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== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

The great [[Mahabharata (महाभारत)|Mahabharata]] war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas took place on the holy plain of Kurukshetra. After the failure of Lord Krishna’s peace mission, when He Himself went to Hastinapura as the emissary of the Pandavas, there was no other alternative for the Pandavas but to engage in war for their rightful share of the kingdom.  

The great [[Mahabharata (महाभारतम्)|Mahabharata]] war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas took place on the holy plain of Kurukshetra. After the failure of Lord Krishna’s peace mission, when He Himself went to Hastinapura as the emissary of the Pandavas, there was no other alternative for the Pandavas but to engage in war for their rightful share of the kingdom.  

All the famous warriors from both sides had assembled on the battlefield. Lord Krishna arrived there in a magnificent chariot yoked by white horses. He was to act as the charioteer of Arjuna, one of the Pandava princes.

All the famous warriors from both sides had assembled on the battlefield. Lord Krishna arrived there in a magnificent chariot yoked by white horses. He was to act as the charioteer of Arjuna, one of the Pandava princes.

== अध्यायसारः ॥ Summary of the First Chapter ==

== अध्यायसारः ॥ Summary of the First Chapter ==

The 5th verse of Gitartha Samgraha (गीतार्थसङ्ग्रहः) by Yamunacharya (यामुनाचार्यः) summarises the chapter one of the Gita.<blockquote>अस्थानस्नेहकार्पण्यधर्माधर्मधियाऽऽकुलम् । पार्थं प्रपन्नमुद्दिश्य शास्त्रावतरणं कृतम् ॥ ५ ॥<ref>[http://www.acharya.org/sloka/alavandar/gsa-skt.pdf Sri Gitartha Samgraha]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>asthānasnehakārpaṇyadharmādharmadhiyā<nowiki>''</nowiki>kulam । pārthaṁ prapannamuddiśya śāstrāvataraṇaṁ kr̥tam ॥ 5 ॥ </blockquote>Meaning: Arjuna saw the dear relatives like Bhima, Acharyas (आचार्य-s | Masters) like Drona assembled opposite him to engage in battle with him.  Arjuna's love and daya (दया । compassion) for them overflowed although they had no fitness for that display of affection.  As a result, Arjuna concluded that the righteous war with them befitting his status as a Kshatriya was adharma (अधर्मः । unrighteous).  He was overcome with weakness.  He threw down his bow and arrows and sat down with dejection at the foot of his chariot. Next, Arjuna appealed to Lord, his charioteer, to show him the right way.  With smile on His face, Lord Parthasarathy (पार्थसारथी । Sri Krishna) commenced His upadesha (उपदेशः । teaching) for Arjuna on Jivatma svarupa (जीवात्मस्वरुपः । the real nature of the embodied soul), of the Paramatma (परमात्मा । Supreme Soul or God), the means to reach Paramatma and related esoteric meanings of Vedanta.  Lord's teaching was like nectar for Arjuna and easy to understand (Gita. Samg. verse 5).<ref>http://www.yogakshemam.net/English/Bharat'sPhilosophy/GitarthaSangraha.html#_Toc174119363</ref>

The 5th verse of Gitartha Samgraha (गीतार्थसङ्ग्रहः) by Yamunacharya (यामुनाचार्यः) summarises the chapter one of the Gita.<blockquote>अस्थानस्नेहकार्पण्यधर्माधर्मधियाऽऽकुलम् । पार्थं प्रपन्नमुद्दिश्य शास्त्रावतरणं कृतम् ॥ ५ ॥<ref>[http://www.acharya.org/sloka/alavandar/gsa-skt.pdf Sri Gitartha Samgraha]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>asthānasnehakārpaṇyadharmādharmadhiyā<nowiki>''</nowiki>kulam । pārthaṁ prapannamuddiśya śāstrāvataraṇaṁ kr̥tam ॥ 5 ॥ </blockquote>Meaning: Arjuna saw the dear relatives like Bhima, [[Acharya (आचार्यः)|Acharyas]] (आचार्य-s | Masters) like [[Dronacharya (द्रोणाचार्यः)|Drona]] assembled opposite him to engage in battle with him.  Arjuna's love and daya (दया । compassion) for them overflowed although they had no fitness for that display of affection.  As a result, Arjuna concluded that the righteous war with them befitting his status as a [[Kshatriya Dharma (क्षत्रियधर्मः)|Kshatriya]] was adharma (अधर्मः । unrighteous).  He was overcome with weakness.  He threw down his bow and arrows and sat down with dejection at the foot of his chariot. Next, Arjuna appealed to Lord, his charioteer, to show him the right way.  With smile on His face, Lord Parthasarathy (पार्थसारथी । Sri Krishna) commenced His upadesha (उपदेशः । teaching) for Arjuna on Jivatma svarupa (जीवात्मस्वरुपः । the real nature of the embodied being), of the Paramatma (परमात्मा । Supreme Being), the means to reach Paramatma and related esoteric meanings of [[Vedanta (वेदान्तः)|Vedanta]].  Lord's teaching was like nectar for Arjuna and easy to understand (Gita. Samg. verse 5).<ref>http://www.yogakshemam.net/English/Bharat'sPhilosophy/GitarthaSangraha.html#_Toc174119363</ref>

== गीतायाः पार्श्वभूमिः ॥ Background of the Gita ==

== गीतायाः पार्श्वभूमिः ॥ Background of the Gita ==

After the ten days of continued war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, when the great warrior Bhishma was thrown down from his chariot by Arjuna, Sanjaya announces the news to Dhrtarashtra. In agony the Raja asks Sanjaya to narrate the full details of the previous ten days war, from the very beginning, in all detail as it happened. And here commences the Bhagavad Gita.<ref>Swami Sivananda (2000), [https://holybooks-lichtenbergpress.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/BHAGAVAD-GITA-By-SRI-SWAMI-SIVANANDA.pdf Bhagavad Gita], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society, Introduction.</ref>

After the ten days of continued war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, when the great warrior Bhishma was thrown down from his chariot by Arjuna, Sanjaya announces the news to Dhrtarashtra. In agony the Raja asks Sanjaya to narrate the full details of the previous ten days war, from the very beginning, in all detail as it happened. And here commences the Bhagavad Gita.<ref>Swami Sivananda (2000), [https://holybooks-lichtenbergpress.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/BHAGAVAD-GITA-By-SRI-SWAMI-SIVANANDA.pdf Bhagavad Gita], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society, Introduction.</ref>

Here, Kurukshetra, the place of battle is referred to as Dharmakshetra. Sri Velukudi in his discourse, gives the etymology as follows:<blockquote>धर्मक्षयात् त्रायते इति धर्मक्षेत्रम् । dharmakṣayāt trāyate iti dharmakṣetram ।</blockquote>Meaning: That which saves Dharma from getting destroyed.

Here, Kurukshetra, the place of battle is referred to as Dharmakshetra. Sri Velukudi in his discourse, gives the etymology as follows:<blockquote>धर्मक्षयात् त्रायते इति धर्मक्षेत्रम् । dharmakṣayāt trāyate iti dharmakṣetram ।</blockquote>Meaning: That which saves [[Dharma (धर्मः)|Dharma]] from getting destroyed.

Also, the question posed by Dhrtarashtra here, 'what his sons and Pandavas who have gone to wage war , are doing ?' is vital. Though it seems like an oxymoron, it has to be understood that it was Dhrtarashtra's anxiety about Kauravas losing that made him raise this question. That is why Dhrtarashtra is considered blind not just by sight, but also ignorant to jnana (ज्ञानम् । knowledge). For, even though he knew that the Kauravas were at fault and were the sole reason for the war, he was blinded by the love for his sons.<ref name=":1" />

Also, the question posed by Dhrtarashtra here, 'what his sons and Pandavas who have gone to wage war, are doing ?' is vital. Though it seems like an oxymoron, it has to be understood that it was Dhrtarashtra's anxiety about Kauravas losing that made him raise this question. That is why Dhrtarashtra is considered blind not just by sight, but also ignorant to jnana (ज्ञानम् । knowledge). For, even though he knew that the Kauravas were at fault and were the sole reason for the war, he was blinded by the love for his sons.<ref name=":1" />

As a reply to the above shloka, Sanjaya begins to narrate the situation on the battle field and thus, begins the Bhagavad Gita. <blockquote>सञ्जय उवाच | दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा । आचार्यमुपसंगम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥१-२॥ </blockquote><blockquote>पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् । व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ॥१-३॥<ref name=":2" /></blockquote><blockquote>sañjaya uvāca | dr̥ṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṁ vyūḍhaṁ duryodhanastadā । ācāryamupasaṁgamya rājā vacanamabravīt ॥1-2॥</blockquote><blockquote>paśyaitāṁ pāṇḍuputrāṇāmācārya mahatīṁ camūm । vyūḍhāṁ drupadaputreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā ॥1-3॥</blockquote>Meaning: Sanjaya said, having seen the army of the Pandavas drawn up in battle array, Raja Duryodhana then approached his teacher (Drona) and spoke these words: "Behold, O Teacher, this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed by the son of Drupada (Dhrshtadyumna), thy wise disciple ! (Bhag. Gita 1.2 and 3).<ref name=":0" />

As a reply to the above shloka, Sanjaya begins to narrate the situation on the battle field and thus, begins the Bhagavad Gita. <blockquote>सञ्जय उवाच | दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा । आचार्यमुपसंगम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ॥१-२॥ </blockquote><blockquote>पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् । व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ॥१-३॥<ref name=":2" /></blockquote><blockquote>sañjaya uvāca | dr̥ṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṁ vyūḍhaṁ duryodhanastadā । ācāryamupasaṁgamya rājā vacanamabravīt ॥1-2॥</blockquote><blockquote>paśyaitāṁ pāṇḍuputrāṇāmācārya mahatīṁ camūm । vyūḍhāṁ drupadaputreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā ॥1-3॥</blockquote>Meaning: Sanjaya said, having seen the army of the Pandavas drawn up in battle array, Raja Duryodhana then approached his teacher (Drona) and spoke these words: "Behold, O Teacher, this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed by the son of Drupada (Dhrshtadyumna), thy wise disciple ! (Bhag. Gita 1.2 and 3).<ref name=":0" />