Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 2

Chapter 1 – Arjuna Vishada Yoga · Speaker: Sanjaya

Sanskrit verse

सञ्जय उवाच ।
दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा ।
आचार्यमुपसंगम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca .
dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṃ vyūḍhaṃ duryodhanastadā .
ācāryamupasaṃgamya rājā vacanamabravīt ॥

Meaning

Sanjaya said: Then, seeing the army of the Pandavas drawn up in battle formation, King Duryodhana approached his teacher Drona and spoke these words.

Word meanings

दृष्ट्वा – having seen
तु – but, then
पाण्डवानीकम् – the army of the Pandavas
व्यूढम् – arrayed in military formation
दुर्योधनः – Duryodhana
तदा – at that time
आचार्यम् – the teacher (Drona)
उपसंगम्य – approaching
राजा – the king
वचनम् – words
अब्रवीत् – spoke

Anvaya (word order)

सञ्जयः उवाच — तदा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दृष्ट्वा राजा दुर्योधनः आचार्यम् उपसंगम्य वचनम् अब्रवीत् ।

Explanation

Sanjaya answers the blind king with tact. Dhritarashtra had asked what 'my sons' did, so Sanjaya begins with Duryodhana. The small word 'tu' (but) quietly tells the king that the awakening of conscience he feared did not happen; on the contrary, his son was eager and restless for war.

The word vyudham shows that the Pandava army was not merely standing there but stood in a disciplined battle array. The Pandavas had seven akshauhinis against the eleven of the Kauravas, yet the order and resolve of the smaller army unsettled Duryodhana. One who stands on the side of adharma remains inwardly insecure, however large his resources.

It is telling that Duryodhana goes not to Bhishma, the commander-in-chief, but to Drona, the teacher of both the Kauravas and the Pandavas. Drona's affection for the Pandavas, and especially for Arjuna, his finest pupil, was well known. Duryodhana feared that this affection might soften the teacher's resolve, so he goes to him in person to stir him up.

Sanjaya calls him 'the king'. Duryodhana held the throne, but not the composure that kingship demands. His going to the teacher himself, rather than summoning him, reveals both his political calculation and his anxiety.

Context

These are Sanjaya's first words, his reply to Dhritarashtra's opening question. From here up to verse 11, Duryodhana speaks to Drona. In the next verse he points out the Pandava army and the man who arrayed it, Dhrishtadyumna.

Life lesson

Even with greater outward strength, a person who carries the weight of wrongdoing within remains fearful. Real confidence does not come from numbers or resources but from walking the path of dharma.

Key terms

Vyuha: a battle formation; the strategic arrangement of an army
Drona: son of the sage Bharadvaja, military teacher of the Kauravas and Pandavas
Duryodhana: eldest son of Dhritarashtra and leader of the Kaurava side
Akshauhini: a large ancient army division of chariots, elephants, cavalry and infantry