धृतराष्ट्र उवाच धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः। मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय।।1.1।।
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca dharma-kṣetre kuru-kṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva kim akurvata sañjaya
Translation
Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, after assembling on the sacred land of Kurukshetra, with the desire to fight, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do?
Word Meanings
dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ uvāca — King Dhritarashtra said dharma-kṣetre — In the land of righteousness (Kurukshetra) kuru-kṣetre — In the holy land of Kurukshetra samavetāḥ — Assembled together yuyutsavaḥ — Desiring to fight māmakāḥ — My sons (Kauravas) pāṇḍavāḥ — The sons of Pandu ca — And eva — Certainly kim — What akurvata — Did they do sañjaya — O Sanjaya (the charioteer and advisor)
Understanding the Verse
In this opening verse of the Bhagavad Gita, King Dhritarashtra inquires of his charioteer and advisor, Sanjaya, about the actions of both the Kauravas (his sons) and the Pandavas (the sons of his brother, Pandu) who have gathered for battle on the holy battlefield of Kurukshetra. Although the armies were prepared for war, Dhritarashtra’s question indicates his inner turmoil and uncertainty. Being blind, he could not see what was happening on the battlefield, but he still asked Sanjaya about the actions of his sons and the Pandavas, knowing that a battle was inevitable. Dhritarashtra’s question is significant because it reveals his inner conflict. His conscience is troubled by the injustice he did to the Pandavas by usurping their rightful throne. The mention of “dharma-kshetra” (the field of righteousness) in the shloka reflects Dhritarashtra’s concern about the sanctity of Kurukshetra. He feared that the holiness of the land might influence the minds of his sons, urging them to reconsider the war and possibly seek peace instead. However, his desire for victory, as well as his fondness for his sons, led him to ask what was transpiring in the battle, trying to understand the outcomes of this confrontation. Kurukshetra was historically known as a sacred land where great sacrifices and righteous actions were performed, which further amplifies Dhritarashtra’s dilemma. As he asks Sanjaya what his sons and the Pandavas were doing, it reveals his deep concern for the morality of the war and the uncertain consequences it would bring.
