Chapter-1 Bhagavad Gita
An Overview
1. In verse 1.1,The importance of Kurukṣetra has been described.
a. Kurukṣetra has been described as -Sacred place of pilgrimage -
Also referred as dharma-kṣetra because on the Battlefield
of Kurukṣetra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead was
present on the side of Arjuna
b. The doubt of Dhṛtarāṣṭra has been described about the
possibility of his sons' ultimate victory. So, he asked his
secretary about the situation of battlefield. He was fearful about
the effect of the holy place on the battle.
2. In verse 1.2 to 1.3, Duryodhana’s Fear and diplomatic attitude has
been described. He went to commander in chief, Droṇācārya to inform
him of the real position i.e. military arrangement of Pāṇḍavas. In 1.3,
he pointed out the mistakes of Droṇācārya as follows:
· Droṇācārya had some political quarrel with King Drupada. As a
result of this quarrel, Drupada performed a great sacrifice, by
which he received the benediction of having a son
(Dhṛṣṭadyumna) who would be able to kill Droṇācārya.
Droṇācārya knew this perfectly well and yet he did not hesitate
to impart all his military secrets to Dhṛṣṭadyumna when he
came to him for military education.
· Now, on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra, Dhṛṣṭadyumna took the
side of the Pāṇḍavas, and it was he who arranged for their
military phalanx, after having learned the art from Droṇācārya
3. In verse 1.4 to 1.6, Duryodhana spoke to Droṇācārya about the
powerful warriors/ fighters of Pāṇḍavas.
4. In verse 1.7 to 1.11, Duyodhana spoke about the powerful warriors of
his side. In verse 1.10 and 1.11, he specifically pointed out the prowess
of Grandfather Bhīṣma (general of his force i.e. one who protects). He
compared the Bhīṣma with the general of Pāṇḍavas i.e. Bhīma. At last
he told to all military to support the general from all
sides. Duryodhana clearly felt that the victory of the Kurus depended
on the presence of Bhīṣmadeva
5. In verse 1.12, Bhīṣma blew his counchshell and in verse 1.14,
Lord Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna blew their respective counchshells. From verse
1.15 to 1.18, It has been described that all powerful warriors of
Pāṇḍavas blew their respective counchshells. In verse 1.19, the fear of
Duryodhana generated from the sounds of counchshells of Pāṇḍavas
has been described. The sound shattered the hearts of the sons
of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
6. From 1.20 onwards, the confusions of Arjuna has bene shown. Arjuna
spoke to Lord Kṛṣṇa about his confusions and at last in verse 1.46, the
last verse, he cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the
chariot, his mind overwhelmed with grief. From 1.20 to 1.23, he told
Lord to take him between the two armies so that I may see those
present here and intended to fight. He wanted to see all those who
have come to fight, wishing to please the evil-minded Duryodhana. In
1.24 to 1.25, Lord Krsna bring him between the two armies and let him
see all kurus who assembled to fight.
7. From 1.26 to 1.46, after seeing armies of both sides he became
overwhelmed with compassion.
8. In verse 1.28 to 1.30, he described the his compassion in following
words:
a. In 1.28 he said that his limbs of his body quivering and his mouth
drying up after seeing the fighting spirits of relatives and well
wishers standing on the other side.
b. In 1.29, he said that his whole body is trembling, his hair is
standing on end, his bow Gāṇḍīva is slipping from his hand, and
his skin is burning
c. In 1.30, he said that he is now unable to stand here any longer.
He was forgetting himself, and his mind is reeling.
9. From 1.30 onwards he described his confusions to Lord Krsna as
follows:
a. he see only causes of misfortune (1.30)
b. He could not see any good come out from killing his own
Kinsmen. (1.31)
c. He didn’t desire – Victory, Kingdom and Happiness (1.31)
d. Arjuna fears that all his relatives and friends will be killed on the
battlefield and he will be unable to share his opulence after
victory. (1.32-35)
e. Arjuna did not want to kill his relatives, and if there were
any need to kill them, he desired that Kṛṣṇa kill them
personally. (1.32-35)
f. He was not prepared to fight with them even in exchange for
the three worlds- Victory, Kingdom and Happiness. (1.32-35)
g. In 1.36, he thinks that he will not be happy after killing his own
kinsmen.
h. Sin will overcome if he kills such aggressors. Since
Duryodhana was an aggressor as described in Vedic Injunctions
but as per Dharma Sastra (in which killing of relatives and friends
has been restricted), which is superior than Niti Sastra (in which
killing of aggressors has been approved), Arjuna thinks that
killing of such aggressors who are also his relatives would attract
sin. (1.36)
i. He was thinking that though Duryodhana and others of his side
have became blind in greed (Lalach), why should he
engage in the act of sinful acts. He thinks that he is not blind
he can think after taking in to account all sastras and scriptures.
(1.37)
j. On the death of the elder members (present in the Duryodhana’s
Army, family religious traditions of purification may stop, and the
remaining younger family members may develop
irreligious habits and thereby lose their chance for spiritual
salvation. (1.39)
k. When irreligion is prominent in the family the women of the
family become polluted (1.40)
l. With degradation of women comes unwanted
progeny (children). (1.40)
m. An increase of unwanted population certainly causes hellish
life both for the family and for those who destroy the
family tradition. (1.41)
n. The performances for offering food and water to
forefathers/ ancestors of such corrupt families are
entirely stopped therefore those forefathers falls down from
heavens. (Verse 1.41)
o. By the evil deeds of those who destroy the family tradition and
thus give rise to unwanted children, all kinds of community
projects and family welfare activities are stopped. (verse
1.42)
p. He was tought from his disciplic succession that those who
destroy family traditions dwell always in hell. (verse 1.43)
q. He was very sad thinking that he and his army was preparing
to commit sinful acts to enjoy royal happiness/ kingdom by
killing their own kinsmen.(verse 1.44).
r. At last he tells that even if he is attacked by the enemy in
unarmed and unwilling position, he would not fight.