Chapter 1-Text 1
Please read the first text of chapter one along with the purport in your copy of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, and then read the following. Afterwards, each participant should offer a thought or comment on this passage. As you do so, please consider these study questions:
- What is the significance of the battleground at Kuruksetra?
- What is the real meaning behind Dhrtarastra’s blindness?
- Is Dhrtarastra aware of the presence of Krsna, and does he know how the battle will end?
dhrtarastra uvaca
dharma-ksetre kuru-ksetre
samaveta yuyutsavah
mamakah pandavas caiva
kim akurvata sanjaya
In this opening text, the blind king, Dhrtarastra, asks his secretary Sanjaya to describe the scene below. As one learns through the Mahabharata, the sons of Kuru and the sons of Pandu are assembled to fight at Kuruksetra.
Kuruksetra had been a place of pilgrimage and worship throughout the Vedic age, and so Dhrtarastra is very concerned about the battle taking place on holy ground. In addition, Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of the Godhead, was present on that site, serving as Arjuna’s chariot driver.
Dhrtarastra clearly delineates between the sons of Kuru and the sons of Pandu, even though they are of one family. The sons of Kuru are Dhrtarastra’s, while the sons of Pandu are “the other”. This division is a foreshadowing of the Truth to be revealed. Just as a split has occurred within the family of Dhrtarastra, a split has also occurred universally.
In the Satya-yuga, there was no sense of ego or self as distinct from the divine, but upon entering the Tretya-yuga, ego was born, and humans began distinguishing themselves as separate from God. The Truth is One; however, as materialistic creatures we see divisions and dualities all over. Dhrtarastra sees division where it should not exist. His blindness, therefore, is metaphorical as well as physical.
Dhrtarastra draws this distinction and wants his sons to be victorious over “the enemy”, but he understands the significance of Kuruksetra and the presence of Sri Krsna, and so he has doubts and fears about his sons abilities to pull off the victory despite their superior warrior skills. This is why he asks Sanjaya to report to him concerning what is happening on the battlefield. Dhrtarastra wants to know about the arrangement of battle, but he also wants to know about the moral battleground. Sanjaya will begin his report in the next text. In preparation, please look at texts 2-11.
Replies to This Discussion
- What is the significance of the battleground at Kuruksetra?
- What is the real meaning behind Dhrtarastra’s blindness?
- Is Dhrtarastra aware of the presence of Krsna, and does he know how the battle will end?
1. A holy place has special spiritual power and protection especially for the devotee who takes shelter there. Arjuna is favored by the holy dhama. We are also favored by the dhama as it acts like a fortress against the maya of asat-sanga, maya (that which is not), the illusory energy that seeks to distract us from Krsna, and His mercy incarnate the sadhu-guru Vaisnava.
2. The old man dhrtarastra is not only physically blind but more importantly spiritually blind. he can not see the right course of action and this takes bad advice from Duryodana and company.
3.Yes, deep down he must know that Arjuna and Krsna are especially favored as divine persons whereas his own sons show all the signs of possessing demonic nature.
- How to enjoy with Krsna in the eternal internal pleasure-giving potency (hladini-sakti or svarupa-sakti). We need to be reinstated or reverted back to our rightful constitutional position as Krsna's loving servants instead of our conditional position as servants of maya, the Lord's illusory potency. Maya is always there for the rebellious soul who wishes to enjoy separately from Krsna or who iwants to be Krsna's competitor. One who has unlawfully taken Krsna's postion as the Supreme Enjoyer, Controller and Well-wishing Friend of all living entities has the maya's hangman's noose around his neck.
Tamohara dasa, Bh.S. commented on Arnold Smith's group Bhagavad-Gita Study Group
"Gita is just all about how to enjoy."How to enjoy with Krsna in the eternal internal pleasure-giving potency (hladini-sakti or svarupa-sakti). We need to be reinstated or reverted back to our rightful constitutional position as Krsna's loving servants instead of our conditional position as servants of maya, the Lord's illusory potency. Maya is always there for the rebellious soul who wishes to enjoy separately from Krsna or who iwants to be Krsna's competitor. One who has unlawfully taken Krsna's postion as the Supreme Enjoyer, Controller and Well-wishing Friend of all living entities has the maya's hangman's noose around his neck.
Drtarastra"s blindness is not just physical, but spiritual. He fears the effects of holy ground on the non-spiritual. Deep down he probably knows how it all will play out, but tries to convince himself otherwise. This is how we operate as humans on a day-to-day basis in Kali-yuga, fooling ourselves of positive outcomes, when only negative is possible.
1. Since it is the field of dharma, Dhrtarastra is afraid that there may actually be a settlement of the dispute, which he doesn't want. Srila Prabhupada explains elsewhere that even in recent times, people who had such problems would go to the temple, and often the party in the wrong would be compelled to admit his mistake by the holy location.
2. The blindness is sort of related to what Srila Prabhupada sometimes called "skin disease" the idea that I and my "own men" have to be protected from others...part of ahankara or false ego by extension, so he wants Duryodhana and his own to triumph even over their other close relatives...he's too much in the bodily concept of life.
3. Even so, because of all the factors like the presence of Krsna and the locale, he seems to be aware that there is no chance of this victory...later the conch shells of Krsna and Arjuna are said to strike fear in their hearts, but not the opposite...Arjuna had Hanuman on his flag and the husband of the goddess of fortune driving for him, so how could he possibly lose?
Marvellous synchronicity , doing several things at one time; these are frequently seen in the Lord's pastimes.
That such an epic battle filled with liberation should take place is wonderful, and being perfect, therefore a perfect locale is also there; a holy place of sacrifice. Many sacrificed their lives there in a holy struggle of emancipation and justice. Everyhwere is holy on account of God being present there, but this place has long been specialized for religious functions and meetings as a holy place. Lord Krsna re-met his Father Vasudeva and His Father Nanada and family joined them, so it is a cynosure of pastimes.
Still, our own Kuruksetras may be here, there, anywhere, but by acting accoerding to His will;, we will be at a pure place of sacrifice like Kuruksetra in due course.
Wonderful replies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! obeisances to the assembled Vaisnavas!
Haha! Sri Vrndavana das had to reply to my statement that Gita is all about how to enjoy! Well done, and your reply reflects my insinuation.
Mother Parvati is succinct and to the point as always!
Trini; scholastic right on reply! Jaya!!
This class is proving to be very pleasing!!!!
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