CHAPTER 1, TEXT 10: Our strength is immeasurable, and we are perfectly protected by Grandfather Bhīṣma, whereas the strength of the Pāṇḍavas, carefully protected by Bhīma, is limited.
Duryodhana, the king of the Kurus, is speaking to his commander in chief, outlining all the reasons that they shall be victorious in this great battle. To give some context, the Kurus are in the wrong in this war and the character of the king is rotted through - he is envious and fearful (38) - and his rule is unjust.
King Duryodhana, though, is confident in the strength of his armies and the protection of his general, Grandfather Bhisma. He contrasts the experienced and powerful leadership of Bhisma, whose protection is "perfect", with the inexperienced leadership of Bhima - the general of the opposing side - whose protection is merely "careful" and "limited." In his purport, Prabhupad not only reiterates this imbalance of experience and power, he actually agrees with Duryodhana: "Bhima is like a fig in the presence of Bhisma" (38) and that Bhisma is the "far superior general" (39).
Just because the Kurus are unfit to rule and are fighting for an unjust cause does not mean that they are weak or inexperienced. Indeed, there are many great war heroes on the side of the Kurus who are laying their lives on the line and Grandfather Bhisma is legendary for his military leadership. Prabhhupad concludes his purport by saying that, "[Duryodhana's] conclusion that he would come out of the battle victorious was well ascertained" (39).
Prabhupad is nodding to Duryodhana's logic!
Duryodhana, the king of the Kurus, is speaking to his commander in chief, outlining all the reasons that they shall be victorious in this great battle. To give some context, the Kurus are in the wrong in this war and the character of the king is rotted through - he is envious and fearful (38) - and his rule is unjust.
King Duryodhana, though, is confident in the strength of his armies and the protection of his general, Grandfather Bhisma. He contrasts the experienced and powerful leadership of Bhisma, whose protection is "perfect", with the inexperienced leadership of Bhima - the general of the opposing side - whose protection is merely "careful" and "limited." In his purport, Prabhupad not only reiterates this imbalance of experience and power, he actually agrees with Duryodhana: "Bhima is like a fig in the presence of Bhisma" (38) and that Bhisma is the "far superior general" (39).
Just because the Kurus are unfit to rule and are fighting for an unjust cause does not mean that they are weak or inexperienced. Indeed, there are many great war heroes on the side of the Kurus who are laying their lives on the line and Grandfather Bhisma is legendary for his military leadership. Prabhhupad concludes his purport by saying that, "[Duryodhana's] conclusion that he would come out of the battle victorious was well ascertained" (39).
Prabhupad is nodding to Duryodhana's logic!
But logic and material measures of strength and experience are not the ultimate determiner of destiny. I think we can all agree that even in our own experience we know that material measures of strength or intelligence do not guarantee victory.
In 2007, the New England Patriots football team were undefeated in the regular season - they won all 16 games. They went to the ultimate American showdown - The Superbowl.
They lost. The New York Giants won - and their record was mediocre in comparison to the Patriots's perfection.
We could offer countless examples from history when armies, teams, athletes, film directors, and more were confident in their own capabilities, and the conclusion that they would come out victorious was well-ascertained. But they lost. We could offer countless examples from our own lives when we were confident in our capabilities and our likelihood for victory. But we lost.
In the verses that follow this particular verse, Verse 10, the Gita describes the auspicious advantages of the Pandavas. Symbols and signs all point towards the victory of the righteous side, even though their armies are smaller and their general less experienced.
Why?
Krishna is on their side.
The conch shell that Grandfather Bhisma blows makes the sound "like the roar of a lion, giving Duryodhana joy" (1.12) and when more conch shells join in on the side of the Kurus, the sound is "tumultuous" (1.13). But when Krishna and Arjuna "sound their transcendental conchshells" (1.14) the vibration is "uproarious" and "shatter[s] the hearts of the sons of Dhrtarastra [the Kurus]" (1.9). The contrast of the sounds of the conch shells of the Kurus versus the Pandavas show us who has already won the war. The conch shell on the side of the Kurus roars like a lion, but it's described that it only gives Duryodhana joy, whereas the conch shell on the side of the Pandavas is transcendental and uproarious. The sound transcends material calculations of the strength of armies and the experience of generals and thus shatters the hearts of the Kurus.
Ultimately, we know that the Pandavas win this war. But if we look carefully at the beginning of the Bhagavad-gita, we see that in fact, the Pandavas have won this war even before a single arrow has flown across the sky. Victory is not external. Victory is being in alignment with Krishna.
Material victories and material losses are insignificant in the light of the more profound victory of being righteous and having Krishna on my side. Even if I lose everyone and everything, if I align myself with Krishna, there is no loss. Victory is ascertained.
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