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Chapter 1
Link:-In the beginning of this chapter, Dhrtarastra asked Sanjaya. "What did my sons and the sons of Pandu do, while assembled on the battlefield?" Therefore, Sanjaya explained from the second to the thirteenth verses, what Dhrtarastra's sons did In the next verse, Sanjaya says what Pandu's sons did.
tatah svetairhayairyukte mahati syandane sthitau
madhavah pandavascaiva divyau sankhau pradadhmatuh
Then, seated in a glorious chariot drawn by white horses, Sri Krsna as well as Arjuna, blew their divine conchs. 14
Comment:-
Tatah svetairhayairyukte:-The Gandharva (a celestial musician) named Citraratha gave Arjuna, one hundred divine horses. It was ordained that they would always remain one hundred in number even though many of them were killed, on the battlefield. They could go to heaven or live on the earth. Out of these, one hundred horses, four beautiful and well-trained horses, were harnessed to Arjunas chariot.
Mahati syandane sthitau:-The Fire-god (Agni) suffered from indigestion because a lot of 'ghee' (clarifted butter) was offered in a holy sacrifice to him. Therefore, though the fire-god wanted to cure his indigestion by consuming medicinal herbs of the Khandava forest, but he was unable to do it because it was protected by other gods.Whenever he tried to burn it, 'Indra, the king of the gods extinguished the fire with the rain. At last, with Arjuna's help Agni cured his indigestion, by burning the whole forest and being pleased with Arjuna, Agni gave him a very large and glorious chariot. As many weapons and missiles as could be accommodated in nine bullock carts, were held in it. It was gilded and glorious. Its wheels were strong and huge. It's flag, shone like lightning over about a 'Yojana (eight miles), in distance. In spite of being so long it was neither heavy, nor could, it stop or be entangled in trees etc., Hanuman (the monkey-god, who acted as a spy in Rama's march against Ravana), was the emblem on the flag.
Sthitau:-'Sthitau' means, that the beautiful and glorious chariot became more so, because Lord Krsna Himself, and His dear devotee Arjuna, were sitting in it.
Madhavah pandavascaiva:-'Ma' is Laksmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and 'Dhava,' is the husband or owner. Therefore, 'Madhava' means the Lord of Laksmi, Sri Krsna, the incarnation of Lord Visnu. Here, Pandava, has been used for Arjuna, because he is the chief among the Pandavas—'Pandavanam Dhananjayah; (Gita 10/37). [Lord Krsna says, "Among the Pandavas, I am Dhananjaya (Arjuna).]" (He has been called chief among the Pandavas, because he had no individuality, apart from Lord Krsna.)
Arjuna and Sri Krsna were the incarnations of 'Nara' and 'Narayana, respectively. In the beginning of every 'Parva' (section) of Mahabharata, there is salutation to Nara (Arjuna) and Narayana [1]. Thus, from this point of view also, Lord Krsna and Arjuna both, were chiefs. Sanjaya also says in the last verse of the Gita, "Wherever there is Sri Krsna, the Lord of Yoga, and wherever is Arjuna, the wielder of the bow (Gandiva bow), there are prosperity, victory, glory and righteousness; this is my conviction" [2].
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