Chapter 1: Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Bhagavad-gita As It Is 1.20

atha vyavasthitan drishtva

dhartarashtran kapi-dhvajah

pravritte sastra-sampate

dhanur udyamya pandavah

hrishikesam tada vakyam

idam aha mahi-pate

SYNONYMS

atha -- thereupon; vyavasthitan -- situated; drishtva -- looking upon; dhartarashtran -- the sons of Dhritarashtra; kapi-dhvajah -- he whose flag was marked with Hanuman; pravritte -- while about to engage; sastra-sampate -- in releasing his arrows; dhanuh -- bow; udyamya -- taking up; pandavah -- the son of Pandu (Arjuna); hrishikesam -- unto Lord Krishna; tada -- at that time; vakyam -- words; idam -- these; aha -- said; mahi-pate -- O King.

TRANSLATION

At that time Arjuna, the son of Pandu, seated in the chariot bearing the flag marked with Hanuman, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows. O King, after looking at the sons of Dhritarashtra drawn in military array, Arjuna then spoke to Lord Krishna these words.

PURPORT

The battle was just about to begin. It is understood from the above statement that the sons of Dhritarashtra were more or less disheartened by the unexpected arrangement of military force by the Pandavas, who were guided by the direct instructions of Lord Krishna on the battlefield. The emblem of Hanuman on the flag of Arjuna is another sign of victory because Hanuman cooperated with Lord Rama in the battle between Rama and Ravana, and Lord Rama emerged victorious. Now both Rama and Hanuman were present on the chariot of Arjuna to help him. Lord Krishna is Rama Himself, and wherever Lord Rama is, His eternal servitor Hanuman and His eternal consort Sita, the goddess of fortune, are present. Therefore, Arjuna had no cause to fear any enemies whatsoever. And above all, the Lord of the senses, Lord Krishna, was personally present to give him direction. Thus, all good counsel was available to Arjuna in the matter of executing the battle. In such auspicious conditions, arranged by the Lord for His eternal devotee, lay the signs of assured victory.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness