Mahabharata · 6.23.1
॥
Devanāgarī
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः ॥
मामकाः पाण्डवाश् चैव किम् अकुर्वत संजय ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca
dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ ||
māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva kim akurvata saṃjaya ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
धृतराष्ट्र उवाचdhṛtarāṣṭra uvācaDhritarashtra said; Dhritarashtra asked
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रेdharmakṣetre kurukṣetreon the field of dharma, on Kurukshetra; in Dharmakshetra, in Kurukshetra
समवेता युयुत्सवःsamavetā yuyutsavaḥgathered, desiring to fight; assembled for battle
मामकाः पाण्डवाश् चैवmāmakāḥ pāṇḍavāś caivamine and the Pandavas also; my sons and the sons of Pandu
किम् अकुर्वत संजयkim akurvata saṃjayawhat did they do, Sanjaya; how did they act, Sanjaya
Translation
Dhritarashtra asked: "O Sanjaya, what did my sons and the Pandavas do when, desiring to fight, they gathered on the field of dharma, on Kurukshetra?"
Version
1a8b4abc4110 · published Jul 17, 2026, 8:55:05 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The first question of the Gita already reveals Dhritarashtra's inner division: he says "mine" and separately "the Pandavas," though both belong to the same lineage. The sanctity of the field of dharma exposes this partiality and places the battle within the space of moral choice.