Overcome by deep compassion and sinking into despair, he spoke these words. Arjuna said: O Krishna, seeing these, my own kinsmen, standing here eager to fight…
Explanation
Sanjaya, narrating to King Dhritarashtra, describes Arjuna's state after he sees his relatives on both sides. The first half is Sanjaya's description: Arjuna is overcome by compassion (kṛpā) and sinks into despair (viṣāda). The second half begins Arjuna's own words to Krishna, and the sentence continues into the next verse. Traditions differ on this compassion: some see it as a sign of Arjuna's decency, others as a confused attachment that clouds his dharma, his duty.