Before we understand and learn each Shloka of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, let us know how each person that we come across in the Bhagavad Gita relates to us.

Shri Krishna: is the ‘higher Self’ or ‘divine’.

Arjuna: we, in our human form, with all our questions, concerns, and habits… He represents you and me as we face all the varied aspects of ourselves that keep us from discovering our true essence on the battlefield of life.

The Pandavas: represent the wonderful virtues that we all possess.

The Kauravas: are the warring energies that exist within every one of us.

The Chariot: Our physical body.

The Horses: Our five senses(Panchendriyas).

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच |
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः |
मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ||1.1||

Dhṛitarāśhtra uvācha
dharma-kṣhetre kuru-kṣhetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ
māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāśhchaiva kimakurvata sañjaya

Shloka Translation

BG 1.1: Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, after gathering on the sacred land of Kurukshetra, and desiring to fight, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do?

Explanation

The first verse is a conversation between Dhritarashtra, the Kauravas’ father, and Sanjaya, his charioteer and adviser. Sanjaya was given divine vision so that he could provide Dhritarashtra, who was blind, with real-time commentary on the Mahabharata war.

King Dhritarashtra inquires Sanjay about the activities of his sons and his brother Pandu’s sons on the battlefield. He didn’t know what the war would bring, & he wanted to know what would happen to his sons. As a result, he inquired of Sanjay about the battleground activities of the two armies.

Verse & Self-Introspection

This verse encourages us to reflect on our lives and assess our attachments. What are the attachments that bind us? How strong are our attachments? What can we do to avoid becoming entangled in ever-increasing attachments?

This subject will be discussed in greater depth in later chapters and verses.

Let’s learn to live with “The Gita” via Meditation Affinity…