- Why Sanjaya described Duryodhana’s actions first – Because
⇒ Dhrtarashtra was blind from birth, bereft of spiritual vision & he knew that his sons were equally blind in the matter of religion
⇒ And Dhrtarashtra was afraid that under the influence of the place of pilgrimage, his sons may make some compromise - Study names of warriors on both sides (1.4 – 1.9)
- Duryodhana compared Bhisma (more experienced general) to Bhima (less experienced general) (1.10)
⇒ Because Duryodhana knew if he should die at all he would be killed by Bhima and was therefore always envious of Bhima
⇒ Bhima is like a fig in the presence of Bhisma - What made Duryodhana confident of victory (1.7–1.11)
⇒ Above mentioned strength of his friends (1.7–1.9)
⇒ Presence of Bhisma, a far superior General than Bhima – He clearly felt that victory of Kurus dependent on the presence of Bhismadeva (1.11)
⇒ Confident of full support of Bhisma and Drona as they had shown during Draupadi’s insulting episode (1.11 purport)
Progress Chapter 1
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- 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.