Bhagavad-gita Verse 1.4 to 1.11 Show of Strength

Like a typical ignorant material being, Duryodhana assessed his military strength vis-à-vis the enemy strength. He pointed out to Dronacarya the names of heroic fighters in the defending military force as stumbling blocks on the path of victory. He then triggered the names of exceptional heroes like Bhismadeva and Karna in the battle who were qualified to lead his military force (in case his brahmana commander-in-chief faltered).

Duryodhana thought that the might of his armed forces was immeasurable, being specifically protected by the most experienced general, Grandfather Bhisma. On the other hand, the forces of the Pandavas were limited, being protected by a less experienced general, Bhima. He used diplomatic ways with his grandfather as well since he clearly felt that the victory of the Kurus depended on the presence of Bhismadeva.

He was also confident of his victory on account of the combined strength of all his friends. They were all determined to lay down their lives for Duryodhana’s sake. Indirectly, it was already concluded that all of them under Kauravas would die in the Battle of Kuruksetra for joining the party of the sinful Duryodhana.

Duryodhana did not know that defeat and death does not depend on military strength or bodily strength. When death will come, nobody can check. Death is God’s act. When Lord Krishna desires that "This man should be killed now," or "He must die now," nobody can check. If Lord Krishna desires to kill somebody, nobody can give him protection, no power can save him. And if He wants to save somebody, nobody can kill him. This is Lord Krishna's protection. This realization that only Lord Krishna decides and saves is the beginning of surrender.

The great teacher, Dronacarya

Dronacarya, son of Bharadwaja muni was born in a vessel called drona. During his childhood days, he was classmate of Drupada, the prince of Panchala and later father of Draupadi, who was Arjuna’s wife. Out of friendship, Drupada had promised to share half his wealth with Dronacarya. Later however King Drupada refused to accept his old friend as worthy of his wealth. Dronacarya then prepared to teach his friend a lesson. He learnt the art of warfare from Lord Parasurama, married to the sister of Kripacarya, the royal teacher of Hastinapur and got himself appointed as teacher of military art of the Pandavas and Kauravas. After his teachings got over, he sent his student, Arjuna to defeat King Drupada in battle.

King Drupada wanted to take revenge of this humiliation and performed a great sacrifice, by which he received the benediction of having a son (Dhrstadyumna) who would be able to kill Dronacarya. Dronacarya knew this perfectly well, and yet as a liberal brahmana he did not hesitate to impart all his military secrets when Dhrstadyumna was entrusted to him for military education. Now, on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, Dhrstadyumna took the side of the Pandavas and arranged their military phalanx, after having learnt the art from Dronacarya.

Bhagavad-gita Verse 1.2 to 1.3 Show of Diplomacy

On being inquired, Sanjaya informed Dhrtarastra that the king’s son, Duryodhana, after seeing the soldiers of the Pandavas arranged in a military phalanx, at once went to the commander-in-chief, Dronacarya, to inform him of the seriousness of the real position. Dronacarya was a brahmana and was appointed the commander-in-chief of the king’s army during the battle of Kuruksetra. He was a great master of military education for both the Pandavas and the sons of Dhrtarastra. Out of compulsion towards his sponsors, he had to fight his dear pupils.

Duryodhana could not disguise the surprise and fear he felt when he saw the military arrangement of the Pandavas. At the same time he behaved like a diplomat and politician. He pointed out the defects of his own teacher, because of which the Pandavas could build such a mighty defense. Dronacarya’s own student, Dhrstadyumna took the side of the Pandavas and arranged their military phalanx, after having learnt the art from his teacher. Duryodhana wanted Dronacarya to be alert and uncompromising in the fighting although he was facing his students in the battlefield. He should not be lenient against the affectionate Pandavas including the brilliant Arjuna.

Compiled in 18 chapters, Bhagavad-gita is part of the great epic Mahabharata where we find demoniac characters like Duryodhana deriding scriptural injunctions. Such persons have no respect for their elders and teachers. Compared to their actions, those of self-righteous persons like Arjuna make us understand the real teachings of Lord Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita. Diplomacy is deplorable not only in social life but also for spiritual progress. Trust and Faith are the beginning of the path to attain the eternal service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Facts about Dhrtarastra from Mahabharata

Dhrtarastra was born blind to Ambika, first wife of Vichitravirya, ruler of Hastinapura. He was in fact fathered by Vyasadeva after the demise of Vichitravirya. He was looked after by Bhismadeva along with his younger brothers, Pandu and Vidura.

As per tradition, Dhrtarastra being the oldest child was nominated new king of Hastinapura. However Vidura objected since a king who could not take care of himself could not rule the nation properly. Dhrtarastra’s disability prevented him from ascending the throne. Therefore Dhrtarastra gave up the throne and Pandu became the acceptable ruler of Hastinapura. The elders of Kuru dynasty like Bhismadeva, Satyavati, and family priest, Krpacarya accepted Pandu to be the new king. Dhrtarastra was however upset due to this injustice. Later however he got back his kingdom when Pandu retired to the forests.

Dhrtarastra was married to Gandhari. Pandu was married to Kunti and Madri. Pandu got five children, three from Kunti and two from Madri. Pandu's eldest son, Yudhisthira was born before Gandari could deliver her child. This upset Dhrtarastra and Gandhari since Pandu's son would be the next successor. In a fit of anger, Gandhari smashed her womb and the embryo of the new-born split into one-hundred fragments. Each fragment become a child. Hence, Gandhari gave birth to one hundred children. The oldest child was named Duryodhana. At the birth of the first son, Dhrtarastra was advised by Vidura and Bhismadeva to abandon the child due to bad omens surrounding him, but Dhrtarastra's love stopped him. The king was lenient towards his sons even when they were ill-treating the sons of Pandu. Dhratarastra wanted his own son to be heir to the throne and supported the plans to eliminate the Pandavas.

Dhrtarashtra was full of affection towards his sons and harboured ill-feelings towards his brother's sons before the war of Kuruksetra. He was however fearful of Lord Krishna's presence among the Pandavas and showed anxiety at the outcome of the battle.

Bhagavad-gita Verse 1.1 and 1.2

In the first verse of Bhagavad-gita, Dhrtarastra, king of Hastinapur (erstwhile Delhi) inquired from his faithful servant Sanjaya what his sons and his younger brother Pandu’s sons were doing in the Battlefield of Kurukshetra. Sanjaya was a student of Vyasadeva, by whose mercy he was able to experience within his heart the events in the battlefield.

Both the Pandavas and the sons of Dhrtarastra belong to the same family. Dhrtarastra was the eldest son, but he was blind. Therefore he was not awarded the throne. His next brother, Pandu was offered the throne, but he died very early. Pandu’s five sons were very small children, so they were taken care of by Dhrtarastra and other family elders. However there was conspiracy being weaved. Dhrtarastra desired his own sons to inherit the throne and deliberately instigated a politics of discrimination to remove the Pandavas.

Dhrtarastra was overly affectionate towards his family. In the material life, one thinks that he is able to protect his family members from death; or he thinks that his family or society can save him from the verge of death. Such attachment is noticed even among animals. Such mentality leads to politics, jealousy, diplomacy, enviousness. An envious person is not only jealous but also inflicts harm on others for selfish purpose.

Although the cousins were assembled for war, the king was doubtful about the possibility of his sons’ ultimate victory. He feared that the influence of the holy place of Kurukshetra as well as the presence of Lord Sri Krishna in the side of the Pandavas could be adverse for his sons. Dhrtarastra’s narrow-mindedness led to the war and now his irreligiousness and spiritual blindness was showing in his thoughts and words.

The ultimate goal of Bhagavad-gita is to establish the path of religion or dharma. Rendering of service is the eternal religion of living beings. Ignorance of this nature leads to irreligious mentality causing temporary pleasures and sufferings. Knowledge enables us to attain our constitutional position and hence peace. Dharma helps us to know that the ultimate position is to engage in the devotional service of Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is as per the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna Himself.

Bhagavad-gita spoken in place of worship, Kurukshetra

Lord Shiva speaks to Mother Parvati in Gita-mahatmya of Padma Purana - One who drinks the water of the Ganges attains salvation, so what to speak of one who drinks the nectar of Bhagavad-gita? Bhagavad-gita is the essential nectar of the Mahabharata, and it is spoken by Lord Krishna himself.

Because Bhagavad-gita is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one need not read any other Vedic literature. One need only attentively and regularly hear and read Bhagavad-gita. In the present age, people are so absorbed in mundane activities that it is not possible for them to read all the Vedic literatures, but this is not necessary. This one book, Bhagavad-gita, will suffice, because it is the essence of all Vedic literatures and especially because it is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Gitopanishad or Bhagavad-gita, the essence of all the Upanishads, is just like a cow, and Lord Krishna, who is famous as a cowherd boy, is milking this cow. Arjuna is just like a calf, and learned scholars and pure devotees are to drink the nectarean milk of Bhagavad-gita.

Verse 1 of Bhagavad-gita starts with a description of the spot dharma-ksetre kuruksetre where the divine words were spoken. In the Vedas there is an injunction, kuru-ksetre dharmam acaret: "If you want to perform some ritualistic ceremonies, religious, then go to Kuruksetra." So Kuruksetra is a dharma-ksetra, a place of worship – even for the denizens of heaven. The word dharma-ksetra (a place where religious rituals are performed) is significant because, on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead was present on the side of Arjuna.

Obeisances to Lotus Feet of Bhagavad Gita

Chaturmasya is a period of four months during rainy season in India. During this period there is a tradition of austerity to enhance one’s God consciousness. It is an ideal occasion to commence a gitagyan forum. "Gitapada" begins with obeisances to the Lotus Feet of Bhagavad Gita.

Bhagavad-gita (BG) is also known as gitopanishad. It is the essence of Vedic knowledge and one of the most important Upanishad in Vedic literature. The speaker of Bhagavad-gita is Lord Sri Krshna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan. All great acaryas who were authorities of Vedic knowledge, the Lord Himself and scriptures like Brahma-samhita, Srimad-Bhagavatam establish the Truth of Lord Sri Krishna. We should take Bhagavad-gita As It Is directed by the Personality of Godhead Himself.

The topics discussed by Dhratarastra and Sanjaya, as described in the Mahabharata form the basic principle for this great philosophy. It is understood that this philosophy evolved on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, which is a sacred place of pilgrimage from the immemorial time of the Vedic age. It was spoken by Lord Krishna when He was present personally on this planet for the guidance of mankind.

Bhagavad-gita is the widely read perfect theistic science summarized in the Gita-mahatmya (Glorification of the Gita by Lord Shiva to Mother Parvati in Padma Purana). It is the perfect theistic science because it is directly spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna. Gita-mahatmya says that one should read Bhagavad-gita very scrutinizingly with the help of a person who is a devotee of Lord Sri Krishna and try to understand it without personally motivated interpretations. The teaching has to be understood as it was understood by Arjuna, who heard the Gita directly from the Lord.

Extracts: Bhagavad Gita As It Is by HDG Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada, founder acarya of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)