A story moment · reflective in mood · easy to enter
“Conflict becomes real when you look at the people involved.”
I want to see those who have gathered here, eager to fight and wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
Read literallythose eager to fight · I want to see · I · who · these · here · assembled · of Dhritarashtra’s son · of the evil-minded · in battle · wishing to please
Arjuna wants to inspect the warriors gathered on the opposite side, especially those fighting for Duryodhana.
Arjuna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Arjuna Vishada Yoga" (The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair).
Verse 23 sits in Chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita — Arjuna Vishada Yoga, "The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair". The chapter has 47 verses in total.
Before a property dispute reaches court, you want to know which relatives have signed on with the other side. Arjuna asks for the same list: who has come here to fight for Duryodhana.
Did you like this verse?
Arjuna wants to see who has come to please Duryodhana, whom he calls the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra.
What this verse means
Arjuna wants to inspect the warriors gathered on the opposite side, especially those fighting for Duryodhana.
Context & commentary
Arjuna asked Krishna to place the chariot between the armies. Now, in the charged silence before the battle, he wants to see the warriors who have come to support Duryodhana. This is the moment his hesitation turns into a direct look at the cost of war.
What it looks like today
Before a property dispute reaches court, you want to know which relatives have signed on with the other side. Arjuna asks for the same list: who has come here to fight for Duryodhana.
“Before a hard choice, he looks directly at the people involved instead of hiding from the reality.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), arjuna (52 verses), battlefield (20 verses)