Bhagavad-gītā 1.11 – Study Guide
1. Purport Metrics & Overview
| Purport Metrics | Details |
|---|---|
| No. of times cited by Śrīla Prabhupāda | 0 |
| Total No. of Words in Purport | 213 |
| No. of Paragraphs in Purport | 1 |
| Purport Paragraph Title | Duryodhana Confident of Bhīṣma and Droṇa’s Support |
High-Level Flow:
- Duryodhana, after praising Bhīṣma in 1.10, now orders his army to protect him at all costs.
- He instructs his warriors to remain in their strategic positions while ensuring Bhīṣma’s protection.
- His words reveal that he sees Bhīṣma as the key to victory, placing total dependence on him.
- Duryodhana also recalls Bhīṣma and Droṇa’s silence during Draupadī’s humiliation, believing they have fully aligned with him.
2. Verse & Translation
Sanskrit:
ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu
yathā-bhāgam avasthitāḥ
bhīṣmam evābhirakṣantu
bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi
Translation:
“Now all of you must give full support to Grandfather Bhīṣma, standing at your respective strategic points in the phalanx of the army.”
3. Connection with Previous Verse
Verse 1.10 reveals Duryodhana’s belief that Bhīṣma makes his army invincible.
Verse 1.11 builds on that idea—Duryodhana not only trusts Bhīṣma but orders that he be fully protected.
Key Link:
- Duryodhana moves from praising Bhīṣma’s strength to openly declaring that their victory depends on him.
- This verse exposes Duryodhana’s deep insecurity—he recognizes Bhīṣma’s old age but still places his hopes in him.
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 seeks security in military arrangements rather than righteousness and Krishna’s will.
His misplaced confidence in Bhīṣma ignores the greater divine plan unfolding on the battlefield.
✅ This verse is Sambandha-tattva because it highlights:
- The conditioned soul’s illusion that material protection ensures success.
- The false sense of security derived from power and strategy rather than dharma.
- The contrast between Duryodhana’s external planning and Krishna’s internal control of destiny.
5. Analysis of Key Terms
Bhīṣmam evābhirakṣantu (Support Bhīṣma at all costs)
Duryodhana commands his army to prioritize Bhīṣma’s safety, seeing him as the foundation of victory.
Ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu (Strategic Positions in the Phalanx)
Duryodhana instructs his men to remain disciplined and not abandon their posts, fearing a breach in their formation.
Yathā-bhāgam avasthitāḥ (Standing according to respective divisions)
This reveals Duryodhana’s concern for maintaining order in battle, showing his tactical approach.
6. Connection to the Five Topics of Bhagavad-gītā
| Topic | Connection in Verse 1.11 |
|---|---|
| Īśvara (Supreme Lord) | Duryodhana fears losing Bhīṣma but does not recognize Krishna’s role as the supreme controller. |
| Jīva (Living entity) | Duryodhana, the conditioned soul, trusts material arrangements instead of divine guidance. |
| Prakṛti (Material nature) | Military formations and strategies are temporary manifestations of prakṛti. |
| Kāla (Time) | Kāla (time) is leading Bhīṣma to fulfill his divine role in Krishna’s plan. |
| Karma (Actions & Results) | Duryodhana’s past sinful acts (like insulting Draupadī) will soon bring their consequences. |
7. Key Points from Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Purport
Duryodhana Confident of Bhīṣma and Droṇa’s Support
- Duryodhana worries that his other warriors might feel neglected, so he reassures them while emphasizing Bhīṣma’s importance.
- His insistence on protecting Bhīṣma shows his fear of losing him, revealing his insecurity.
- He recalls that neither Bhīṣma nor Droṇa intervened when Draupadī was insulted, hoping they will remain loyal now.
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Purport Citation:
“He was confident of the full support of Bhīṣmadeva and Droṇācārya in the battle because he well knew that they did not even speak a word when Arjuna’s wife Draupadī, in her helpless condition, had appealed to them for justice.”
8. Practical Lessons
Material Protection Is Temporary
Duryodhana thinks Bhīṣma’s safety will ensure victory, but true security comes from Krishna.
Sinful Actions Have Consequences
By recalling Bhīṣma and Droṇa’s silence during Draupadī’s humiliation, we see that adharma leads to future downfall.
Strategic Thinking Cannot Overcome Krishna’s Plan
Duryodhana calculates every move but remains ignorant of the divine plan already set in motion.
9. Preaching Relevance & Application
| Preaching Topic | How This Verse is Relevant |
|---|---|
| False Security in Material Protection | Duryodhana trusts Bhīṣma’s presence, forgetting that Krishna controls all outcomes. |
| The Result of Adharma | Duryodhana recalls Bhīṣma’s silence during Draupadī’s insult, but past injustices will soon bear fruit. |
| Illusion of Control vs. Divine Will | Duryodhana plans carefully, but the true battle is being orchestrated by Krishna. |
10. Conclusion
Bhagavad-gītā 1.11 exposes Duryodhana’s overreliance on Bhīṣma while revealing his underlying fear of losing him. His order to protect Bhīṣma at all costs highlights his materialistic belief that military strategy alone ensures success. However, his reference to Bhīṣma and Droṇa’s silence during Draupadī’s insult is a reminder that past injustices will not go unanswered—Krishna has already determined the outcome of this war.