Bhagvad Gita- Sloka 1 , Chapter -1

Sanskrit: धृतराष्ट्र उवाच | धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः | मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ||

Transliteration:

dhṛtarāṣhṭra uvācha (Dhritarashtra said)

dharmakṣhetre kuru-kṣhetre  (holy land of Kurukshetra  ) samavetā (assembled ) yuyutsavaḥ(fighting spirit)

māmakāḥ (my sons)  pāṇḍavāśhchaiva (the sons of Pandu)  kimakurvata Sanjaya (what did they do, O Sanjaya)

 

Translation:

Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, assembled in the holy land of Kurukshetra and desiring battle, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do?

 

Now, let's delve into the deeper meaning and context of this verse:

 

Setting the Scene: The verse begins with "Dhritarashtra uvācha," which means "Dhritarashtra said." Dhritarashtra was the blind king and the father of the Kauravas, who were the adversaries of the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War. The dialogue is between Dhritarashtra and his charioteer, Sanjaya.

 

The Holy Battlefield: The term "dharmakṣhetre kuru-kṣhetre" means the "holy land of Kurukshetra." Kurukshetra was an ancient city in present-day Haryana, India, and it became the battleground where the great war of the Mahabharata was fought. The significance of referring to it as a "dharmakṣhetre" lies in the fact that it was not just a physical battlefield but also a place of moral and ethical dilemmas. The battle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas symbolizes the struggle between righteousness (dharma) and unrighteousness (adharma).

 

The Assembled Warriors: "Samavetā yuyutsavaḥ" indicates that the warriors present on the battlefield were eager and prepared to engage in the battle. They were enthusiastic and ready to fight for their respective sides.

 

Curiosity of Dhritarashtra: Dhritarashtra expresses his curiosity and c

oncern about what is happening on the battlefield. Being blind, he cannot witness the events himself, so he asks Sanjaya, his trusted advisor, to narrate the unfolding events to him.

 

The Two Parties: "Māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāśhchaiva" refers to "my sons" (the Kauravas) and "the sons of Pandu" (the Pandavas). Dhritarashtra is particularly interested in the actions of his own sons and the sons of his late brother, Pandu, who are the Pandavas.

 

Sanjaya as the Narrator: The verse ends with "kimakurvata sanjaya," which means "what did they do, O Sanjaya?" Dhritarashtra is eager to hear the detailed account of the unfolding events, and Sanjaya serves as the narrator throughout the epic, recounting the events of the Kurukshetra War to the blind king.

 

Conclusion: The conversation between Dhritarashtra and Sanjaya is symbolic of the internal conflict that every individual faces in their conscience. It represents the struggle between righteousness and attachment, duty, and emotions!!