In Bhagavad Gita 1.2, Sanjaya begins his report: seeing the Pandava army drawn up for battle, King Duryodhana goes to his teacher Drona to speak with him.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच · Sanjaya said
दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं
व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा
आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य
राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ १-२ ॥
dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṃ
vyūḍhaṃ duryodhanastadā
ācāryamupasaṅgamya
rājā vacanamabravīt
English transliteration drishtvaa tu paandavaaneekam
vyoodham duryodhanastadaa
aachaaryamupasangamya
raajaa vachanamabraveet ॥ 1.2 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Sanjaya said: Seeing the army of the Pandavas drawn up in battle formation, King Duryodhana approached his teacher Drona and spoke these words.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| दृष्ट्वा dṛṣṭvā | having seen |
| तु tu | but, then |
| पाण्डवानीकम् pāṇḍavānīkam | the army of the Pāṇḍavas pāṇḍava (sons of Pāṇḍu) + anīkam (army) |
| व्यूढम् vyūḍham | arrayed in battle formation |
| दुर्योधनः duryodhanaḥ | Duryodhana |
| तदा tadā | then |
| आचार्यम् ācāryam | the teacher (Droṇa) |
| उपसङ्गम्य upasaṅgamya | approaching |
| राजा rājā | the king |
| वचनम् vacanam | words |
| अब्रवीत् abravīt | spoke |
Word-wise Chanting
- dṛṣ–ṭvā tu pāṇ–ḍa–vā–nī–kaṃ 8 syllables drish-tvaa tu paan-da-vaa-nee-kam
- vyū–ḍhaṃ dur–yo–dha–nas–ta–dā | 8 syllables vyoo-dham dur-yo-dha-nas-ta-daa
- ā–cār–ya–mu–pa–saṅ–gam–ya 8 syllables aa-chaar-ya-mu-pa-san-gam-ya
- rā–jā va–ca–na–mab–ra–vīt || 1-2 8 syllables raa-jaa va-cha-na-mab-ra-veet
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 1 Verse 2
Context
Dhritarashtra has asked what his sons and the Pandavas did on the field of dharma (1.1). Sanjaya, granted divine sight by the sage Vyasa, now describes the scene, beginning with Duryodhana.
Meaning
Sanjaya’s first image is revealing. Before any word is spoken, Duryodhana sees the opposing army and moves toward his teacher. He does not go to Bhishma, the commander of his forces, but to Drona, the man who trained both sides in the art of war. The movement already shows unease: a confident leader would not need reassurance before the battle had even begun.
Read inwardly, Duryodhana stands for the restless, grasping part of the mind that looks at life as a contest to be won. When it feels threatened it seeks allies and arguments rather than clarity. The Gita opens by letting us watch this mind at work, so that we may recognise it in ourselves before the real teaching begins.
In Practice
When you feel threatened by a situation, notice whether your first move is toward support for your position or toward a clearer understanding of the situation itself.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga (The Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.