Bhagvad Gita - Chapter: 1 Arjuna Visada Yogah

Chapter 1

Arjuna Visada Yogah

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः |
मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ||1||

Dhritarashtra said: In the holy land of Kurukshetra, gathered for battle, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do, O Sanjaya?

Dhritarashtra: Blind king of the Kuru dynasty.
Kurukshetra: The battlefield of the Mahabharata war.
Dharmakshetra: Land of righteousness.
Yuyutsavah: Those desirous of fighting.

Dhritarashtra’s query is not just a request for information, but it reveals his internal anxiety and partiality towards his sons. Symbolically, his blindness to dharma becomes evident as the narrative unfolds, setting up the tension between righteousness and attachment that Bhagavad Gita will explore.

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Arjuna Visada Yogah - Sanjaya said: Then, seeing the Pandava army arrayed for battle, King Duryodhana approached his teacher (Dronacharya) and spoke these words.

सञ्जय उवाच दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा |
आचार्यमुपसंगम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ||2||

Sanjaya said: Then, seeing the Pandava army arrayed for battle, King Duryodhana approached his teacher (Dronacharya) and spoke these words.

Duryodhana: The eldest Kaurava, antagonist in the Mahabharata.
Dronacharya: The martial teacher of the Kauravas and Pandavas.
Vyuḍham: Arrayed for battle.
Pandavānikam: The Pandava army.

This verse introduces Duryodhana’s reaction to the opposing army. His approach to Dronacharya, the teacher, signifies his dependence on his mentor, foreshadowing the respect he holds for authority figures, despite his own ego and ambition.

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पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् |
व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ||3||

Behold, O teacher, this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed by your wise disciple, the son of Drupada (Dhrishtadyumna).

Drupadaputreṇa: The son of King Drupada, Dhrishtadyumna.
Chamūm: The army.
Pāṇḍuputrāṇām: The sons of Pandu.
Dhīmatā: Wise or intelligent.

Duryodhana attempts to stir Dronacharya’s emotions by reminding him that Dhrishtadyumna, who leads the Pandavas’ forces, was once his own student. This reminder subtly highlights the irony and the personal conflicts present in this great war, where former relationships are set aside.

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Arjuna Visada Yogah - Here, in this army, are many valiant warriors, equal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna: Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada, the great warrior.

अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि |
युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ||4||

Here, in this army, are many valiant warriors, equal in battle to Bhima and Arjuna: Yuyudhana, Virata, and Drupada, the great warrior.

Mahaṛathaḥ: Great charioteer or warrior.
Yuyudhana: Satyaki, a warrior fighting on the Pandavas’ side.
Virāta: King of the Matsya kingdom.
Drupada: King of Panchala and father of Draupadi.

Duryodhana lists the mighty warriors in the Pandava army, attempting to show his teacher the strength of their opponents. The comparison of these warriors to Bhima and Arjuna, the greatest fighters in the Pandava camp, underscores the formidable challenge the Kauravas are about to face.

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