Bhagavad-gītā 1.5 – Study Guide
1. Purport Metrics & Overview
| Purport Metrics | Details |
|---|---|
| No. of times cited by Śrīla Prabhupāda | 1 |
| Total No. of Words in Purport | No Purport |
| No. of Paragraphs in Purport | No Purport |
| Purport Paragraph Title | No Purport |
High-Level Flow:
- Duryodhana continues listing the mighty warriors of the Pāṇḍava army, further revealing his anxiety about their strength.
- The verse emphasizes that the Pāṇḍava side was filled with skilled and heroic fighters, not just Bhīma and Arjuna.
- Each name represents a warrior with great strength and valor, increasing Duryodhana’s concern.
2. Verse & Translation
Sanskrit:
dhṛṣṭaketuś cekitānaḥ
kāśirājaś ca vīryavān
purujit kuntibhojaś ca
śaibyaś ca nara-puṅgavaḥ
Translation:
“There are also great, heroic, powerful fighters like Dhṛṣṭaketu, Cekitāna, Kāśirāja, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Śaibya.”
3. Connection with Previous Verse
Verse 1.4 highlights warriors comparable to Bhīma and Arjuna.
Verse 1.5 continues listing more warriors to further emphasize the military strength of the Pāṇḍavas.
Key Link:
- Duryodhana is systematically listing powerful warriors, showing his growing awareness of the challenge ahead.
- From psychological manipulation (1.3) to strategic assessment (1.4), now in 1.5 he acknowledges more 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 continues to evaluate external strength but fails to recognize the supreme controller, Krishna.
His focus remains purely on military might, ignoring divine intervention.
✅ This verse is Sambandha-tattva because it highlights:
- Material assessment of strength vs. spiritual understanding of Krishna’s protection.
- How external calculations create fear when one lacks surrender to Krishna.
- The contrast between dharma-backed warriors (Pāṇḍavas) and those fighting for material ambition (Kauravas).
5. Analysis of Key Terms
Vīryavān (Very Powerful)
The warriors listed here are not ordinary soldiers but are highly skilled and courageous fighters.
Nara-puṅgavaḥ (Heroes in Human Society)
They are recognized as the most exceptional warriors among men, indicating their high stature in combat.
6. Connection to the Five Topics of Bhagavad-gītā
| Topic | Connection in Verse 1.5 |
|---|---|
| Īśvara (Supreme Lord) | Duryodhana sees only warriors, not Krishna’s influence, missing the higher reality of divine control. |
| Jīva (Living entity) | The warriors on both sides are conditioned souls, acting according to their past karma and duties. |
| Prakṛti (Material nature) | The battle and its participants are part of Krishna’s material creation. |
| Kāla (Time) | Kāla is moving forward, setting the stage for destiny to unfold according to Krishna’s will. |
| Karma (Actions & Results) | Each warrior’s past karma has placed them in their current roles, leading them to fight in the battle. |
7. Practical Lessons
Material Perception Cannot See Divine Influence
Duryodhana lists warriors but does not recognize that Krishna’s presence alone determines victory.
Over-Reliance on Strength Creates Anxiety
Despite his own army’s size, Duryodhana feels threatened, showing that material security does not remove fear.
True Victory Comes from Krishna’s Protection, Not Numbers
The Pāṇḍavas’ warriors are strong, but their true power comes from following dharma under Krishna’s guidance.
8. Preaching Relevance & Application
| Preaching Topic | How This Verse is Relevant |
|---|---|
| False Confidence in Material Power | Like Duryodhana, people calculate success based on external resources, forgetting Krishna. |
| Faith Overcomes Fear | Even though the Pāṇḍavas had fewer soldiers, their faith in Krishna ensured their success. |
| Why Material Calculation Fails | Duryodhana acknowledges strength, but his fear grows—showing that material strength alone is not enough. |
9. Conclusion
Bhagavad-gītā 1.5 continues Duryodhana’s evaluation of the Pāṇḍava army, listing even more powerful warriors. However, his focus remains entirely on external factors, ignoring that Krishna’s will, not military strength, determines victory. His growing concern reveals that material assessments create anxiety when one lacks faith in dharma and divine protection.