BHAGAVAD GEETA – 3 : Swami Advayanandaji

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Chapter-1.

 Arjuna Vishadha yogam  (“Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency” )

Sri Veda Vyasaji

Discourse – 1 (47 Slokas)

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Wednesday,  10 May , 2023. 06:20.

Post - 3.    

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1.2 THE KAURAVAS DECLARE WAR :

(Slokas  3-13, 11 No.)

DURYODHANA IS ADDRESSING Dronacharya, his archery instructor or teacher.

One’s teacher deserves the highest respect. We may boast before the whole world but we 

cannot do so in front of our teacher. Let us see how Duryodhana fares in this matter.

THE PANDAVA FORCES :

Slokam - 3. - “Thy Wise Disciple” :

Duryodhana Uvaacha: Duryodhana said:

1 Pashya etaam Paandu putraanaam   =  Belonging to the sons of Pandu, behold this

2 aachaarya mahateem chamoom;   =  mighty army, O Acharya,

3 vyoodhaam drupada putrena   =  that is arrayed by the son of Drupada,

4 tava shishyena dheemataa.   =  (i.e. Drishtadyumna) your “wise” disciple!

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1-2 Instead of asking his Guru for his blessings and perhaps a final word of advice at 

the threshold of the war, Duryodhana launches at once to point out to him whom he is to 

fight against – the army arrayed by the Pandavas. What a man fears most, lies uppermost in 

his mind. Duryodhana starts by pointing out the opposition to his own Army-General. Fear 

of the opposition takes precedence over confidence in his own ranks.

3 The army formation of the Pandavas, arranged by the capable Drishtadyumna, is 

pointed out. An army formation is called a Vyudham. Drishtadyumna’s was an offensive, 

attacking formation, shaped like a piercing needle. Each Vyudham had a different name. A 

difficult formation called Chakra-Vyudham was very hard to come out of. Arjuna’s son, 

Abhimanyu, could enter it but could not come out of it. This led to his death when several 

Kaurava generals clubbed together and savagely attacked him when he was defenceless.

4 The teacher knows his pupil’s abilities. Drishtadyumna was Dronacharya’s student. 

Here we find Duryodhana telling the teacher about his own disciple’s strategy!

Instead of his words instilling bravery in the one addressed, Dronacharya considers

them as being sarcastic and insensitive, tantamount to an insult. A lack of confidence is

inspired in the Commander-in-Chief by these words. There is a tone of indignity in 

Duryodhana’s words. 

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Next
Slokam - 4.  The Pandava Army Generals – Nos. 2-6.
To be continued

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