Shloka 23
Karma-Yoga, Yajña-Cakra, and the Governance of Desire (कर्मयोग–यज्ञचक्र–कामनिग्रह)
योत्स्यमानानवेक्षे5हं य एते5त्र समागता: । धाररराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षव:,'दुर्बुद्धि दुर्योधनका युद्धमें हित चाहनेवाले जो-जो ये राजालोग इस सेनामें आये हैं, इन युद्ध करनेवालोंको मैं देखूँगा'
yotsyamānān avekṣye ’haṁ ya ete ’tra samāgatāḥ | dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddher yuddhe priyacikīrṣavaḥ ||
Arjuna said: “I wish to look upon those who have assembled here, intent on fighting—those who, seeking to please the evil-minded son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, have come to this war.”
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical scrutiny before action: Arjuna wants to identify those who have aligned themselves with an unjust cause out of a desire to please a misguided leader, raising questions about responsibility, complicity, and discernment in war.
On the battlefield, Arjuna asks to look closely at the assembled fighters—especially those supporting Duryodhana—before the fighting begins, as part of assessing who stands against him and why.