Shrimad Bhagavad Gita: Arjuna Vishada Yogam: Chapter 1: Verse 1

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 opposing energies that exist within each 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||

Dhṛitarāśhtra uvācha

dharma-kṣhetre kuru-kṣhetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ

māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāśhchaiva kimakurvata sañjaya||1||

                                                      Shloka Translation

BG – Ch. 1- Ver. 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

On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, the two armies had gathered, well-equipped for an upcoming battle. King Dhritarashtra still questioned Sanjaya in this stanza about what his sons and those of his brother Pandu were doing on the battlefield. Why did he ask that when it was obvious that they would fight?

Due to his affection for his own offspring, the blind King Dhritarashtra’s spiritual insight was clouded and he deviated from the righteous path. The Pandavas, sons of his brother Pandu, were the legitimate successors to the kingdom of Hastinapur, but he had taken it. His conscience troubled him about the result of this struggle, as he felt bad for what he had done to his nephews.

Dhritarashtra’s use of the phrase “dharma kshetre,” or “the land of dharma (virtuous behaviour),” captures the difficult situation he was in. Kurukshetra was revered as the holy place that sustained the dharma. Dhritarashtra was concerned that his sons’ minds may be influenced by the sacred place. If it sparked their discriminatory faculties, they might decide against killing their relatives and instead try to reach peace.

A peaceful resolution implied that the Pandavas would continue to obstruct them. He was really unhappy about these prospects and would have preferred if this battle actually happened. Although he didn’t know what the war would bring, he wanted to know what would happen to his sons. So, he asked Sanjay about what the two armies were doing on the field of battle.

Reflection 

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?

In the next shloka Sanjaya speaks to Dhritarashtra.

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