Having fulfilled Arjuna’s request to place the chariot between the armies, Lord Krishna now speaks. The twenty-fifth verse, known as the Bhishma Drona Pramukhatah verse, is where the divine charioteer becomes the divine teacher. With a few simple words, He directs Arjuna’s attention with surgical precision to the exact source of his impending emotional and moral collapse. The Bhishma Drona Pramukhatah verse is where the warrior’s inspection becomes a seeker’s crisis.
Sanskrit Verse
भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् ।
उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति ॥ २५ ॥Transliteration
bhīṣmadroṇapramukhataḥ sarveṣāṁ ca mahīkṣitām |
uvāca pārtha paśyaitānsamavetānkurūniti || 25 ||Word for Word Translation
bhīṣma – Grandsire Bhishma; droṇa – Drona; pramukhataḥ – in front of; sarveṣām – of all; ca – also; mahīkṣitām – chiefs of the world; uvāca – said; pārtha – O son of Pritha; paśya – just behold; etān – all of them; samavetān – assembled; kurūn – the members of the Kuru dynasty; iti – thus.
English Translation
In the presence of Bhishma, Drona, and all the other chieftains of the world, Hrishikesha, the Lord, said: Just behold, Partha, all the Kurus assembled here.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
The Bhishma Drona Pramukhatah verse is a masterclass in divine psychology. Krishna’s actions and words are deliberately chosen to force Arjuna to confront the personal reality of the war.
- The Placement: He doesn’t just stop anywhere. He stops directly in front of “Bhishma Drona pramukhatah”—the two people Arjuna loves and respects the most on the opposing side. His grandsire Bhishma, who raised him, and his teacher Drona, who taught him everything he knows about warfare.
- The Words: Krishna doesn’t say, “Behold your enemies.” He says, “Behold the assembled Kurus.” He uses the family name, deliberately reminding Arjuna that these are not abstract opponents; this is a civil war, a conflict within their own dynasty.
- The Name for Arjuna: Krishna calls him “Partha,” son of Pritha (Kunti). This name connects him directly to his family identity at the exact moment he is forced to see his family as the enemy. It is a subtle but powerful reminder of the bonds he is about to sever.
The Bhishma Drona Pramukhatah verse is not a simple statement. It is a carefully crafted moment of truth. Krishna has given Arjuna exactly what he asked for—a clear view of his opponents—but He has framed it in the most emotionally devastating way possible.
Conclusion
The Bhishma Drona Pramukhatah verse teaches us that true understanding often requires confronting uncomfortable truths head-on. As the supreme spiritual guide, Krishna knows that Arjuna cannot begin his journey toward higher wisdom until his materialistic, warrior identity is completely shattered. He facilitates this by forcing Arjuna to see the true personal cost of the war.
This verse is a powerful metaphor for the moments in our own lives when a teacher, a friend, or even life itself forces us to look at the “Bhishmas and Dronas” in our own conflicts—the parts of the problem we love, respect, and don’t want to face. The Bhishma Drona Pramukhatah verse shows that spiritual growth doesn’t begin by avoiding the problem, but by driving our chariot right into the middle of it and seeing it for what it truly is.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 – Verse 26 – Tatrapashyat Sthitan Parthah
