Verse 1, Chapter 1
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः।
मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय॥१॥
(Dhritrashtra said:
“O Sanjay, assembled in the Dharmakshetra Kurukshetra, desirous to fight, what did my sons and sons of Pandu do.”)
This is the opening verse spoken by the blind king Dhritrashtra. It is a question to Sanjay, his charioteer, who was bestowed with divine vision to see the war scene while sitting in the palace at Hastinapur.
Understanding “Dharmakshetra”
“Dharmkshetre” are two words — “Dharma” and “Kshetra” joined together.
To understand Bhagavad Gita, we need to understand both:
- Dharma → the flow of life
- Kshetra → the field in which it flows
The knowledge of Gita is all about the Principles (Dharma) of life in the field (Kshetra).
What is Dharma?
Being a Hindu, a Muslim, or a Christian is not Dharma, but a way of living based on geographical and social conditions. Every religion helps to direct the flow of life.
Dharma is the Principle of life that takes the natural flow towards perfection.
- धर्म (Dharm) = Derived from Sanskrit word धृ meaning “That which upholds”
- क्षेत्र (Kshetra) = Area or field
👉 धर्मक्षेत्रे = The field which upholds the Life
Dharma Yudh – The Real Meaning
The battle of Mahabharata is also known as “Dharma Yudh” — the Battle for upholding the principles.
It was:
- ❌ Not a religious battle
- ❌ Not about supremacy of religion
- ✅ A process of mutation, filtration, and elimination of contradictions in the flow of life
Role of Human Mind
Every object and creature follows natural laws to maintain balance.
👉 It is the human mind that:
- Creates contradictions
- Disobeys natural laws
- Misguides the flow of life
Dharma and Evolution
Each particle in the universe is in motion, interacting and evolving toward perfection.
👉 Dharma is the force that supports this journey toward perfection.
Seed to Tree to Seed
A seed grows into a plant → tree → fruit → seed.
- The seed seeks fulfilment in becoming a tree
- The tree finds fulfilment in becoming a seed again
👉 This is a complete cycle.
Journey:
Unmanifest → Manifest → Unmanifest
👉 This eternal cycle is the Dharma of the seed.
Examples of Natural Law (Dharma)
1. Gravity
I drop a glass on the floor and it breaks.
- Who broke the glass?
👉 Gravity
This law applies to everyone — irrespective of religion or identity.
2. Newton’s Law
If we hit a rubber ball against a wall:
👉 “To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.”
This reaction cannot be challenged.
Dharma as Universal Law
Dharma is the law of cycles:
- Seed → Tree → Seed
- Manifest → Unmanifest
Natural Laws in Nature
There are thousands of universal laws — these are the Dharma of the material world.
Water Cycle Example
- Sea → Vapour → Cloud → Rain → River → Sea
Each stage:
- Fulfils its purpose
- Moves toward the next stage
- Returns to origin
👉 This continuous flow is Dharma.
The Ultimate Principle – Dharma
“The Dharma” is the single principle that guides all other principles.
Once you understand this, nothing more remains to be known.
Dharma and the Universe
- Universe began with Big Bang
- Will end in Black Hole singularity
👉 Everything operates under this universal law (Dharma).
Dharma as Universal Intelligence
- Dharma = Unmanifest DNA of the universe
- Dharma = Software governing material reality
All principles are:
👉 Sub-principles of The Principle (Dharma)
Individuals, Society, and Dharma
1. Individual → Family
An individual acts according to family rules.
2. Family → Caste
Families follow:
- Rituals
- Traditions
- Way of life
3. Caste → Society
Different groups coexist with harmony.
4. Society → Nation
Nation governs all groups through laws.
Hierarchy of Dharma
When conflicts arise:
👉 Nation’s law overrides all sub-laws
- Family Dharma < Society Dharma < National Dharma
👉 National law becomes “The Dharma”
Conclusion
This forms the foundation for understanding Dharma.
Bhagavad Gita will further explore:
- The unmanifest Consciousness
- The ultimate principle behind existence
👉 A dimension still ignored by modern science.