Chapter 1: Arjuna-viṣāda-yoga: – Transforming Grief into YogaVerse 20
अथ व्यवस्थितान् दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान् कपिध्वज: ।
प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसंपाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डव: ।
हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते ॥
atha vyavasthitān dṛṣṭvā
dhārtarāṣṭrān kapi-dhvaja:
pravṛtte śastra-sampāte
dhanur-udyamya pāṇḍava:
hṛṣīkeśaṃ tadā vākyam-
idam-āha mahī-pate – 1.20
O Lord of the Earth (King Dhritarashtra)! When the discharge of arrows was about to begin, seeing the assembled warriors, Arjuna, from his chariot flying aloft the flag with the emblem of Lord Hanumana, lifted his bow, and spoke to Hrisheekesha (Krishna, his charioteer) thus:
Chapter 1: Arjuna-viṣāda-yoga: – Transforming Grief into Yoga - Verse 20
Hearing the narration of Sanjaya, who came running to the blind King to tell the tragic news of the great Bheeshma’s fall, the King, as mentioned earlier, had intercepted him, wanting to know if any dharmic discussion had taken place on Pandavas’ side about attacking the loving and venerable Bheeshma.
Sanjaya had described Duryodhana’s behaviour. Now he narrates what transpired thereupon on Pandavas’ side.
When discharge of arrows was about to start, Arjuna raised his Gandiva confidently and gave Krishna, his charioteer, the first order in Kurukshetra — a very unusual move for an experienced, unrivalled fighter!
