BG 1.2 Listen

Sanjaya begins narrating events on the battlefield from the perspective of the king's eldest son, Duryodhana. In the Mahabharata, Duryodhana is the leader of the Kauravas - the one hundred sons of the king Dhritarashtra, who are often portrayed as rude, egotistical, and cruel. The five sons of Dhritarashtra's half-brother Pandu are known as the Pandavas, who now stand prepared for battle against them.

āchāryamupasaṅgamya

The rivalry between the Pandavas and Kauravas goes back to their childhood, when both groups of princes are placed under the tutelage of the esteemed teacher Drona, who is often referred to as Dronacharya (āchārya being the honorific used for a teacher). In the events leading up to the war, Drona is compelled by oath of loyalty to join the war on behalf of Duryodhana and the Kauravas, despite his strong condemnation of their abusive behavior at various important points in the Mahabharata. In the next nine verses, Sanjaya is relaying a dialog that Duryodhana will have with his teacher, as they stand in formation before the battle begins.