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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 1.25
भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् ।
उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरुनिति ॥ २५ ॥
bhīṣma-droṇa-pramukhataḥ
sarveṣāṁ ca mahī-kṣitām
uvāca pārtha paśyaitān
samavetān kurūn iti
In the presence of Bhīṣma, Droṇa and all the other chieftains of the world, the Lord said, “Just behold, Pārtha, all the Kurus assembled here.”
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
Before Bhīṣma, Droṇa and the other chieftains, Kṛṣṇa told Arjuna to behold all the assembled Kurus.
As the Supersoul, Kṛṣṇa knew Arjuna’s thoughts, and the name Hṛṣīkeśa shows that He knew everything.
Kṛṣṇa’s words were friendly joking that anticipated Arjuna’s thoughts; He did not expect His aunt’s son to refuse to fight.
Lord places the chariot in front of Bhisma, Drona etc.
Lord as Hrsikesa — Lord knows Arjuna’s mind and thus knows everything being the Supersoul of all living entities
Arjuna referred to as ‘Partha’ — Indicates son of aunt ‘Prtha'. Thus Krishna wants to point out:
He became charioteer because Arjuna is son of aunt (Queen Kunti)
Krishna said to Arjuna: “Behold the Kurus” – This phrase indicates Arjuna’s mind “Do you want to stop and not fight?”
Krishna does not expect such cowardly action from the son of his aunt
Mood of friendly joking expressed here.
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Key ideas: saṁśaya, viṣāda.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 1.25 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to questions & crisis?
Write down the real question behind your current dilemma.
Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.