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Chapter 1 · Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra · 46 verses

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Questions & crisisChapter 1 · Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra
1.241.26

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 1.25

Arjuna asks to survey the armies

भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् ।

उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरुनिति ॥ २५ ॥

bhīṣma-droṇa-pramukhataḥ

sarveṣāṁ ca mahī-kṣitām

uvāca pārtha paśyaitān

samavetān kurūn iti

Translation

In the presence of Bhīṣma, Droṇa and all the other chieftains of the world, the Lord said, “Just behold, Pārtha, all the Kurus assembled here.”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Kṛṣṇa Knows Arjuna’s Mind

  1. 1Before Bhīṣma, Droṇa and the other chieftains, Kṛṣṇa told Arjuna to behold all the assembled Kurus.
  2. 2As the Supersoul, Kṛṣṇa knew Arjuna’s thoughts. The name Hṛṣīkeśa shows that He knew everything.
  3. 3Pārtha means the son of Pṛthā, or Kuntī, who was the sister of Kṛṣṇa’s father, Vasudeva.
  4. 4As Arjuna’s friend and relative, Kṛṣṇa had agreed to be his charioteer.
  5. 5Kṛṣṇa’s words were friendly joking that anticipated Arjuna’s thoughts. He did not expect His aunt’s son to refuse to fight.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 1, Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra: arjuna asks to survey the armies.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Honest questions open the way to wisdom.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: saṁśaya, viṣāda.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 1.25 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to questions & crisis?

Practice

Write down the real question behind your current dilemma.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 1 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 1.20Arjuna asks to survey the armiesBG 1.21Arjuna asks to survey the armiesBG 2.7The moment Arjuna becomes a discipleBG 6.34The restless mind

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.