The Bhagavad Gītā begins with Dhṛtarāṣṭra (the blind King) asking his charioteer and advisor Sañjaya to narrate what was occurring on the battlefield at Kurukṣetra. Sañjaya had been granted the divine vision by Sage Vyāsa to see what was going on at Kurukṣetra. He plays the role of a journalist to Dhṛtarāṣṭra. The king was blind by birth. Because of this, Sañjaya had to be explicit and descriptive in his narration. This allowed the king to understand and feel the exact happenings on the battlefield.
Chapter 1, Verse 1
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः ।
मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥१.१॥
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca
dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ,
māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāścaiva kimakurvata sañjaya. (1.1)
1.1. Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: O Sañjaya, what did the sons of Pāṇḍu and my sons do after assembling in Kurukṣetra, the land of dharma, with the desire to wage war?
In the Bhagavad Gītā, there are 700 verses in total. This is the only verse attributed to Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra was not only physically blind. He was also blinded by his attachment to his sons. This attachment paved the way for the war, so to speak. Dhṛtarāṣṭra himself allowed all the atrocities and injustices that his son Duryodhana committed against the Pāṇḍavas. Because of his blind love for his son, he remained silent. He did not utter a word against Duryodhana when he was cruel towards his own brother’s sons, the Pāṇḍavas.
Chapter 1, Verse 2
सञ्जय उवाच
दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा ।
आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥१.२॥
sañjaya uvāca
dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṃ vyūḍhaṃ duryodhanastadā,
ācāryamupasaṅgamya rājā vacanamabravīt. (1.2)
1.2. Sañjaya said: Having seen the Pāṇḍavas’ army arranged in a battle formation, King Duryodhana approached his teacher (Droṇa) and spoke these words.
Duryodhana was the eldest son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. He constantly thought about ruling the entire Kingdom. His desire for power and lust for wealth is what drove him. He was unwilling to give even an inch of land to the Pāṇḍavas. And that is what led to the war. Duryodhana’s army (with 11 regiments) was much larger than the Pāṇḍava army (with 7 regiments). Still, he felt fear in his mind because there will be no confidence when one is on the wrong side.
From this verse onward, Sañjaya narrates the events at the Kurukṣetra. This occurs after King Dhṛtarāṣṭra asks him the question in Verse 1.
Chapter 1, Verse 3
पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् ।
व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ॥१.३॥
spaśyaitāṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāmācārya mahatīṃ camūm,
vyūḍhāṃ drupadaputreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā. (1.3)
1.3. Duryodhana said: O Teacher! Behold the mighty army of the Pāṇḍavas, which is arranged in battle formation by your disciple Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Drupada.
Duryodhana uses harsh words toward his teacher by pointing out that his disciple Dhṛṣṭadyumna was leading the other army. Duryodhana was absorbed with his desire to destroy the Pāṇḍavas and rule the entire Kingdom. In this pursuit, he foolishly begins uttering these words, which he did not need to say at all. Droṇa was a great warrior and was well aware of his status.
Chapter 1, Verses 4–6
अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि ।
युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ॥१.४॥
atra śūrā maheṣvāsā bhīmārjunasamā yudhi,
yuyudhāno virāṭaśca drupadaśca mahārathaḥ. (1.4)
1धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान् ।
पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः ॥१.५॥
dhṛṣṭaketuścekitānaḥ kāśirājaśca vīryavān,
purujitkuntibhojaśca śaibyaśca narapuṅgavaḥ. (1.5)
युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् ।
सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ॥१.६॥
yudhāmanyuśca vikrānta uttamaujāśca vīryavān,
saubhadro draupadeyāśca sarva eva mahārathāḥ. (1.6)
1.4–1.6. In their army are powerful archers like Yuyudhana, Virāṭa, and Drupada—equal in strength and skill to Bhīma and Arjuna; Dhṛṣṭaketu, Chekitāna, and valient king of Kāśī, Purujit, Kuntibhoj, and Śaibya—all the best of men; the strong Yudhamanyu, the courageous Uttamauja, the son of Subhadrā, and the sons of Draupadi—all great commanders.
Duryodhana seems to be getting nervous as he continues speaking to Droṇācārya. He announces the names of all the warriors in the Pāṇḍava army.
Chapter 1, Verse 7
अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम ।
नायका मम सैन्यस्य सञ्ज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते ॥१.७॥
asmākaṃ tu viśiṣṭā ye tānnibodha dvijottama,
nāyakā mama sainyasya sañjñārthaṃ tānbravīmi te. (1.7)
1.7. O best among the twice-born (Brahmins), hear about the most distinguished generals on our side, these I recount to you for your information.
The nervous Duryodhana continues to speak as though trying to give himself confidence. He says, “Be informed, my army is far better (special), and I will recount to you.” While speaking, he refers to Droṇā as the best of Brahmins. This is considered an insult and discredits him on the battlefield.
Chapter 1, Verse 8
भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः ।
अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ॥१.८॥
bhavānbhīṣmaśca karṇaśca kṛpaśca samitiñjayaḥ,
aśvatthāmā vikarṇaśca saumadattistathaiva ca. (1.8)
1.8. People like yourself, Bhīṣma, and Karṇa, Kṛpa, Aśvatthāma, Vikarna, and the son of Somadatta (Bhurīśrava), who are ever victorious in war.
In this verse, Duryodhana lists out all the warriors in his army. As though realizing his error in judgment by referring to Droṇā as a Brahmin in the previous verse, he starts with Droṇā to cover up the insult.
Chapter 1, Verse 9
अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः ।
नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ॥१.९॥
anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā madarthe tyaktajīvitāḥ,
nānāśastrapraharaṇāḥ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ. (1.9)
1.9. There are also many other heroes also who are skilled in the art of warfare and armed with various kinds of weapons, determined to give up their lives for my sake.
Having named all those people, he says that many other courageous warriors came to fight for his sake. Every one of them is well-educated in the art of warfare and well-equipped. He is so self-absorbed and egoistic that he thinks all the warriors in his army came for his sake. In truth, they are there because of the respect and reverence they have for Bhīṣma.
Chapter 1, Verse 10
अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् ।
पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ॥१.१०॥
aparyāptaṃ tadasmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam,
paryāptaṃ tvidameteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhirakṣitam. (1.10)
1.10. Our strength is unlimited, defended by Bhīṣma, and their strength is limited, defended by Bhīma.
Duryodhana is either overconfident or afraid that his army is not sufficient. In his mind, he doubts the loyalty of the elders fighting for him. He is fearful of the strength and skill of Bhīma and Arjuna.
Chapter 1, Verse 11
अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः ।
भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ॥१.११॥
ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu yathābhāgamavasthitāḥ,
bhīṣmamevābhirakṣantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi. (1.11)
1.11. Therefore, I call upon all the generals stationed in their respective positions to give full support to Bhīṣma and protect him alone.
Duryodhana gives instructions to his army that everyone needs to protect Bhīṣma even as they are in their respective strategic positions. With a confused mind, an individual always says the wrong things. He insulted Droṇa by calling him a Brahmin first. Then he tries to pacify him by mentioning him as a warrior. Now, he looks down on him again. He mentions guarding Bhīṣma at all costs, implying Droṇa is indispensable.
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