Srimad Bhagavadgita-Rahasya OR Karma-Yoga-Sastra -Bal Gangadhar Tilak
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CHAPTER I.
Description:-[The Kuruksetra is an open space of ground surrounding the city of Hastinapura. The present city of Delhi stands on this field. Kuru, the common ancestor of the Kauravas and the Pandavas, was ploughing this field laboriously by his own hands. That is why it is called 'ksetra' (or, field). It is said in the Bharata, that, when Indra thereafter gave to Kuru the blessing that all those who would die on that field in war or while performing religious austerities, would obtain Heaven, Kuru stopped ploughing the field. [1]. As a result of this blessing, this field came to be called ' dharmaksetra' or 'sacred ground'. There is also a story that Parasurama killed all the Ksatriyas on twenty-one successive occasions on this field, and in that way offered a pious oblation to the manes of his deceased ancestors (made a pitr-tarpana); and there have been big wars, even in modern times, on this field. Translation:-Sanjaya said:[2]
(2)Thereupon, seeing that the army of the Pandavas was (standing) drawn up in battle-array, the prince Duryodhana went to the Preceptor (Drona), and said fit is stated in the chapters of the Mahabharata before the Gita that when Bhisma had first arranged the array of the Kaurava army, the Pandavas, in accordance with the rules of war, arranged their army in an array (vyuha) called the ' Vajra'.[3]. During the course of the war, these military arrays used to be changed every day. (3) O Acarya ! behold this mighty host of the sons of Pandu, of which the array has been arranged by your talented pupil, the son of Drupada (Dhrstadyumna) . |
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