Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 3

Chapter 1 – Arjuna Vishada Yoga · Speaker: Sanjaya

Sanskrit verse

पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् ।
व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ॥

Transliteration

paśyaitāṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāmācārya mahatīṃ camūm .
vyūḍhāṃ drupadaputreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā ॥

Meaning

O teacher, behold this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed in formation by your own gifted pupil, the son of Drupada.

Word meanings

पश्य – behold
एताम् – this
पाण्डुपुत्राणाम् – of the sons of Pandu
आचार्य – O teacher
महतीम् – great, mighty
चमूम् – army
व्यूढाम् – arrayed in formation
द्रुपदपुत्रेण – by the son of Drupada
तव – your
शिष्येण – by the disciple
धीमता – intelligent, gifted

Anvaya (word order)

आचार्य, तव धीमता शिष्येण द्रुपदपुत्रेण व्यूढाम् पाण्डुपुत्राणाम् एताम् महतीम् चमूम् पश्य ।

Explanation

Duryodhana's words carry both sarcasm and warning. He addresses Drona respectfully as 'teacher', but at once reminds him that the man who arrayed the opposing army is none other than his own pupil. Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Drupada, was the commander-in-chief of the Pandava forces.

Behind this lies an old story. Drona and Drupada had been fellow students in childhood, but once Drupada became king he insulted his old friend. Later Drona had his pupils, Arjuna above all, defeat Drupada, and took half his kingdom. Burning for revenge, Drupada performed a sacrifice from whose fire Dhrishtadyumna was born, destined to slay Drona. Knowing this, the large-hearted Drona still taught him the science of arms.

Duryodhana deliberately touches this wound: 'Your generosity trained your own enemy, and now he stands against you.' Even the adjective dhimata, 'gifted', is barbed. The pupil is ready to use against the teacher the very skills he learned from him.

Calling the army mahatim, 'mighty', also reveals his state of mind. Though smaller in number, the Pandava army looks huge to him, because fear makes things appear larger than they are.

Context

In the previous verse Duryodhana approached Drona; here his speech begins. In verses 4 to 6 he goes on to name the leading great warriors of the Pandava side.

Life lesson

Turning another person's generosity into a taunt is a sign of a crooked mind. Fear and guilt also magnify situations; only a calm mind sees things as they truly are.

Key terms

Dhrishtadyumna: son of King Drupada, born from sacrificial fire, commander of the Pandava army
Drupada: king of Panchala and father of Draupadi
Chamu: an army
Acharya: teacher; here Drona