Preparations for war (1.1-1.11)
Text 1.1
THEME: Dhrtarashtra inquires from Sanjaya- “After my sons and the sons of Pandu assembled in the place of pilgrimage (Dharma-ksetra) at Kuruksetra, desiring to fight, what did they do?”
Learnings from Purport 1.1
- Bhagavad-gita is the perfect theistic science – because the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally spoke it
- How to study Bhagavad-gita – (Srila Prabhupada quotes this based on Gita-mahatmaya):
» Scrutinizingly
» With the help of devotees of Sri Krishna
» Without personally motivated interpretations
» In the line of disciplic succession - Example of clear understanding of Bhagavad-gita – It is given in the Gita itself, in the way the teaching is understood by Arjuna, who heard the Gita directly from the Lord
- Benefits of such study – one surpasses all studies of Vedic wisdom and all scriptures of the world
- Specific standard of Bhagavad-gita – It contains all that is contained in other scriptures, but also that which is not to be found elsewhere
- Dhrtarashtra inquiry partial to his own sons – Dhrtarashtra refers to only his sons as ‘Kurus’ which shows his
specific position in relation to his nephews, the Pandavas. - Dhrtarashtra inquiry uses the specific words ‘Dharma-kshetra’ and ‘Kuru-kshetra’ – Their importance is as
follows:
» Kuru-kshetra is a sacred place of pilgrimage from immemorial time of the Vedic age
» Kuru-kshetra is a holy place and a place of worship even for heavenly denizens
» The Supreme Personality of Godhead is personally present on the Pandavas side
» Pandavas are virtuous – therefore the holy place may influence them
» Dhrtarashtra is fearful about the holy influences on the fate of the battle because:
(i) It may influence his own sons to compromise, or
(ii) He hoped that under the holy influence, the Pandavas may renounce their claim, to avoid bloodshed
» Analogy: Paddy field (Kshetra) – unnecessary weeds taken out, similarly in religious ‘field’ of Kuru-kshetra in the presence of the ‘father of religion’ Sri Krishna, unwanted plants like Dhrtarashtra and his son Duryodhana and others would be wiped out