Sanjaya said – At that time, seeing the Pandava army arrayed in the Vajra formation, King Duryodhana approached Dronacharya and spoke these words.
Commentary: 'At that time' – Sanjaya here uses the word 'tadā' to refer to the time when both armies had taken their positions for battle. The reason is that Dhritarashtra's question – 'What did my sons and the sons of Pandu, desirous of war, do?' – is solely to hear about this subject.
'Tu' – Dhritarashtra has inquired about his own sons and the sons of Pandu. Therefore, to first speak about Dhritarashtra's sons, Sanjaya uses the word 'tu' here.
'Having seen the Pandava army arrayed' – The meaning of seeing the Pandava army arrayed in the Vajra formation is that the Pandava army was standing in a very orderly manner and with a single sentiment, meaning there was no duality of sentiment among their soldiers, no discord. On their side were Dharma and the Lord Sri Krishna. One on whose side Dharma and the Lord are, has a great impact on others. Therefore, despite being fewer in number, the Pandava army had a brilliance (influence) and it had a great impact on others. Thus, the Pandava army also had a great impact on Duryodhana, due to which he goes to Dronacharya and speaks a grave, policy-laden statement.
'King Duryodhana' – The meaning of calling Duryodhana 'king' is that Dhritarashtra's greatest sense of personal attachment (moha) was towards Duryodhana. From the perspective of tradition too, the crown prince was Duryodhana. Duryodhana alone oversaw all the affairs of the kingdom. Dhritarashtra was king in name only. Duryodhana was also the primary cause for the war happening. For all these reasons, Sanjaya has used the word 'king' for Duryodhana.
'Having approached the Acharya' – In going to Dronacharya, three main reasons are apparent:
(1) To fulfill his own selfish interest, i.e., to go to Dronacharya in order to generate hatred within him towards the Pandavas and to secure him especially for his own side.
(2) It was also proper to go to Dronacharya to show respect due to him as the Guru in worldly conduct.
(3) It is very necessary for the main person to be stationed at his proper place in the army, otherwise the arrangement is disrupted. Therefore, Duryodhana himself going to Dronacharya was indeed proper.
Here a doubt may arise: Duryodhana should have gone to Grandsire Bhishma, who was the commander. But why did Duryodhana go only to Guru Dronacharya? The resolution is this: Both Drona and Bhishma were impartial, meaning they held the side of both the Kauravas and the Pandavas. Between those two, Dronacharya had to be appeased more; because while Duryodhana had affection for Dronacharya as a Guru, he did not have familial affection for him; and Dronacharya had special grace upon Arjuna. Therefore, to appease him, it was proper for Duryodhana to go to him. In worldly conduct too, it is seen that to fulfill one's selfish interest with someone with whom one does not have affection, a person appeases him by showing him greater respect.
Duryodhana had this belief in his mind that Bhishma is our grandfather; therefore, even if I do not go to him, it is no matter. If he gets displeased by my not going, I will somehow appease him. The reason is that Duryodhana had a familial relationship and affection with Grandsire Bhishma, and Bhishma also had a familial relationship and affection for him. That is why Bhishma blew his conch forcefully to encourage Duryodhana (1.12).
'Spoke words' – Here saying 'he spoke' would have been sufficient; because the word 'words' is included within the action of 'he spoke', meaning if Duryodhana speaks, he will speak words only. Therefore, the word 'words' was not necessary here. Still, the purpose of giving the word 'words' is that Duryodhana speaks grave, policy-laden words, so that hatred towards the Pandavas arises in Dronacharya's mind, and remaining on our side, he fights properly. So that our victory is achieved, our selfish interest is fulfilled.
Connection – What words Duryodhana spoke after approaching Dronacharya is told in the next verse.
★🔗
