Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 1 · Arjuna Vishada Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 1.1 धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः
श्लोक 1.1
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच ।
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः ।
मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ॥
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca |
dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ |
māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāścaiva kimakurvata sañjaya ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
धृतराष्ट्र ने कहा: हे संजय, धर्मभूमि कुरुक्षेत्र में युद्ध की इच्छा से इकट्ठे हुए मेरे पुत्रों और पाण्डु के पुत्रों ने क्या किया?
Meaning in English
Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjaya, on the sacred field of Kurukshetra, the field of dharma, my sons and the sons of Pandu gathered together, eager to fight. What did they do?
Bhagavad Gita 1.1 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| धृतराष्ट्रः उवाच | dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ uvāca | Dhritarashtra said |
| धर्मक्षेत्रे | dharmakṣetre | on the field of dharma |
| कुरुक्षेत्रे | kurukṣetre | at Kurukshetra |
| समवेताः | samavetāḥ | gathered together |
| युयुत्सवः | yuyutsavaḥ | eager to fight |
| मामकाः | māmakāḥ | my sons, my side |
| पाण्डवाः | pāṇḍavāḥ | the sons of Pandu |
| च एव | ca eva | and also |
| किम् | kim | what |
| अकुर्वत | akurvata | did they do |
| सञ्जय | sañjaya | O Sanjaya |
Explanation
The Gita opens with the blind king Dhritarashtra asking his charioteer Sanjaya — who has been granted divine sight by Vyasa — what happened when his sons and the sons of Pandu gathered at Kurukshetra, eager for battle. It is the only verse Dhritarashtra speaks in the Gita; everything after it is Sanjaya's report of the dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna.
Commentators point to two words. Kurukshetra is called "dharmakṣetra", a field of dharma — a sacred place. And the king separates "my sons" (māmakāḥ) from "the sons of Pandu", revealing the partiality that lies behind the war. Many also read the verse inwardly: our own mind is a field where right and wrong tendencies meet.
भावार्थ
धृतराष्ट्र संजय से पूछते हैं कि धर्मभूमि कुरुक्षेत्र में युद्ध की इच्छा से इकट्ठे हुए मेरे पुत्रों और पाण्डु के पुत्रों ने क्या किया। "मेरे" और "पाण्डु के" कहकर वे अपने मन का पक्षपात प्रकट कर देते हैं — यही भेदभाव युद्ध की जड़ है।
Living it today
Notice where you divide people into "mine" and "theirs". The Gita begins by showing how that single habit of mind leads to conflict.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 1.1?
The Gita opens with the blind king Dhritarashtra asking his charioteer Sanjaya — who has been granted divine sight by Vyasa — what happened when his sons and the sons of Pandu gathered at Kurukshetra, eager for battle. It is the only verse Dhritarashtra speaks in the Gita; everything after it is Sanjaya's report of the dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 1.1?
Dhritarashtra speaks this verse, in Chapter 1 (Arjuna Vishada Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 1.1 in daily life?
Notice where you divide people into "mine" and "theirs". The Gita begins by showing how that single habit of mind leads to conflict.
Reflected on verse 1.1?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.