BHAGAVAD-GITA 1:11

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 1:11

 

ayanesu ca sarvesu

yatha-bhagam avasthitah

bhismam evabhiraksantu

bhavantah sarva eva hi

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

ayanesu--in the strategic points; ca--also; sarvesu--everywhere;

yatha-bhagam--as differently arranged; avasthitah--situated;

bhismam--unto Grandfather Bhisma; eva--certainly; abhiraksantu--should

give support; bhavantah--you; sarve--all respectively; eva

hi--certainly.

 

TRANSLATION

 

All of you must now give full support to Grandfather Bhisma, as you

stand at your respective strategic points of entrance into the phalanx

of the army.

 

PURPORT

 

Duryodhana, after praising the prowess of Bhisma, further considered

that others might think that they had been considered less important,

so in his usual diplomatic way, he tried to adjust the situation in

the above words. He emphasized that Bhismadeva was undoubtedly the

greatest hero, but he was an old man, so everyone must especially

think of his protection from all sides. He might become engaged in the

fight, and the enemy might take advantage of his full engagement on

one side. Therefore, it was important that other heroes not leave

their strategic positions and allow the enemy to break the phalanx.

Duryodhana clearly felt that the victory of the Kurus depended on the

presence of Bhismadeva. He was confident of the full support of

Bhismadeva and Dronacarya in the battle because he well knew that they

did not even speak a word when Arjuna's wife Draupadi, in her helpless

condition, had appealed to them for justice while she was being forced

to appear naked in the presence of all the great generals in the

assembly. Although he knew that the two generals had some sort of

affection for the Pandavas, he hoped that these generals would now

completely give it up, as they had done during the gambling

performances.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.