "I sometimes feel overwhelmed by compassion too—for suffering I see in the news, in the streets. Then I feel paralyzed. Is that the same as Arjuna?"
Guru: "Similar, yes. The question is what you do next. Do you let the feeling collapse into helplessness? Or do you ask, 'What is the right action from this feeling?' Compassion without action becomes despair. Action without compassion becomes cruelty. The Gita teaches the integration."
Sadhak: "So I shouldn't suppress the compassion, even if it's painful?"
Guru: "Suppress nothing. But don't mistake the feeling for the end point. Arjuna felt. Then he spoke. Then he listened. Then he acted. Each stage was necessary. Your compassion is a beginning, not a conclusion."
Did this resonate with you? Share it with someone who needs to hear this.
🌅 Daily Practice
Begin your day by acknowledging any 'kripa'—compassion or sorrow—you're carrying. Perhaps you've been affected by news of suffering, a friend's struggle, or a memory of loss. Instead of suppressing this feeling to 'be productive,' name it: 'I am feeling compassion for X.' Like Arjuna, let the feeling be present without immediately trying to resolve it. This acknowledgment is not wallowing—it's honoring your connection to others. Then ask: 'What small action might my compassion lead to today?'
During the day, when you encounter someone who seems eager for conflict ('yuyutsum')—perhaps an aggressive colleague, an argumentative stranger, or even anger in yourself—pause to recognize that beneath the desire to fight is a human being who will eventually suffer the consequences of their aggression. Arjuna saw people 'eager to fight' and felt compassion for their future pain. Can you hold that dual awareness? This doesn't mean enabling aggression, but it changes the quality of your response.
In the evening, practice Arjuna's gesture: articulating your confusion to someone wiser. If you're facing a genuine dilemma where your feelings and your understanding of right action seem to conflict, speak it aloud—to a friend, mentor, journal, or in prayer. Arjuna didn't suffer in silence; he spoke his overwhelm. The act of articulating confusion is often the first step toward clarity. Notice how speaking your 'vishada' (despair) actually begins to transform it, creating space for new understanding to enter.