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Chapter 1 · Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra · 46 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Questions & crisisChapter 1 · Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra
1.191.21

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 1.20

Arjuna asks to survey the armies

Karma · Action

अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः ।

प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः ।

हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते ॥ २० ॥

atha vyavasthitān dṛṣṭvā

dhārtarāṣṭrān kapi-dhvajaḥ

pravṛtte śastra-sampāte

dhanur udyamya pāṇḍavaḥ

hṛṣīkeśaṁ tadā vākyam

idam āha mahī-pate

Translation

At that time Arjuna, the son of Pāṇḍu, 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 Dhṛtarāṣṭra drawn in military array, Arjuna then spoke to Lord Kṛṣṇa these words.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Signs of Assured Victory

  1. 1

    Hanumān’s flag was a sign of victory because he had helped Lord Rāma defeat Rāvaṇa.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa is Rāma Himself, and wherever Rāma is, Hanumān and Sītā, the goddess of fortune, are present, so Arjuna had no reason to fear.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa personally guided Arjuna, His eternal devotee, and these favorable conditions showed that victory was assured.

Key points from the purport

Arjuna prepared to shoot arrows and after looking at the sons of Dhrtarashtara, spoke to Krishna

The purport of this verse describes all the auspicious conditions that were arranged by the Lord for His eternal devotee, which gives complete assurance of victory

PLEASE NOTE: Points of this purport (1.20) are covered above under Subsection B — Main theme ‘Signs of Victory of Pandavas’

Further reading

Introduction

Chapter 1, section I: Introduction
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. athathereupon
  2. vyavasthitānsituated
  3. dṛṣṭvālooking upon
  4. dhārtarāṣṭrānthe sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra
  5. kapi-dhvajaḥhe whose flag was marked with Hanumān
  6. pravṛttewhile about to engage
  7. śastra-sampātein releasing his arrows
  8. dhanuḥbow
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: saṁśaya, viṣāda.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 1.20 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to questions & crisis?

Practice

Write down the real question behind your current dilemma.

5

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 1 ›
6

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 1.21Arjuna asks to survey the armiesBG 1.22Arjuna asks to survey the armiesBG 2.7The moment Arjuna becomes a discipleBG 6.34The restless mind
Live this todayThe Soft Heart of a DevoteeA practice from BG 1.28, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
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  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 4 of 9 · 10 minChapters & storiesGo chapter by chapter, with the Mahābhārata stories that explain what is happening.Back · LearnPrabhupāda's Introduction