Shloka 1
Sainyavinyāsa–Lakṣaṇa (Disposition of Armies and Battlefield Omens) | सैन्यविन्यास–लक्षणम्
इति श्रीमहाभारते भीष्मपर्वणि श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतापर्वणि सैन्यवर्णने विंशो5ध्याय: ।।
sañjaya uvāca | bṛhatīṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya senāṃ dṛṣṭvā samudyatām | viṣādam agamad rājā kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Melihat bala tentera besar putera-putera Dhṛtarāṣṭra telah tersusun dan siap berperang, Raja Yudhiṣṭhira—putera Kuntī—diliputi dukacita dan gundah.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of warfare: even a dharma-minded ruler like Yudhiṣṭhira can be shaken by the sheer scale of impending violence. It introduces the inner struggle (viṣāda) that often precedes decisions about duty, justice, and the cost of action.
Sañjaya narrates that Yudhiṣṭhira, upon seeing the Kaurava forces assembled and ready, becomes despondent. This sets the emotional and moral atmosphere before further counsel and action among the Pāṇḍavas.