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.