With the stage set by the blind king’s anxious question, the narrative now transports us to the battlefield itself. The second verse, known as the Drishtva Tu Pandavanikam verse, is the first report from the royal minister, Sanjaya. He immediately focuses on the catalyst for the entire opening dialogue: King Duryodhana’s reaction to seeing the disciplined enemy. The Drishtva Tu Pandavanikam verse shows us that the first blow of the war was psychological.
Sanskrit Verse
सञ्जय उवाच
दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा ।
आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ २ ॥Transliteration
sañjaya uvāca
dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṁ vyūḍhaṁ duryodhanastadā |
ācāryamupasaṅgamya rājā vacanamabravīt || 2 ||Word for Word Translation
sañjayaḥ uvāca – Sanjaya said; dṛṣṭvā – after seeing; tu – but; pāṇḍava-anīkam – the army of the Pandavas; vyūḍham – arranged in a military phalanx; duryodhanaḥ – King Duryodhana; tadā – at that time; ācāryam – the teacher; upasaṅgamya – approaching; rājā – the king; vacanam – words; abravīt – spoke.
English Translation
Sanjaya said: O King, after looking over the army of the Pandavas, arranged in military formation, King Duryodhana at that time went to his teacher and spoke the following words.
Explanation
Each Bhagavad Gita verse whispers ancient truths, let’s listen closely with Vedic Stories…
The Drishtva Tu Pandavanikam verse is incredibly revealing. Sanjaya, blessed with the ability to see the battle from afar, doesn’t just report facts; he reports the emotional undercurrent. The key to the verse is the word “vyūḍham”—the Pandava army wasn’t just a crowd; it was arranged in a strategic military formation, a Vyuha. This sight of discipline, purpose, and brilliant strategy is what unnerves Duryodhana.
What is his reaction? A confident king might have addressed his own commanders or shouted a war cry. But Duryodhana, the king, does something very telling: he goes to his “Acharya,” his teacher, Dronacharya. This action shows a complex mix of emotions:
- Fear: He is shaken and seeks the reassurance of a respected elder.
- Respect: He still honors Drona as his teacher, the master of military science.
- Manipulation: As we will see, he approaches Drona not just for comfort, but to stir his teacher’s emotions and ensure his absolute loyalty in the fight to come.
The Drishtva Tu Pandavanikam verse, therefore, exposes the first crack in Duryodhana’s arrogant facade. The sight of the Pandavas’ quiet competence is more terrifying to him than any loud boast would have been.
Conclusion
The Drishtva Tu Pandavanikam verse teaches a timeless lesson about strength. True strength doesn’t always roar; often, it is displayed in quiet discipline and perfect preparation. Duryodhana, who leads a larger army, is immediately intimidated by the smaller army’s superior order and purpose. His confidence, built on numbers and power, proves to be fragile.
This verse is a powerful reminder that in our own lives, the most formidable challenges often come from those who are calm, prepared, and unified in their purpose. It shows that the first battle is always one of perception. Before any physical action, Duryodhana has already lost a round in the psychological war, a fact he desperately tries to hide in the words he is about to speak.
Read Next: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 – Verse 3 – Pashyaitam Pandu Putranam
