Chapter 1 – Arjuna’s Despondency
Verse 1
Dharmkshetre, Kurukshetre, samvetaH, yuyutsavH,
MamkaH, PandavaH, ch, ev, kim’, akurvat, Sanjay ||1||
Dhritarashtra said—O Sanjay! In the holy land of Kurukshetra, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do, having assembled there with the desire to fight?
This verse reflects Dhritarashtra’s inner worry, doubt, and anxiety—both as a king and as a father. He understands that this battle is not merely about power, but a war between dharma (righteousness) and adharma (unrighteousness). By referring to Kurukshetra as Dharmakshetra, the “field of righteousness,” he indirectly acknowledges that this land favors dharma — and that very thought makes him uneasy, because his sons are inclined toward adharma.
His question to Sanjay is not just about the events on the battlefield — it reveals an inner fear and turmoil:
“Will the Pandavas, standing on the side of righteousness, overpower my sons on this holy ground?”
“Will this sacred land transform my sons, or will they remain stuck in their arrogance?”
This verse is not just the beginning of a war — it reveals how human beings get caught in attachment, selfishness, and ignorance. Dhritarashtra is not merely a character; he symbolizes every person who knows what is right but turns away from it due to personal attachment and ego.
