Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 8: Meaning and Special Explanation

Sloka (Verse):

भवान् भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः ।
अश्वत्थामा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ॥८॥

Bhavān bhīṣmaś ca karṇaś ca kṛpaś ca samitiñjayaḥ ।
Aśvatthāmā vikarṇaś ca saumadattis tathaiva ca ॥8॥

Word-by-Word Meaning:

bhavān — yourself
bhīṣmaḥ — Bhishma
ca — and
karṇaḥ — Karna
ca — and
kṛpaḥ — Kripacharya
ca — and
samitiñjayaḥ — always victorious in battle
aśvatthāmā — Ashvatthama
vikarṇaḥ — Vikarna
ca — and
saumadattiḥ — Saumadatti
tathā — as well as
eva — certainly
ca — and

Translation:

Here are you, Bhishma, Karna, Kripacharya—who are eternally victorious in battle; Ashwatthama, Vikarna, and Saumadatti—all of them are extraordinary valiant warriors.

Purport

Duryodhana is listing the extraordinary warriors on his side to encourage his commander-in-chief, Dronacharya. In this verse, he first addresses Dronacharya respectfully as "bhavān" (yourself), acknowledging him as his teacher and the greatest archer among them.

He then mentions Bhishma, the son of King Shantanu and the grandsire of the Kuru dynasty. Bhishma was unparalleled in strength, experience, and loyalty. His firm vow of celibacy and self-sacrifice made him a legendary figure. Throughout his life, he remained devoted to the throne of Hastinapura, even when it meant fighting against those he loved.

Karna was the half-brother of Arjuna, born to Kunti before her marriage to King Pandu. While Kunti was still unmarried, she received a blessing from the sun god Surya, resulting in Karna's birth. Fearing social disgrace, Kunti abandoned the child, and he was raised by a charioteer. Despite his royal blood, Karna grew up without royal privilege. He became a formidable archer and Duryodhana's closest friend. His valor and generosity were exceptional, but unfortunately, he aligned himself with the wrong side due to his loyalty to Duryodhana and the humiliation he faced from the Pandavas.

Kripacharya was the royal preceptor of the Kuru dynasty. He was highly learned, righteous, and skilled in the art of warfare. His twin sister Kripi was married to Dronacharya. Kripacharya was known for his patience, calmness, and unwavering sense of duty. He survived the war and continued to guide future generations.

Ashvatthama was the son of Dronacharya. He learned all the weapons and warfare techniques from his father and was an extremely powerful warrior. He possessed a partial divine manifestation of Lord Shiva. Ashvatthama was ruthless and fearsome in battle. His anger and quest for revenge after his father's death led him to commit terrible acts, ultimately bringing a curse upon himself.

Vikarna was one of Duryodhana's brothers and a son of Dhritarashtra. Among the Kauravas, he stood out for his righteousness and sense of justice. He was the only one in the assembly who openly opposed the humiliation of Draupadi, stating that the act was unjust and against dharma. Despite his moral stance, he remained loyal to his family and fought on the side of the Kauravas, which shows the conflict between personal duty and universal righteousness.

Saumadatti, also known as Bhurishrava, was the son of King Somadatta of the Bahlika kingdom. He was a great maharathi and highly skilled in combat. He was loyal to the Kuru dynasty and symbolized honor and integrity in battle.

By mentioning all these great warriors, Duryodhana was trying to display the strength of his army. However, there is a profound spiritual lesson here. No matter how powerful the warriors on Duryodhana's side were, victory was impossible without righteousness and the blessings of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. The Kauravas had many great warriors, but they stood on the side of adharma (unrighteousness).

The Bhagavad Gita teaches us that external power, wealth, or talent, no matter how abundant, leads to destruction if used for unrighteous purposes. On the other hand, the Pandavas had dharma on their side, and above all, they had the direct presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna. That is why victory was theirs.

This verse reminds us that no matter how powerful, talented, or resourceful we may be, if we deviate from the path of dharma and act against the will of the Lord, our downfall is inevitable. True victory comes only when we take shelter of the Lord and remain steadfast on the path of righteousness.

In this way, Lord Sri Krishna teaches us that all the talents, power, and resources in life become truly meaningful only when we engage them in the service of the Supreme Lord and remain unwavering on the path of dharma. Material strength without divine grace is like a tree without roots—it may appear grand for a time, but eventually, it will fall.

The Kauravas had great warriors, vast armies, and material superiority. Yet they lacked the most essential element: the Lord's blessings and adherence to truth. The Pandavas, though fewer in number and resources, had unshakable faith in Krishna and commitment to righteousness. This verse, therefore, is not just a list of warriors but a reminder of a timeless truth: where there is dharma and devotion to the Lord, there is victory, prosperity, and happiness.

We must remember in our own lives that success is not measured merely by worldly achievements or strengths, but by how aligned our actions are with divine will and righteousness. When we surrender to Lord Krishna and act in accordance with His teachings, we become instruments of His divine plan, and true success naturally follows.

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Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare।
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare॥