🪔 Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 1 – Meaning, Explanation & Life Lessons
The Bhagavad Gita begins with a powerful question from King Dhritarashtra, who was blind not only physically but also blinded by attachment to his sons. This verse sets the stage for the entire Gita, where the battle of Kurukshetra becomes both a real war and a symbol of the inner struggle between good and evil within every human being.
📖 Original Verse (Sanskrit & Transliteration)
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच ।
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः ।
मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥ १॥
Transliteration:
dhṛtarāṣhṭra uvācha
dharma-kṣhetre kuru-kṣhetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ
māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāśhchaiva kimakurvata sañjaya
🔍 Word-by-Word Meaning
- धृतराष्ट्र उवाच (Dhritarashtra Uvacha): Dhritarashtra said
- धर्मक्षेत्रे (Dharmakshetre): In the land of dharma (righteousness)
- कुरुक्षेत्रे (Kurukshetre): In Kurukshetra, the land of Kurus
- समवेताः (Samavetah): Gathered together
- युयुत्सवः (Yuyutsavah): Eager for battle
- मामकाः (Mamakah): My sons (the Kauravas)
- पाण्डवाः (Pandavah): The sons of Pandu (Pandavas)
- किम् अकुर्वत (Kim akurvata): What did they do?
- सञ्जय (Sanjaya): O Sanjaya
🌐 Translation
Dhritarashtra said:
“O Sanjaya, assembled in the holy land of Kurukshetra and eager for battle, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do?”
🧭 Detailed Explanation
- Historical Context:
Kurukshetra was a real battlefield in North India where the Pandavas and Kauravas faced each other. - Spiritual Significance:
It is also called Dharmakshetra (the land of righteousness), symbolizing that truth and justice ultimately prevail. - Psychological Angle:
Dhritarashtra already knew they gathered to fight, yet he anxiously asked what they did. This shows his inner fear of losing. - Symbolism of Blindness:
His blindness is not only physical but also spiritual—he fails to see the path of dharma. His attachment (“mamakah” – my sons) reveals ego and favoritism.
📜 Commentary
- Adi Shankaracharya: Stresses the word mamakah (my sons) as a sign of attachment and ignorance.
- Swami Prabhupada (ISKCON): Highlights the difference in Dhritarashtra’s vision – Pandavas are “others” while Kauravas are “mine.”
- Modern View: The verse reflects human tendency to divide life into “mine” vs. “others,” which leads to conflict.
🌱 Life Lessons from Gita 1.1
- Blind attachment clouds judgment.
- Dharma (righteousness) is stronger than adharma (unrighteousness).
- Every human faces an inner Kurukshetra – the struggle between duty and desire.
- True clarity comes only when we step out of “mine vs. others” mentality.
🏁 Conclusion
The Bhagavad Gita begins with a king’s question filled with fear and attachment. From here, the dialogue unfolds into the greatest spiritual teaching in history. This verse reminds us: before every battle in life, we must ask ourselves – are we fighting with ego, or with righteousness?
👉 Stay tuned for the next verse, where Sanjaya begins his narration of the battlefield scene.
