Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 2: Meaning and Special Explanation

Sloka (Verse):

सञ्जय उवाच ।
दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा ।
आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥२॥

Sañjaya uvāca ।
Dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṁ vyūḍhaṁ duryodhanas tadā ।
Ācāryam upasaṅgamya rājā vacanam abravīt ॥2॥

Word-by-Word Meaning:

sañjayaḥ — Sanjaya
uvāca — said
dṛṣṭvā — after seeing
tu — but, then
pāṇḍava-anīkam — the army of the Pandavas
vyūḍham — arranged in military formation, well-marshaled
duryodhanaḥ — King Duryodhana
tadā — at that time
ācāryam — the teacher, Dronacharya
upasaṅgamya — approaching
rājā — the king
vacanam — words
abravīt — spoke

Translation:

Sanjaya said: O King, at that time, after seeing the army of the Pandavas arranged in military formation, King Duryodhana approached his teacher Dronacharya and spoke the following words.

Purport

This second verse marks Sanjaya's beginning of his detailed narration to the blind King Dhritarashtra about the actual situation on the battlefield. This verse is extremely significant because it reveals various aspects of Duryodhana's mental state and character.

Dhritarashtra was born blind. Unfortunately, he was also deprived of spiritual vision and understanding. He was blind not just physically, but spiritually as well. He lacked transcendental knowledge and was unable to distinguish between dharma (righteousness) and adharma (unrighteousness). This spiritual blindness of his had affected his children as well. He knew very well that in matters of dharma, his sons were also blind and ignorant like himself.

The Pandavas, on the other hand, were righteous from birth. They were truthful, just, and devoted to Lord Sri Krishna. In contrast, Duryodhana and his brothers were unrighteous, envious, and greedy. Dhritarashtra was certain that his sinful sons would not be able to make any compromise or peaceful settlement with the lifelong righteous Pandavas. Truth and falsehood, dharma and adharma can never truly be reconciled.

This is why Dhritarashtra was extremely anxious about the influence of that holy place called Kurukshetra, the field of dharma. He feared that the spiritual power of that sacred ground might influence his sons' minds and they might avoid war and agree to a peaceful solution with the Pandavas. However, Dhritarashtra's fear was unfounded because those who have walked the path of unrighteousness their entire lives have hearts so hardened that they cannot be transformed merely by being in a holy place for a moment.

Sanjaya understood Dhritarashtra's inner questions and anxieties. Therefore, to reassure the despondent and worried king, he began to respond. Sanjaya made it clear that even under the influence of the sacred dharma-kshetra, his sons had not made any compromise with the Pandavas. Rather, they were fully prepared for war, and their attitude was aggressive and hostile.

In this verse, Sanjaya describes that Duryodhana, after seeing the well-marshaled army of the Pandavas, immediately went to his commander-in-chief Dronacharya. The word "vyūḍham" here is extremely significant, meaning well-arranged, well-organized, and disciplined. The Pandava army was not only large in number but was also highly disciplined, well-organized, and strategically positioned. Seeing this, Duryodhana became inwardly fearful.

Although Duryodhana is addressed as "king," in that critical moment, he had to go to his commander for consultation. It is quite curious that the one who is the king, who should be at the center of all decisions, is himself running to his commander for advice. This proves that Duryodhana was a skilled politician and diplomat. He knew when, whom, and how to use people for his purposes.

But this verse reveals another important aspect. The deep fear and anxiety that arose in Duryodhana's mind upon seeing the Pandava army could not be completely concealed even by his diplomatic facade. His hurried approach to Dronacharya clearly reveals his inner fear and uncertainty.

Duryodhana's behavior teaches us an important lesson. Those who walk the path of injustice, who are followers of adharma, no matter how strong and confident they appear outwardly, are always fearful and uncertain within. This is because they know they are on the wrong path. In contrast, although the Pandavas were fewer in number and had suffered many hardships, they remained calm and confident because they knew that dharma and Lord Sri Krishna were on their side.

Dronacharya was a great warrior and military strategist. He was the teacher of both the Kauravas and Pandavas. However, due to his loyalty to Duryodhana and circumstances, he was fighting on the Kaurava side. Duryodhana knew that in this critical moment, he needed his teacher's advice and assurance. He went to his guru certainly to inform him about the situation and to discuss strategy.

This incident shows us that in moments of crisis, people naturally turn to experienced and knowledgeable persons for advice and refuge. However, if that advice and refuge lead one down the path of unrighteousness, then it is not real help but rather a path to destruction. Duryodhana went to Dronacharya for military strategy, not for spiritual or dharmic guidance. Herein lies the fundamental difference between him and Arjuna. Later, when Arjuna becomes overwhelmed with doubt, he will turn to Lord Sri Krishna for spiritual guidance, and from there will be born the Bhagavad Gita, humanity's greatest spiritual treasure.

Through this verse, we see that even before the war begins, the psychological battle has already started. On one side is Duryodhana's fear and anxiety, and on the other is the presence of Lord Sri Krishna on the Pandavas' side. Both these factors will play crucial roles in determining the outcome of the war.

Sanjaya's narration is making it clear to Dhritarashtra that his sons have not been influenced by the sanctity of the dharma-kshetra. They are still steadfast in their unrighteous purpose. This should have been a warning to Dhritarashtra, but his blind paternal affection and spiritual ignorance prevented him from realizing the truth.

This verse teaches us that external power and numbers do not determine everything. True strength comes from staying on the path of dharma and from the blessings of God. Duryodhana had greater numbers of soldiers, but the Pandavas had Lord Sri Krishna on their side, and that was the greatest power of all.

The scene being set here is not merely about a family dispute or territorial war. It represents the eternal struggle between righteousness and unrighteousness, between light and darkness, between divine consciousness and material attachment. The choices we make in such situations, the people we turn to for guidance, and the principles we stand for ultimately determine not just the outcome of external battles but the state of our own souls.

As we progress through the Gita, we will see how Arjuna, unlike Duryodhana, approaches his crisis with humility and genuine desire to understand dharma. While Duryodhana seeks military strategy to ensure victory through force, Arjuna will seek spiritual understanding to ensure he acts according to divine will. This fundamental difference in approach illustrates the two paths available to every human being: the path of ego-driven action or the path of surrender to higher wisdom.

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Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare।
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