Bg 1.2

sañjaya uvāca

dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṁ

vyūḍhaṁ duryodhanas tadā

ācāryam upasaṅgamya

rājā vacanam abravīt

Word for word:

sañjayaḥ uvāca — Sañjaya said; dṛṣṭvā — after seeing; tu — but; pāṇḍava-anīkam — the soldiers of the Pāṇḍavas; vyūḍham — arranged in a military phalanx; duryodhanaḥ — King Duryodhana; tadā — at that time; ācāryam — the teacher; upasaṅgamya — approaching; rājā — the king; vacanam — words; abravīt — spoke.

Translation:

Sañjaya said: O King, after looking over the army arranged in military formation by the sons of Pāṇḍu, King Duryodhana went to his teacher and spoke the following words.

dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṁ – Duryodhana glanced at the armies of the Pandavas; vyūḍhaṁ – arranged in a military phalanx. Duryodhanas tadā – he saw it. He was very confident that actually my army is much bigger than the Pandavas.

ācāryam upasaṅgamya -> He went to Dronacharya, and rājā vacanam abravīt -> He spoke (Sanjay is speaking to Raja Dhritarashtra but he is referring Duryodhan as Raja, since he is very good at rajniti (diplomacy) he is referred as raja.

vacanam abravīt -> he (Duryodhana spoke these words)

Explanation: In the previous verse Dhritarashtra asked Sanjaya what happened (Kim Akurvat Sanjaya). S,o Sanjaya started narrating this.

dṛṣṭvā, he sees, pāṇḍavānīkaṁ, the Pandavas; vyūḍhaṁ there phalanxes their military formations. E.g. in cricket a batsman has a stance by seeing it only it can be made out that this is aggressive batsman, defensive batsman, left handed batsman, right handed batsman etc. and depending on the stance of the batsman. The captain of the opposing team gets to know the strategies of the batsman. Accordingly the captain sets the field and the captain comes up with the strategies, how the bowler is going to bowl. Similarly when there is war going to take place; the military formation gives the idea about the strength and intention.

Duryodhana was very confident that he was going to win the war with Bhishma, Karna etc on his side. He was not even considering that there will be tough war and his forces will easily crush the Pandavas. Therefore in the previous night, when war was supposed to start, he sent Ulooka—son of Shakuni to tease the Pandavas.

Ulooka started trolling the mighty Pandavas with cutting remarks, “Bhima you are going to kill me? I made you wash vessels in the kitchen of Virat,” Ulooka continued, “And Arjuna you think that you are so powerful, but I made you into eunuch.” Sequentially, he describes all humiliating situation that Pandavas had gone through. And he said, “this is how superior man punishes inferiors who have the audacity to challenge them, and similarly I will crush you.” His goal was to insult pandavas so that they have some fighting spirit and Pandavas were enraged and Arjuna said, “only eunuch speak the words to get my answers; come tomorrow, my Gandiva will give you a befitting reply.”

Duryodhana assumed Pandava were less in number, so they will have a defensive military formation. But when he saw the formation of the Pandava army, he could understood that they were not defensive, instead they are so aggressive, as if they are sure of their victory. Immediately Duryodhan becomes concerned, vyūḍhaṁ duryodhanas tadā, Duryodhana sees this and become concerned. So what happened after that?

ācāryam upasaṅgamya, he goes to Acharya, the word Acharya generally means teacher, in vedic tradition. Acharya can be referred to very exalted teachers also, as we have Srila Prabhupada as founder Acharya. Acharya also means, the teacher who teaches by example. So Drona who is referred here also referred as Dronacharya; he was brahmana. In the vedic fold, brahmanas were allowed to teach kshetriya skills.

Brahmana teaches Brahminical skills only; but Dronacharya has not only taught Kshetriya skill but he has also mastered them to such an extent; that he also uses them for fighting. He was here to fight on behalf of Duryodhana; as he was maintained by Kurus and obliged by Kurus. And the current ruling monarch was Dhritarashtra who was manipulated by his son Duryodhana.

rājā vacanam abravīt, he spoke these words. The word Raja can have two meaning either Raja can refer to Dhritarashtra: “O King, I am telling you this.” In Sanskrit we don’t have commas to separate independent clauses; commas are position marker and direction marker. The word Raja here can also refer to Duryodhana, now that reference is little complicated because Duryodhana is not himself the King; although he acted in many ways as if he was King. But the official King was Dhritarashtra and certainly while talking with Dhritarashtra, Duryodhana wouldn’t consider himself the king, as a matter of respect to his father.

Srila Baladeva Vidya Bhushan explains that here Raja not only refers to a King but one who is expert in rajneeti, diplomacy, politics. Such a person is called Raja. What does this signify? If we look at the line of command Bhisma is older than Drona and Bhishma is also commander Drona became commander on 11th day when Bhishma fell on 10th Day. So when Bhishma is commander why Duryodhana went to Drona; instead of Bhisma for consultation or for caution or for directing? Duryodhana was doubtful about the commitment of Bhishma and Drona, because he knew that they were affectionate towards Pandavas. Duryodhana wanted them to fight on his side knowing that they were formidable warriors, but he wanted to increase their commitment for his cause.

Here Bhishma was bound by his own vow, that he will protect the monarch. When he took the vow he never thought that Kuru dynasty descendents would be fighting against each-other. And he would be on the side for which he would not like to fight. So Bhishma was bound by vow, his commitment to fight was sure. But Drona was not bound by any vow of that magnitude. Agreed, when Drona was in immense poverty that time; Kuru dynasty sheltered, remunerated and honored him. Royalty has given him the facility by which he became a celebrated marshall teacher; not only for Kurus but for all the warriors of his time. So he was grateful to Kuru Kingdom, but he was not bound by vows. So Duryodhana goes to Drona and speaks in such a way that Drona burns away his affection towards Pandavas, and gets up to fight wholeheartedly and furiously on his behalf.

dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṁ

vyūḍhaṁ duryodhanas tadā

After seeing the Pandavas military phalanxes Duryodhana; ācāryam upasaṅgamya, rājā vacanam abravīt

Approaching acharya, rājā vacanam abravīt, Raja spoke these words.

So one who is an expert in rajneeti, will speak and his words will show his expertise in rajneeti (diplomacy). A person may conceal oneself, if he is well dressed. But when the person starts speaking, then the words the person, often reveals his mind. If we want to know a person beyond his dress and designation; then his speech will help us in doing so. Duryodhana was evil, envious, greedy but he also had polished diplomatic skills which will be revealed in subsequent verses from 3 to 11. He will speak about the two forces, the Pandavas and Kauravas. Then, his speech will be cut-off by Bhishma blowing the conch-cell. Of course by this time Duryodhana has almost completed his speech. These verses will demonstrate how Duryodhana was a shrewd expert in rajneeti. His shrewdness is also evident from his action; when he has gone to Drona instead of Bhishma as explained above.