sañjaya uvācha
dṛiṣhṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṁ vyūḍhaṁ duryodhanastadā
āchāryamupasaṅgamya rājā vachanamabravīt
sanjayaḥ uvācha — Sanjay said;
dṛiṣhṭvā — on observing;
tu — but;
pāṇḍava-anīkam — the Pandava army;
vyūḍham — standing in a military formation;
duryodhanaḥ — King Duryodhan;
tadā — then;
āchāryam — teacher;
upasaṅgamya — approached;
rājā — the king;
vachanam — words;
abravīt — spoke
In this verse, Sanjaya, the narrator of the Bhagavad Gita, is talking to King Dhritarashtra. Since Dhritarashtra is blind, he cannot see what is happening on the battlefield. He is anxious about the upcoming battle between his sons (the Kauravas) and the Pandavas, who are like cousins to them.
Duryodhana, the leader of the Kauravas, has just looked at the big army that the Pandavas have gathered. Seeing their military strength makes him nervous because he realizes they are well-prepared for battle. Instead of feeling confident as a king might normally feel, he becomes worried and decides to consult Dronacharya, who is their teacher and also a very skilled commander.
The action of Duryodhana going to Dronacharya shows that even though he is the king, he recognizes that he needs guidance and help in this critical moment. It highlights the seriousness of the situation—he is not simply rushing into battle; he wants to understand and plan carefully. It’s a reminder that in challenging times, even leaders need advice and support.
Sanjaya, who is narrating this, knows that Dhritarashtra is anxious and cannot see, so he explains what is happening to ease Dhritarashtra’s worries while also subtly revealing the fear Duryodhana feels. Duryodhana may be a king, but he is affected by the overwhelming sight of the Pandavas' powerful army, which suggests that there’s a real threat opposing him.
In everyday terms, this scene sets the stage for the battle, showing that despite being in a position of power, leaders often face doubts and fears, especially when they see a formidable opponent. It illustrates the theme that good leaders should always seek knowledge and counsel, particularly when the stakes are high.