Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 10

Chapter 1 – Arjuna Vishada Yoga · Speaker: Sanjaya

Sanskrit verse

अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् ।
पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ॥

Transliteration

aparyāptaṃ tadasmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhirakṣitam .
paryāptaṃ tvidameteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhirakṣitam ॥

Meaning

That army of ours, protected by Bhishma, is insufficient (or: unlimited); while this army of theirs, protected by Bhima, is sufficient (or: limited).

Word meanings

अपर्याप्तम् – insufficient / immeasurable
तत् – that
अस्माकम् – our
बलम् – army, strength
भीष्माभिरक्षितम् – guarded on all sides by Bhishma
पर्याप्तम् – sufficient / limited
तु – but
इदम् – this
एतेषाम् – of these (the Pandavas)
भीमाभिरक्षितम् – guarded by Bhima

Anvaya (word order)

भीष्माभिरक्षितम् अस्माकम् तत् बलम् अपर्याप्तम्; भीमाभिरक्षितम् एतेषाम् इदम् बलम् तु पर्याप्तम् ।

Explanation

This is one of the Gita verses for which tradition preserves two opposite readings. The words paryapta and aparyapta can mean 'adequate' and 'inadequate', but also 'limited' and 'unlimited'.

On the first reading, Duryodhana's fear speaks: 'Our army, guarded by Bhishma, is inadequate for victory, while theirs, guarded by Bhima, is adequate.' The reason given is that Bhishma's heart was affectionate towards both sides and he did not wish to kill the Pandavas, whereas Bhima had vowed to destroy Duryodhana. Many traditional commentators, such as Shridhara Swami, accept this sense of misgiving in Duryodhana's mind.

On the second reading, Duryodhana speaks with pride: 'Our army is immeasurable, theirs is limited.' Numerically this was true: eleven akshauhinis against seven. Commentators such as Madhusudana Saraswati weigh both readings and give room to this boastful sense as well.

Both readings reveal two sides of the same mind, pride on the surface and fear underneath. Notice that Bhima is named as protector of the Pandava army, although the commander was Dhrishtadyumna. In Duryodhana's eyes Bhima was his greatest rival. Thus he sets Bhishma against Bhima, and the two become living symbols of the two sides.

Context

After describing the warriors on both sides, Duryodhana here compares the two armies. In the next verse he orders all his commanders to protect Bhishma.

Life lesson

In a mind that harbours wrongdoing, pride and fear walk side by side. The real strength of any group lies not merely in numbers and resources but in the integrity of its leadership and the purity of its purpose.

Key terms

Paryapta / Aparyapta: adequate / inadequate; or limited / unlimited
Bhishmabhirakshita: protected on all sides by Bhishma
Bhima: Bhimasena, the mighty Pandava and Duryodhana's chief rival