Gita 01.05 – Our Mode Of Description Reflects Our Intention

 

Link2: Gita 01.05 Our mode of description reflects our intention – The Spiritual Scientist

 

dhṛṣṭaketuś cekitānaḥ

kāśirājaś ca vīryavān

purujit kuntibhojaś ca

śaibyaś ca nara-puṅgavaḥ

 

Word-for-Word:

dhṛṣṭaketuḥ — Dhṛṣṭaketu; cekitānaḥ — Cekitāna; kāśirājaḥ — Kāśirāja; ca — also; vīrya-vān — very powerful; purujit — Purujit; kuntibhojaḥ — Kuntibhoja; ca — and; śaibyaḥ — Śaibya; ca — and; nara-puṅgavaḥ — hero in human society.

 

Translation:

There are also great heroic, powerful fighters like Dhṛṣṭaketu, Cekitāna, Kāśirāja, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Śaibya.

 

Explanation:

 

Duryodhana continues to describe the prominent warriors on the opposing side, listing Dhṛṣṭaketu, Cekitāna, Kāśirāja, Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Śaibya, and nara-puṅgavaḥ – hero in human society.

 

Rather than delving into the specific histories of these five characters, let’s focus on the descriptors used: vīryavān and nara-puṅgava. Pungava means leader or king, implying heroes in human society. Viryavan means one who is filled with courage, heroism or power. Both terms complement each other well.

 

The way we describe people reveals not just about them, but also about us and our attitude towards them. Descriptions about people can be objective, negative, positive, condemnatory, or laudatory, depending on our purpose. When trying to inspire action, praising might help. If someone has been lazy, criticism might be used to motivate them. Either way, descriptions reflect our purpose.

 

Here, Duryodhana describes the opposing party, but why would he do so in a positive manner? Usually, in a confrontation or war, the common strategy is intimidation. Those fighting try to gain the upper hand by intimidating their opponents, lowering their morale and reducing their fighting spirit. Often, there is not just the “existence” of power, but also “exhibition” of power. Countries frequently do this on occasions such as Independence Day where they display their power forcefully and effectively. The purpose of such displays is to maintain a superior position in the mental battle that precedes any potential physical conflict. By intimidating the opponent in this mental battle, the intimidator gains the upper hand.

 

So, why isn’t Duryodhana using intimidation here? He could have spoken derogatorily to minimize the opponents’ strength and boost his own side’s morale. In this vast battlefield, his words might not reach the other side, so he is primarily speaking for his own side. When speaking to his side, why would he praise the opponents? In this case, it is to ensure his side remains alert. Specifically, he is addressing Drona and he fears that Drona may not fight wholeheartedly due to his affection for the Pandavas. To counter this possibility, Duryodhana has already tried to incite Drona by mentioning Drupada twice in the previous verses. Now, in this verse, he praises the opponents to keep Drona alert and focused.

 

Now, Duryodhana knows that it is not only Drona who is listening to this conversation, but nearby warriors are also listening, and Bhishma is listening as well. This becomes evident in the twelfth verse, where Bhishma’s actions reveal that he has heard what is going on.

 

Duryodhana wants to ensure that his warriors understand the formidable battle ahead and that any overconfidence from having superior numbers is unjustified. The Pandavas, with only seven akshahunis compared to the Kauravas’ eleven, were still powerful and determined to fight fiercely until the end, which was evident in the expert and strategic way they formed their military.

 

Here, Duryodhana’s laudatory description of the opponents is meant to create awareness in his own army. He aims to emphasize the need for alertness and caution, avoiding overconfidence or excessive pride in their capacities.

 

Of course, he will speak in later verses about his own side’s strengths, using laudatory terms to indicate confidence in their abilities. But here, his focus is on ensuring that there is no complacency and his warriors fight wholeheartedly.