Verse 7
"O best of the Brahmans, for your information, let me tell you about the captains
who are especially qualified to lead my military force"
Introduction:
Just as an unbroken wire delivers electricity, let our effort to understand Bhagavad-Gita move smoothly and also stimulate and enlighten us with its ancient yet thoroughly timely message.
Quote: "In the morning I bath my intellect in stupendous and cosmogonal philosophy of Bhagavad-Gita in comparison our modern world and its literation seem puny and trivial" - Henry David Thoreau
Analysis:
In verse 2 to verse 6 Duryodhana describes in detail the strength of his opponent's army to his teacher Dronacharya. He names all the major warriors individually with apt adjectives. The message is that, before engaging in fight ,we must assess the opponents strength very objectively.
After referring to the strength of his opponents he enumerates the warriors of his army and their strength. He is aware that they have risked their lives by supporting him out of loyalty and not conviction.
In this verse Duryodhana addresses Dronacharya as "Twice Born". In those times, twice- born referred to a person who had undergone a prescribed thread ceremony, before commencing study of the scriptures, like the Vedas. This ceremony was treated like a second-birth, and was mandatory for all Brahmins, engaged in the study and preaching of the scriptures.
Dronacharya is a highly respected Brahmin. He is also a great warrior, reluctantly consenting to join Duryodhan’s army out of loyalty to him. By addressing Dronacharya as the best of twice-born, Duryodhan is conveying his appreciation that the acharya was fighting for him, unmindful of his duties as a Brahmin.
Verse 7 Contributed by Anu Nagraj.
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