Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1, Verse 20

English Translation

O king, thereafter, seeing Dhrtarastra's men standing in their positions, when all the weapons were ready for action, the son of Pandu (Arjuna) who had the insignia of Hanuman of his chariot-flag, raising up his bow, said the following to Hrsikesa.

Detailed Commentary

।।1.20।। Elucidation – 'Atha' signifies that now Sanjaya begins the 'Bhagavad Gita', which is the dialogue between Bhagavan Shri Krishna and Arjuna. This dialogue concludes with the word "iti" in the seventy-fourth verse of the eighteenth chapter. The teaching of the Bhagavad Gita commences from the eleventh verse of the second chapter and concludes in the sixty-sixth verse of the eighteenth chapter. 'Pravṛtte śastrasaṃpāte' – Although Pitamaha Bhishma sounded his conch not to declare war, but to please Duryodhana, both the Kaurava and Pandava armies considered it a declaration of war and took up their weapons. Witnessing this, Arjuna also took up his Gaṇḍīva bow. 'Vyavasthitān Dhārtarāṣṭrān dṛṣṭvā' – By these words, Sanjaya implies that when Duryodhana saw the Pandava army, he approached Dronacharya. But Arjuna, upon seeing the Kaurava army, took up his bow. This reveals fear in Duryodhana and fearlessness and valor in Arjuna. 'Kapi-dhvajaḥ' – By referring to Arjuna as 'Kapi-dhvaja', Sanjaya reminds Dhritarashtra that Hanumanji is seated upon the banner of Arjuna’s chariot. During their period of exile, Hanumanji had promised Bhima that he would sit on the banner of Arjuna's chariot during the war and spread fear among the enemies with his roar. Victory is assured for one whose chariot bears Hanumanji on its banner. 'Pāṇḍavaḥ' – Dhritarashtra had used the word 'Pāṇḍavāḥ' in his question. Therefore, Sanjaya repeatedly uses the word 'Pāṇḍavaḥ' to remind him of the Pandavas. 'Hṛṣīkeśaṃ tadā vākyam-idamāha mahīpate' – Upon seeing the Pandava army, Duryodhana approaches Dronacharya and speaks cunning words, but Arjuna, upon seeing the Kaurava army, addresses Bhagavan Shri Krishna, whom he considers the Jagadguru and Antaryami, with words full of valor and a sense of duty.