The Bhagavad Gita does not begin with the clash of swords or the roar of armies, but with a quiet, tense moment in a palace far from the battlefield. The very first verse, known as the Dhritarashtra Uvacha verse, is a question posed by a blind king to his minister. This simple question, however, is weighed down by a lifetime of bias, attachment, and fear, setting the stage for the profound spiritual drama that is about to unfold.
Sanskrit Verse
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः ।
मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥ १ ॥Transliteration
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca
dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ |
māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāścaiva kimakurvata sañjaya || 1 ||Word for Word Translation
dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ uvāca – King Dhritarashtra said; dharma-kṣetre – in the place of pilgrimage; kuru-kṣetre – in the place named Kurukshetra; samavetāḥ – assembled; yuyutsavaḥ – desiring to fight; māmakāḥ – my party (sons); pāṇḍavāḥ – the sons of Pandu; ca – and; eva – certainly; kim – what; akurvata – did they do; sañjaya – O Sanjaya.
English Translation
Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, after my sons and the sons of Pandu assembled in the place of pilgrimage at Kurukshetra, desiring to fight, what did they do?
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
The Dhritarashtra Uvacha verse is a masterclass in revealing character through language. King Dhritarashtra is not just physically blind; he is spiritually blind, clouded by his intense love for his own wicked sons. His question reveals his inner turmoil.
- Dharmakshetre Kurukshetre: He refers to the battlefield not just as Kurukshetra but first as “Dharmakshetra,” the field of Dharma or righteousness. This reveals his deepest fear. He knows the Pandavas are righteous, and he is terrified that the holy influence of the land itself might favor them or cause his sons to have a change of heart.
- Māmakāḥ Pāṇḍavāścaiva: This is the most telling phrase. He asks, “What did my sons and the sons of Pandu do?” He doesn’t say “our children” or “the Kauravas and the Pandavas.” He immediately draws a line of possession and separation. The Pandavas are his nephews, but his attachment blinds him to any familial bond, seeing them only as the opposition to “his” side.
The question “What did they do?” is laced with anxiety. Despite knowing they gathered to fight, his heart hopes for a different outcome, one that would secure the kingdom for his sons without a battle he fears they will lose. The Dhritarashtra Uvacha verse is the question of a man who knows the answer but is terrified to hear it.
Conclusion
The Dhritarashtra Uvacha verse teaches us that every conflict begins with a perspective, and often, a biased one. Dhritarashtra’s attachment to “my” people and his fear of “the others” is the root cause of the entire war. His question is not an inquiry for facts, but a plea for a desired outcome, born from a heart blinded by attachment.
This first verse asks us to look at our own lives. In our own conflicts, how often do we ask questions where we are not seeking the truth, but seeking reassurance for our own biased position? The Gita begins by showing us that the most significant battles are often lost or won in the heart long before the first arrow is fired. The Dhritarashtra Uvacha verse is a timeless warning about the danger of spiritual blindness.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 – Verse 2 – Drishtva Tu Pandavanikam
