Bhagavad Gita BG 1.23
Chapter 1, Verse 23 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः । धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः ॥ २३ ॥
yotsyamānān avekṣe 'haṃ ya ete 'tra samāgatāḥ dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddher yuddhe priya-cikīrṣavaḥ
Meaning
Let me see those who have assembled here to fight, wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra.
Understanding
Arjuna ends his request with a telling phrase: these men have come to please 'the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra' — Duryodhana. This reveals that Arjuna still sees the war clearly from a moral standpoint: his side is righteous, theirs is not. The word 'durbuddheḥ' (evil-minded) is an unambiguous moral verdict. Yet within moments, this clarity will dissolve when he sees the faces of those fighting for Duryodhana.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| योत्स्यमानान् | yotsyamānān | those about to fight / the combatants |
| अवेक्षे | avekṣe | I may see / observe |
| धार्तराष्ट्रस्य | dhārtarāṣṭrasya | of the son of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana) |
| दुर्बुद्धेः | durbuddheḥ | the evil-minded / wicked-willed |
| प्रियचिकीर्षवः | priya-cikīrṣavaḥ | wishing to please / those who desire to do good to |
| अहम् | aham | I |
| ये | ye | those who / which |
| एते | ete | these (people) |
| अत्र | atra | here (on this field) |
| समागताः | samāgatāḥ | assembled / gathered here |
| युद्धे | yuddhe | in battle / in this war |