Bhagavad Gita for Modern World: Chapter 1 Verse 23
Chapter 1 Verse 23 explained
Literal Translation:
Arjuna said:
I want to see all those who have gathered here today for war, the ones who hold the wicked son of Dhritarashtra i.e. Duryodhana dear and want to please him.
Commentary:
Many warriors Kings fighting on the Kaurava side, did so not because they thought that Duryodhana or the Kauravas was fighting for a just cause, but for the sole reason that they thought that Kauravas who held power at Hastinapur would emerge to be victorious in the war given the massive resources of Hastinapur and the warriors like Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Ashwathama etc fighting for the Kauravas, who were considered to be undefeatable.
Thus the war of Mahabharata didn’t represent a clash of ideologies but rather a political clash on the battlefield. People had to choose sides and many sided with the ruling power, despite the fact that many of these people didn’t like Duryodhana as a person. Yet, they wanted to please him as being in Duryodhana’s good books would ensure greater favours for themselves or their kingdom after the presumed victory of the Kuravas in the war of Kurukshetra.
The warriors who sided with Pandavas were the ones who were either in a direct relationship with the Pandavas or had a high degree of dislike or even animosity for the Kauravas, which couldn’t be taken away even with the lure of wealth.
Thus it is no surprise the Kaurava camp was bigger in military strength as compared to Pandavas, and thus had the upper hand even before the war had started.
