सञ्जय उवाच | दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा | आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ||1.2||
Sanjaya said: After seeing the Pandava army arranged in military formation, King Duryodhana, at that time, approached his teacher Dronacharya and spoke the following words.
Translation
Sanjaya narrated: On seeing the mighty Pandava army arrayed in a strategic military formation, King Duryodhana, feeling uneasy, approached his teacher, Dronacharya, and began to speak these words.
Word Meanings
sañjayaḥ uvāca — Sanjaya said dṛṣṭvā — after seeing tu — but pāṇḍava-anīkam — the army of the Pandavas vyūḍham — arranged in a military phalanx duryodhanaḥ — King Duryodhana tadā — at that time ācāryam — the teacher upasaṅgamya — approaching rājā — the king vacanam — words abravit — spoke
Understanding the Verse
In this verse, Sanjaya begins describing the scene on the battlefield. He mentions that after observing the Pandava army, which was skillfully arranged in military formation, Duryodhana, overwhelmed with anxiety, went to his guru Dronacharya for guidance. Sanjaya, aware of King Dhritarashtra’s blindness, tries to reassure him by describing the initial moments of the battlefield. Duryodhana’s approach to Dronacharya is symbolic. While it appears as an act of respect, it reveals his deep-seated fear and uncertainty about the outcome of the war. The sight of the well-prepared Pandava army forces Duryodhana to acknowledge that the battle will not be as easy as he initially thought. Despite his arrogance and desire to eliminate the Pandavas, Duryodhana's encounter with Dronacharya reveals his nervousness. His first action on the battlefield is not one of confident leadership, but of seeking reassurance from his trusted teacher. This moment hints at the internal conflict he faces, even as he outwardly maintains an air of superiority. The next verses (1.3 to 1.12) capture the dialogue between Duryodhana and Dronacharya, where the king expresses his concerns about the strength of the Pandava army.
