Bhagavad Gita · Arjuna Vishada YogaChapter 1, Shloka 47 (1.47)

From raising the bow to laying it down. In 1.20 — dhanur udyamya — having raised the bow. In 1.30 — gāṇḍīvaṃ sraṃsate — the Gandiva is slipping. And now — visṛjya saśaraṃ cāpam — he has cast aside the bow with its arrows. The whole chapter is gathered into this one picture.

From standing to sitting. Madhusudana makes a subtle point: earlier Arjuna had stood up to fight and to look; now he sat down on the seat of the chariot. Standing — readiness, resolve. Sitting down — defeat, exhaustion. The posture of the body mirrors the state of the mind. Remember — the root of "vishada", √sad, also means "to sit down, to sink" (1.28, 1.29). Arjuna has now truly sat down.

"Śoka-saṃvigna-mānasaḥ" — mind overwhelmed by grief. In one word Sanjaya conveys Arjuna's whole condition. Saṃvigna — trembling, in turmoil, agitated. Madhusudana: śokena saṃvignaṃ pīḍitaṃ mānasaṃ yasya — one whose mind is afflicted by grief.

Ramanuja's summary. Ramanuja gives the essence of the whole chapter in this final scene: that great-souled, supremely compassionate, long-faithful to his relationships, supremely righteous Partha — who with his brothers had been deceived again and again by terrible attempts on their lives such as the house of lac, and whose helper was the Supreme Person himself — seeing your people about to die, out of love for his kin, supreme compassion and fear of dharma and adharma, drenched in sweat all over his body, saying "I will not fight in any way at all", with a mind overwhelmed by the grief born of the fear of losing his kinsmen, cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down in the chariot.

In this summary of Ramanuja's there is deep respect for Arjuna — for his virtues and for his pain alike.

Sanjaya's perspective — and Dhritarashtra. Remember, Sanjaya is telling all this to Dhritarashtra. For Dhritarashtra this may have been a moment of hope — "Arjuna has put down his bow!" But those who know the story know that this is not the end but the beginning.

The end of the chapter — and a question. The first chapter ends with Arjuna sitting down — without any resolution. Krishna has not yet given a single teaching. All the wisdom of the Gita lies open before this seated, broken, honest warrior.