The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair

Sanjaya begins narrating the battle scene. When Duryodhana sees the Pandava army in formation (vyūḍha), he immediately approaches his teacher Drona. On the surface, it looks strategic—a prince consulting his commander. But the verse reveals something deeper: fear disguised as planning. He's the eldest prince with a larger army, yet his first instinct is to seek validation. The Gita quietly shows how insecurity drives some leaders to mentors not for wisdom, but for reassurance.