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ಸಂಜಯ ಉವಾಚ ।
ದೃಷ್ಟ್ವಾತು ಪಾಂಡವಾನೀಕಂ ವ್ಯೂಢಂ ದುರ್ಯೋಧನಸ್ತದಾ।
ಆಚಾರ್ಯಮುಪಸಂಗಮ್ಯ ರಾಜಾ ವಚನಮಬ್ರವೀತ್ ॥೨॥
saṃjaya uvāca |
dṛṣṭvātu pāṃḍavānīkaṃ vyūḍhaṃ duryodhanastadā|
ācāryamupasaṃgamya rājā vacanamabravīt ||2||
Gist of the sloka:
Sanjaya said: King Duryodhana in anticipation of the beginning of the battle, viewing the Pandavas assembled army, moved towards his Acharya and spoke as follows:
Explanation:
Before getting into further analysis, it’s important to first understand the armed formations.
There were total of 18 Akshohinis [~almost like Army Battalion] in the Mahabharatha battle. Of which 11 of them belonged to Kauravas and 7 to Pandavas. Akshohinis indicate very large diverse armed formations. The basic unit/divisions of the army is as follows:
One Pathi – 1 Elephant [1 Mahout + 1 fighter], 1 Chariot [2 to protect the wheels, 1 to
supply arrows and 1 to fight], 3 Horse fighters plus 5 infantry soldiers.
Sena Mukha – 3 Pathi’s
Gulma – 3 Sena Mukha’s
Guna – 3 Gulma’s
Vahini – 3 Guna’s
Pruthana – 3 Vahini’s
Chamu – 3 Pruthana’s
Anikeshani – 3 Chamu’s
Akshohini – 10 Anikeshani [21,870 Elephant’s, 21,879; Chariot’s, 65,610 Horse’s; 1,09,350 Infantry soldiers].
Please note the significance of the numbers [akshouhini]: Elephants . 2+1+8+7+0=18, Horses 6+5+6+1+0=18, Infantry 1+0+9+3+5+0=18.
Both the armies never assembled their entire strength in the battlefield on day 1. Rather they brought forth only a small percentage of the armies and stood them in formulations [vyuha]. These vyuha would be for defensive or offensive battlefield formulations as per the orders of the battlefield commanders for that given day.
Duryodhana only saw a 10% of one Akshohini of the Pandavas. This was equivalent of 2,187 Elephants, 2,187 Chariots, 6,561 Horses, 10,935 soldiers. A very small percentage of the total strength of Pandavas. More importantly, he noticed that the formation was well organized by determined and disciplined army of Pandavas.
This shook Duryodhana and amplified his anxiety and gave raise to his fears. This was the first mental shock to Duryodhana.
He then proceeds towards his Acharya [Guru/guide] Dronacharya. Dronacharya was the Guru, who taught most of the warriors in the battlefield, including Pandavas and Kauravas.
Rather than showing his obedience and respectfulness to the Dronacharya, Duryodhana talks to him in a tone showing his haughtiness and arrogance, clearly demonstrating his position as a King [not as his disciple] and his inner doubts about his Guru.
Duryodhana had all along come to the battlefield with a belief in his strength [11Akshohinis], belief in the warriors he had and with a strong expectation that he would definitely win and obtain the kingdom wiping out Pandavas.
We can clearly see the psychological impact the small armed formation of the Pandavas had on Duryodhana’s mind. Just looking at them, he mentally lost the first battle and beginning to have serious doubts about his winnability. His severe anxiety about the situation developed, making him show his arrogance even in front of his Guru and he started developing psychological fears. This is more clearly brought out in the next slokas.
It is true for most of us also. We first loose the battle in our minds even before the actual event. The loss of our mental belief in ourselves reflects in the actual action. It is therefore important we win our mental battle first before anything. Be it everyday issues or battling diseases.