Gita : Ch-1. Slo-23.

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita :


Chapter-1. ( Arjuna-vishadha-yogam ) 


Slokam-23. (   Let me see those who have come here to fight, wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhrtarashtra. )




yotsyamananaveksheham    ya    etetra     samagatah,


dhartarashtrasya    durbuddheh     yuddhe    priyacikirshavah.



yotsyamanan   =   those who will be fighting; 

aham    avekshe   =   let me see   them; 

ye   =   who; 

ete   =   those; 

atra   =   here; 

samagatah   =   assembled; 

dhartarashtrasya    =    the son of Dhrtarashtra; 

durbuddheh   =   evil-minded; 

yuddhe   =   in the fight; 

priya   =   well; 

cikirshavah   =   wishing.




It was an open secret that Duryodhana wanted to usurp the kingdom of the Pandavas by evil plans, in collaboration with his father, Dhrtarashtra. Therefore, all persons who had joined the side of Duryodhana must have been birds of the same feather. Arjuna wanted to see them in the battlefield before the fight was begun, just to learn who they were, but he had no intention of proposing peace negotiations with them. It was also a fact that he wanted to see them to make an estimate of the strength which he had to face, although he was quite confident of victory because Krishna was sitting by his side.


So Arjuna is saying to Lord Krishna let me scrutinise those friends of mine who have chosen to join the ranks of the Kauravas for satisfying the evil minded Duryodhana instead of opposing him for eradicating his evil mindedness which denotes he does not even know how to protect his own life. This request is reasonable in order to view my opponents.


It could be asked of Arjuna, doesn't he already know the worth of his opponents on the battlefield? Certainly Arjuna is fully cognizant of the worthiness of Bhishma and Drona as case in point as well as so many others. But in this verse this objection would be clarified by Arjuna's reply that he wishes to see all those who are favouring the evil minded Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarastra. 


But what was it Arjuna desired to see? He desired to see those of the opposing army gathered there desirous of doing what was agreeable to Duryodhana, this is the construction.

To be continued ....