VERSE. 1

Ch: 1. Vr. 1

Drutharashtra Uvacha:

“Dharma Kshetre Kuru Kshetre
Samavedah yuyustavah
Mamakah Pandavaschiva
Kim akurvata Sanjaya"

Drutharashtr asked:

“Hey Sanjay.  In the divine land of Kurukshetra, with all readiness to fight the war, what are my people (sons – like Duryodan etc), and the sons of Pandu doing" ?

Narration:

Kurukshetra is considered to be a very divine place, right from the Vedic Period.  It is said tha justice will be meted out to the righteous in Kurukshetra.  It was in this place that both the Pandavas and the armies of Duryodan decided to fight against each other.

The army of Duryodan was lead by the grand old sire Sri Bishma and the armies of the Pandavas was lead by Lord Krishna himself.

The battle field in Kurukshetra was filled with the armies of many nations, who are siding either with the Pandavas or the Kauravas. The built of the armies was so strong on the side of Kauravas, that the King of Hastinapur, Drutharashtr, thought that the victory to his army was sure.  He wanted his son Duryodan to be the Emperor of Hastinapur, so doing anything for achieving it was not a problem.  The blind king’s blind love for his wicked son, paved the way for one of the mightiest wars ever seen in this world, and finally for the destruction of all his sons in it. 

Technically, both the Pandavas and Duryodhan and his brothers are Kauravas meaning, they are the descendents of the Kuru family.  But, under the influence of his brother-in law, Sakuni, and out of the blind love for his son Duryodan, Emperor Drutharashtr, threw the sons of his brother Pandu from their family lineage.  Hence, Lord Krishna uses the word “Kaunteya” meaning son of Kunti, to call Arjun.  Very rarely, he address Arjun as Kurusresht – meaning the Gem of Kuru family.

Veda Vyasa, the father of Drutharashtr, who was blind from birth, offered the latter a special vision, using which he could witness the war sitting in his palace.  Drutharashtr was in a confused situation, he could not accept to see his sons being defeated or killed, yet he wanted to see the destruction of the children of his brother Pandu.  Hence, as usual, he adopted a tactful way.  He received the vision passively.  He requested Sage Veda Vyasa to give that vision to Sanjay, who would be with him in the palace when the war was going on in Kuruksehtra.

Sanjay equipped with the special vision blessings received from Sage Veda Vyas, was sitting with the Emperor Drutharashtr, when the battle of the Kurukshetra was to begin.  He knew that both his sons and the sons of his brother Pandu would have assembled there with their loyal friends.  Hence we wanted to know, what has happened, at the Kurukshetra.

Hari Om !!