Shloka 1
Arjuna’s Surrender and Kṛṣṇa’s Instruction on the Imperishable Self, Svadharma, and Karma-Yoga
Bhīṣma-parva 24.0
ऑपन--माजल बछ। अफि<-छऋाल चतुर्विशो$ध्याय: सैनिकोंके हर्ष और उत्साहके विषयमें धृतराष्ट्र और संजयका संवाद धृतराष्ट उवाच केषां प्रह्ृष्टास्तत्राग्रे योधा युध्यन्ति संजय । उदग्रमनस: के वा के वा दीना विचेतस:
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | keṣāṁ prahṛṣṭās tatrāgre yodhā yudhyanti sañjaya | udagramanasaḥ ke vā ke vā dīnā vicetasaḥ ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: “Sañjaya, at that moment, which side’s warriors, filled with exhilaration, advanced first to fight? Whose minds were uplifted with eager resolve—and who, on the other hand, became dejected and bewildered?”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how inner states—exultation, resolve, dejection, and confusion—shape action in conflict. It implicitly invites ethical reflection: victory and righteousness are not only matters of force but also of clarity, courage, and steadiness of mind.
At the outset of battle, Dhṛtarāṣṭra questions Sañjaya about the morale of the opposing armies—who surged forward joyfully to fight and who became dispirited or mentally unsettled.