Bhagavad-gītā 1.4 – Study Guide
1. Purport Metrics & Overview
| Purport Metrics | Details |
|---|---|
| No. of times cited by Śrīla Prabhupāda | 1 |
| Total No. of Words in Purport | 75 |
| No. of Paragraphs in Purport | 1 |
| Purport Paragraph Title | Duryodhana’s Strategic Assessment of Pāṇḍava Army’s Strength |
High-Level Flow of the Purport:
- Duryodhana assesses the strength of the Pāṇḍava army, highlighting that many warriors are as formidable as Bhīma and Arjuna.
- Even though Dhṛṣṭadyumna was not a significant threat to Droṇācārya, other warriors posed a serious challenge.
- Duryodhana is deeply aware of Bhīma and Arjuna’s might, and by comparing other warriors to them, he acknowledges their strength while expressing concern.
2. Verse & Translation
Sanskrit:
atra śūrā maheṣv-āsā
bhīmārjuna-samā yudhi
yuyudhāno virāṭaś ca
drupadaś ca mahā-rathaḥ
Translation:
“Here in this army there are many heroic bowmen equal in fighting to Bhīma and Arjuna; there are also great fighters like Yuyudhāna, Virāṭa, and Drupada.”
3. Connection with Previous Verse
Verse 1.3 reveals Duryodhana’s attempt to manipulate Droṇācārya by reminding him about Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s history.
Verse 1.4 shifts the focus to Duryodhana’s strategic evaluation of the Pāṇḍava army, showing his concern about their overall strength.
Key Link:
- Duryodhana moves from psychological manipulation (1.3) to an objective assessment (1.4).
- The previous verse targeted Droṇācārya emotionally, while this verse evaluates military threats.
4. Sambandha, Abhidheya, or Prayojana?
Category: Sambandha-tattva (Understanding our relationship with Krishna and the material world)
Sambandha-tattva defines the nature of jīva, īśvara, prakṛti, kāla, and karma.
Duryodhana recognizes external threats but fails to understand Krishna’s supreme control over the battle’s outcome.
His calculations are entirely materialistic, without recognizing that victory is determined by dharma, not just military strength.
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Purport Citation:
“They are mentioned by Duryodhana as great stumbling blocks on the path of victory because each and every one of them was as formidable as Bhīma and Arjuna.”
✅ This verse is Sambandha-tattva because it highlights:
- The conditioned soul’s tendency to rely on material calculations rather than divine protection.
- How fear arises when one sees external strength but lacks faith in Krishna.
- The contrast between material perception (Duryodhana’s strategy) and spiritual vision (Krishna’s plan).
5. Analysis of Key Terms
Śūrā (Heroes)
Duryodhana acknowledges that the Pāṇḍava army consists of heroic warriors, showing his respectful fear of their strength.
Bhīmārjuna-samā (Equal to Bhīma and Arjuna)
Duryodhana knows Bhīma and Arjuna’s unmatched strength and admits that several warriors can fight at their level, increasing his anxiety.
Mahā-rathaḥ (Great Fighter)
The term mahā-ratha is used for an expert warrior capable of single-handedly fighting thousands of soldiers, showing Duryodhana’s genuine concern about these fighters.
6. Connection to the Five Topics of Bhagavad-gītā
| Topic | Connection in Verse 1.4 |
|---|---|
| Īśvara (Supreme Lord) | Krishna is orchestrating the battle—Duryodhana’s assessment is limited to material analysis, missing Krishna’s divine plan. |
| Jīva (Living entity) | Duryodhana represents the conditioned soul, relying on material intelligence rather than spiritual surrender. |
| Prakṛti (Material nature) | Military strength, formations, and battle strategy are functions of prakṛti, but true success depends on Krishna’s will. |
| Kāla (Time) | The battle is unfolding as per kāla’s arrangement, but Duryodhana falsely believes he can control the outcome. |
| Karma (Actions & Results) | The Pāṇḍava warriors are powerful due to their past righteous karma, while Duryodhana’s fear is a result of his own adharmic actions. |
7. Key Points from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Purport
Duryodhana’s Strategic Assessment of Pāṇḍava Army’s Strength
- Duryodhana sees the Pāṇḍava warriors as great obstacles on his path to victory.
- He particularly fears those fighters comparable to Bhīma and Arjuna, indicating his deep awareness of their power.
- His analysis remains on the material level, failing to consider the influence of Krishna’s divine protection over the Pāṇḍavas.
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Purport Citation:
“He knew the strength of Bhīma and Arjuna, and thus he compared the others with them.”
8. Practical Lessons
Material Strength Alone Does Not Guarantee Success
Duryodhana relied on his army’s numbers and strategy, but victory is ultimately determined by Krishna’s will.
Fear Comes When One Lacks Surrender to Krishna
Duryodhana is anxious despite having a larger army because he does not have Krishna’s support.
Spiritual Intelligence vs. Material Calculation
Duryodhana’s analysis is detailed but incomplete, as he fails to understand that righteousness, not numbers, wins battles.
9. Preaching Relevance & Application
| Preaching Topic | How This Verse is Relevant |
|---|---|
| Faith vs. Material Calculations | Like Duryodhana, people rely on external strategies, forgetting Krishna’s role in success. |
| Why Fear Arises Without Krishna | Despite having a strong army, Duryodhana fears the Pāṇḍavas due to lack of Krishna’s protection. |
| Righteousness Overcomes Material Strength | The true strength of the Pāṇḍavas is their adherence to dharma, not just their army. |
10. Conclusion
Bhagavad-gītā 1.4 highlights Duryodhana’s fear as he recognizes the formidable warriors in the Pāṇḍava army. He compares them to Bhīma and Arjuna, confirming his knowledge of their strength but failing to understand that dharma and Krishna’s presence are the real deciding factors in victory. His material intelligence, though sharp, cannot replace faith in divine protection.