Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 23

Chapter 1 – Arjuna Vishada Yoga · Speaker: Arjuna

Sanskrit verse

योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः ।
धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः ॥

Transliteration

yotsyamānānavekṣe.ahaṃ ya ete.atra samāgatāḥ .
dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddheryuddhe priyacikīrṣavaḥ ॥

Meaning

I wish to see those who have gathered here to fight, eager to please in battle the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra.

Word meanings

योत्स्यमानान् – those who are about to fight
अवेक्षे – I may see
अहम् – I
ये – who
एते – these
अत्र – here
समागताः – have assembled
धार्तराष्ट्रस्य – of the son of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana)
दुर्बुद्धेः – evil-minded
युद्धे – in battle
प्रियचिकीर्षवः – wishing to please

Anvaya (word order)

दुर्बुद्धेः धार्तराष्ट्रस्य युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः ये एते अत्र समागताः, (तान्) योत्स्यमानान् अहम् अवेक्षे ।

Explanation

Continuing, Arjuna says he wants to see all the kings who have come here to do what is 'dear' to Duryodhana. In this verse Arjuna's voice is still that of a warrior: firm, clear and full of indignation at the wrongdoing of the Kauravas.

The epithet durbuddhi, 'evil-minded', fits Duryodhana well. His intellect was flawed: he plotted to burn the Pandavas in the house of lac, cheated at dice, had Draupadi humiliated before the whole court, and rejected every offer of peace. When the intellect is corrupted by greed and envy, it chooses the path of its own ruin.

Priyachikirshavah, 'wishing to please', carries a deep irony. These kings have come to please Duryodhana, but they are not truly serving his good. A real friend restrains his friend from adharma rather than joining him in it. By agreeing with everything Duryodhana wants, they push him further towards destruction.

Thus in verses 21 to 23 Arjuna's purpose is clear: to identify the enemy and prepare for battle. In the very next moment, when the chariot reaches the middle, all of this will change.

Context

In verses 21-23 Arjuna asks for the chariot to be taken between the two armies and gives his reason. In the next verse Sanjaya relates how Krishna did as Arjuna asked and placed the chariot in the middle.

Life lesson

Agreeing with someone in everything is not friendship; a true well-wisher stops a person heading the wrong way. Guarding the intellect from greed and envy is the first means of protecting oneself.

Key terms

Durbuddhi: one whose intellect is corrupt; here Duryodhana
Priyachikirshu: one who wishes to please another
Dhartarashtra: son of Dhritarashtra; here Duryodhana