Chapter 1 – Arjuna Vishadha Yoga (Yoga of Arjuna's grief)

The Mahabharata is considered as the fifth Veda. Chapters 25 to 42 of the Bhishma Parva of Mahabharata constitute the Bhagavad-Gita. The Bhagavad Gita contains 18 chapters and 700 verses.

Of these, the first six chapters deal with “tvam” (you), chapters 7-12 deal with “tat” (that), chapters 13-18 deal with “asi “(are). The mahavaakyam in Chandogya Upanishad “tat tvam asi means “You are That” (Sri Krishna is telling “Hey Arjuna, you are not the body or the mind or the intellect but you are the Atman, the Self”).

The dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna occurred in the battlefield. The question arises, “Why the battlefield?”

Sri Krishna wants us to know that the equanimity of mind should be obtained in the normal day-to-day activities (battlefield) of life. The fact that the Rishi’s lived in the quiet forests and meditated and reached the Lord is one way of attaining liberation (Moksha). It is the dharma of sannyasins (those who have renounced the world). But as per Lord Krishna, the dharma of Grihasthas (house holders) like you and me, is to live right where we are, fulfill our obligatory duties and work (do our job) without expecting results (karma phala). This is the reason why Lord Krishna advised Arjuna to fight the righteous battle that came to him without asking for it. Arjuna is a trained, mighty warrior and his job is to fight his enemies, whoever they may be. His job is not to put away his bow and arrow and run to the Himalayas to meditate. If Arjuna had done that, he would have been kicking himself “why did I not kill that evil Duryodhana and the Kaurava forces when I had the chance? ”. His mind would have been restless and agitated since he did not fulfill his Kshatriya dharma of killing his enemies. His mind would not have been available for sadhanas (spiritual practices) like meditation.

Dhritarashtra said, “what did my people and also the sons of Pandu do when, desirous of fighting, they assembled together on the holy plain of Kurukshetra, O Sanjaya?”

This Shloka is significant since this is the only verse that the blind king spoke in Gita. All the other 700 verses are Sanjaya’s reporting.

One may wonder who recorded the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna and how was Sanjaya able to see and hear from a distance to give “running commentary” to the blind king Dhritarashtra?

It is said that Sage Vyasa was endowed with intuitive vision and space was no barrier between him and Lord Krishna. Also, Sanjaya was temporarily bestowed with this intuitive knowledge by the sage. While Arjuna was the direct recipient of the nectar of Gita, Vyasa and Sanjaya got access to it from different places. Vyasa went on recording it and Sanjaya kept narrating it to Dhritarashtra.

Sanjaya describes how Duryodhana tells Drona that their army should protect Bhishma, the grand sire. Then Bhishma blew his conch. Hrishikesha (Krishna), blew his conch named Panchajanya. Arjuna and the Pandavas also blew theirs and the sound was so tremendous that the heaven and earth reverberated.

Arjuna said “In the midst of the two armies, place my chariot, O Acyuta, that I may behold those who stand here desirous of fighting and, on the eve of this battle, let me know with whom I must fight.”

Sri Krishna did. Then, after seeing his relatives and teacher Dronacharya and his grand uncle Bhishma on the other side, Arjuna got “cold feet”. He started reasoning as to why he should not fight.

Sanjaya said, “Having reasoned thus, overwhelmed with sorrow in the battlefield,, Arjuna sat down on the seat of his chariot and put down his bow and arrow .”

Sri Krishna patiently listened to Arjuna like a good counsellor would and never said anything. He wanted Arjuna to empty his mind before advising. Lord Krishna. Without speaking, is giving us the upadesham that, it is important to listen entirely before giving advice when sought.

Why did Arjuna respond dejectedly? The day before the war started, Dhritarashtra sent Sanjaya, to tell him in hidden message, discouraging words. This caused doubts in Arjuna’s mind at the time he saw his enemies. So, the second lesson, I get from chapter one is, associating with good people (satsang) and good thoughts are essential for us to achieve our goal (the opposite happened here).