Bg 1: Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra
Saturday, May 17, 2008 by Hare Krsna
BG 1.20: At that time Arjuna, the son of Pāndu, seated in the chariot bearing the flag marked with Hanumān, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows. O King, after looking at the sons of Dhrtarāstra drawn in military array, Arjuna then spoke to Lord Krsna these words.
atha vyavasthitān drstvā
dhārtarāstrān kapi-dhvajah
pravrtte śastra-sampāte
dhanur udyamya pāndavah
hrsīkeśam tadā vākyam
idam āha mahī-pate
SYNONYMS
atha — thereupon; vyavasthitān — situated; drstvā — looking upon; dhārtarāstrān — the sons of Dhrtarāstra; kapi-dhvajah — he whose flag was marked with Hanumān; pravrtte — while about to engage; śastra-sampāte — in releasing his arrows; dhanuh — bow; udyamya — taking up; pāndavah — the son of Pāndu (Arjuna); hrsīkeśam — unto Lord Krsna; tadā — at that time; vākyam — words; idam — these; āha — said; mahī-pate — O King.
TRANSLATION
At that time Arjuna, the son of Pāndu, seated in the chariot bearing the flag marked with Hanumān, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows. O King, after looking at the sons of Dhrtarāstra drawn in military array, Arjuna then spoke to Lord Krsna these words.
PURPORT
The battle was just about to begin. It is understood from the above statement that the sons of Dhrtarāstra were more or less disheartened by the unexpected arrangement of military force by the Pāndavas, who were guided by the direct instructions of Lord Krsna on the battlefield. The emblem of Hanumān on the flag of Arjuna is another sign of victory because Hanumān cooperated with Lord Rāma in the battle between Rāma and Rāvana, and Lord Rāma emerged victorious. Now both Rāma and Hanumān were present on the chariot of Arjuna to help him. Lord Krsna is Rāma Himself, and wherever Lord Rāma is, His eternal servitor Hanumān and His eternal consort Sītā, the goddess of fortune, are present. Therefore, Arjuna had no cause to fear any enemies whatsoever. And above all, the Lord of the senses, Lord Krsna, was personally present to give him direction. Thus, all good counsel was available to Arjuna in the matter of executing the battle. In such auspicious conditions, arranged by the Lord for His eternal devotee, lay the signs of assured victory.
atha vyavasthitān drstvā
dhārtarāstrān kapi-dhvajah
pravrtte śastra-sampāte
dhanur udyamya pāndavah
hrsīkeśam tadā vākyam
idam āha mahī-pate
SYNONYMS
atha — thereupon; vyavasthitān — situated; drstvā — looking upon; dhārtarāstrān — the sons of Dhrtarāstra; kapi-dhvajah — he whose flag was marked with Hanumān; pravrtte — while about to engage; śastra-sampāte — in releasing his arrows; dhanuh — bow; udyamya — taking up; pāndavah — the son of Pāndu (Arjuna); hrsīkeśam — unto Lord Krsna; tadā — at that time; vākyam — words; idam — these; āha — said; mahī-pate — O King.
TRANSLATION
At that time Arjuna, the son of Pāndu, seated in the chariot bearing the flag marked with Hanumān, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows. O King, after looking at the sons of Dhrtarāstra drawn in military array, Arjuna then spoke to Lord Krsna these words.
PURPORT
