Arjuna’s Inner Struggle - 01 - 01

The Shloka

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धृतराष्ट्र उवाच।

धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः ।

मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥

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Dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca ।

Dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ ।

Māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāścaiva kimakurvata Sañjaya ॥

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Meaning / Summary

This inaugural verse sets the entire context for the Bhagavad Gita. Dhritarashtra’s question immediately reveals his anxiety, his attachment to his own sons (‘māmakāḥ’), and his implicit doubt about the righteousness of the war. The mention of ‘Dharmakṣetra Kurukṣetra’ (the field of righteousness, Kurukshetra) is profoundly significant, establishing the spiritual and ethical dimensions of the impending conflict. It suggests that the battlefield is not merely a physical space but a crucible where fundamental principles of dharma will be tested. The blind king’s initial query, delivered through Sanjaya, plunges the listener directly into the midst of the momentous struggle, foreshadowing the great philosophical dialogue that is about to unfold.

Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, assembled on the holy field of Kurukshetra, eager to fight, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do?

The first verse of the Bhagavad Gita opens with the blind King Dhritarashtra asking his charioteer, Sanjaya, about the events at Kurukshetra. He inquires what his sons (the Kauravas) and the sons of Pandu (the Pandavas) did after gathering on the sacred battlefield, poised for war.

The opening verse of the Bhagavad Gita immediately establishes the scene and the primary interrogator. King Dhritarashtra, the blind monarch, unable to witness the unfolding events of the Mahabharata war, addresses his charioteer and insightful advisor, Sanjaya. Sanjaya has been granted divine vision by the sage Vyasa, enabling him to perceive and narrate the entire conflict from a distance to the king. Dhritarashtra’s question is poignant and loaded: he wants to know what transpired when ‘my sons’ (māmakāḥ) – the Kauravas – and ‘the sons of Pandu’ (pāṇḍavāḥ) – the Pandavas – assembled on the hallowed ground of Kurukshetra. The location itself, ‘Dharmakṣetre Kurukṣetre,’ is crucial. ‘Kurukṣetra’ is the historical battlefield, but its designation as ‘Dharmakṣetra,’ the field of righteousness or duty, elevates the impending battle beyond a mere territorial dispute to a moral and spiritual struggle. Dhritarashtra’s specific inquiry about ‘my sons and the sons of Pandu,’ rather than simply ‘the two armies,’ underscores his deep-seated partiality and anxiety. He views the conflict not as a clash between rightful heirs and usurpers, but as a struggle between ‘my’ people and ‘their’ people, revealing his attachment and his moral compromise. The phrase ‘yuyutsavaḥ’ (eager to fight) emphasizes that both sides were fully prepared and determined for battle. The king’s question, ‘kimakurvata’ (what did they do?), reflects his desperate curiosity and perhaps a lingering, faint hope that despite all preparations, the war might have been averted or that some unexpected turn of events might have occurred at the last moment. This sets the stage for Sanjaya’s detailed narration, which will lead to Arjuna’s despondency and Lord Krishna’s divine discourse.

Sentence - 1

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धृतराष्ट्र उवाच।

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Meaning

Dhritarashtra said:

Meaning of Words

धृतराष्ट्र	Dhṛtarāṣṭra
The blind king of Hastinapura and the father of the Kauravas. He was born blind, which made his younger brother Pandu the king. After Pandu’s demise, Dhritarashtra ruled, but his strong attachment to his own sons (the Kauravas) often overshadowed his sense of justice and fairness towards his nephews (the Pandavas). His physical blindness is often seen as a metaphor for his moral and spiritual blindness regarding dharma (righteousness).
उवाच	uvāca	said

Sentence - 2

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धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः ।

मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥

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Meaning

O Sanjaya, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do when they assembled together, eager to fight, on the holy field of Kurukshetra?

Meaning of Words

धर्मक्षेत्रे	dharmakṣetre
on the field of dharma/righteousness Composed of ‘dharma’ (righteousness, duty, moral law, cosmic order, spiritual merit) and ‘kṣetre’ (in the field, in the place). Thus, it refers to a place considered sacred or where principles of righteousness are tested and upheld. The battlefield of Kurukshetra is thus elevated to a spiritual arena.
कुरुक्षेत्रे	kurukṣetre
on Kurukshetra A specific plain in present-day Haryana, India, which is revered as a holy place due to its association with many Vedic rituals and battles. It is the traditional and historical battleground for the Mahabharata war. The mention alongside ‘dharmakṣetre’ emphasizes both its sacred and historical significance.
समवेताः	samavetāḥ	assembled
युयुत्सवः	yuyutsavaḥ
desiring to fight, eager for battle Those who are desirous of fighting; eager to engage in battle. This word describes the mental state of both armies gathered for war.
मामकाः	māmakāḥ
my sons, my people Literally ‘mine’ or ‘belonging to me’. Dhritarashtra uses this term to refer specifically to his own hundred sons, the Kauravas, clearly distinguishing them from the Pandavas and highlighting his possessive attachment and partiality.
पाण्डवाः	pāṇḍavāḥ
the sons of Pandu The five sons of King Pandu (Dhritarashtra’s younger brother): Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva. They are the principal protagonists of the Mahabharata, known for their righteousness and valor.
च	ca	and
एव	eva	indeed, certainly
किम्	kim	what
अकुर्वत	akurvata
did they do? This verb implies a question about their actions or what transpired. Dhritarashtra is asking for an update on what happened once both armies were gathered and ready to fight.
सञ्जय	Sañjaya
O Sanjaya The charioteer and confidential advisor to King Dhritarashtra. He was granted divine vision by Vyasa, the compiler of the Mahabharata, allowing him to perceive and narrate the entire Kurukshetra war’s events to the blind king, acting as the primary narrator of the Bhagavad Gita.

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