📿 Shloka Collection

Bhishmadronapramukhatah

Gita 1.25 Bhagavad Gita
📖 Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 1 — Arjuna Vishada Yoga
भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् ।
उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान् समवेतान् कुरूनिति ॥
Bhishmadronapramukhatah sarvesham cha mahikshitam
Uvacha Partha pashyaitan samavetan Kurun iti
भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः
in front of Bhishma and Drona
सर्वेषाम्
of all
and
महीक्षिताम्
the kings
उवाच
said
पार्थ
O Partha (son of Pritha/Kunti — Arjuna)
पश्य
behold
एतान्
all these
समवेतान्
assembled
कुरून्
the Kurus (members of the Kuru clan)

Krishna brought the chariot to a halt directly in front of Bhishma, Drona, and all the assembled kings. Then he spoke: "O Partha, behold these Kurus gathered here." Just four words — pashya etan samavetan Kurun — but they carry enormous weight.

Notice what Krishna does not say. He does not say "behold your enemies." He says "behold the Kurus" — your own clansmen, your own blood. Some scholars believe Krishna chose this word deliberately, so Arjuna would see not a faceless opposing army but his own family. Others see it as Krishna setting up the experience that will crack Arjuna open and make him ready to receive the teaching.

And where does Krishna park? Directly before Bhishma and Drona — the two people Arjuna reveres most in the world. His grandsire who raised him, and his guru who taught him the bow. It is as if Krishna is saying: look closely at what this war will cost you.

This shloka is the second half of a pair that began with 1.24. Together they describe one action: Krishna driving the chariot between the armies and telling Arjuna to look. This act of "looking" is what triggers Arjuna's grief.

Krishna's use of "Kurun" (Kurus) rather than "shatrun" (enemies) is a subtle but important narrative detail. It frames the opposing army not as strangers but as family.

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