Verse 1.23 : Arjuna Vishada Yoga "The Grief of Arjuna"
Verse 23 of 47
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The Translation
“Let me look upon those who have assembled here, wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra by fighting on his side.”
Commentary & Insights
Arjuna speaks with a sense of righteous anger. He refers to Duryodhana as durbuddhi (evil-minded or foolish) and views all the assembled Kaurava allies as enablers who are fighting simply to please Duryodhana (priyacikīrṣavaḥ). Arjuna's focus is on justice and the righteousness of his cause.
Practical Application
1
Examine your motivation when confronting others: are you doing it to assert superiority, or to seek truth?
Reflections & Notes
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Self-Reflection Prompts
- Do you tend to view conflicts in your life in a simple 'black and white' manner? How does that affect your ability to resolve them?
- Have you ever supported a bad decision or an unjust person just to 'please' them? What were the consequences?
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1.23
योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः
Arjuna's anger at Duryodhana's foolishness represents the active state of the ego (Rajas), which is ready to fight external obstacles but is not yet ready for self-surrender.