Geetaa-Prolog

1. Geetaa - Index
2. Geetaa - Introduction
3. Geetaa - How to Read This Geetaa
4. Geetaa - Prolog

In Dwaapar Yug, in Hastinaapur, there ruled a king named Shaantanu who had one son from Gangaa named Devavrat (later called Bheeshm). Devavrat vowed to be lifelong Brahmchaaree to fulfill the condition of Daash Raaj so that his father could marry Daash Raaj's daughter Satyavatee. Shaantanu had two sons more from Satyavatee - Chitraangad and Vichitraveerya. 

Chitraangad died without marriage and Vichitraveerya was married to two Kaashee princesses, Ambikaa and Ambaalikaa, but he also died early, childless. Then Satyavatee called Ved Vyaas, her first-born son from Maharshi Paraashar, and he produced three sons - Dhritraashtra from Ambikaa, Paandu from Ambaalikaa and Vidur from the maid of Ambikaa. Since Dhritraashtra was blind, and Vidur was a maid's son, Paandu was appointed the king of Hastinaapur. Paandu was married to Kuntee and Maadree and Dhritraashtra was married to Gaandhaaree.

Unfortunately, Paandu killed a Rishi by mistake. That Rishi died after giving him a Shaap that he would live childless and would die whenever he will be with his wife. Fortunately Kuntee had a Mantra, given by Muni Durvaasaa, to call Devtaa, so she had three sons for herself - Yudhishthir from Dharm Raaj, Bheem from Pavan Dev, and Arjun from Indra Dev; and two sons - Nakul and Sahadev from Ashwinee Kumaar for Maadree. Eventually Paandu died, Maadree became Satee with him and Kuntee came back to Hastinaapur with her five sons.

Gaandhaaree had 100 sons and one daughter. Duryodhan was her eldest son but he was younger to Kuntee's first two sons. When Paandav (Paandu's sons) came to live in the palace, Duryodhan thought as if his royal rights have been snatched. So he was always jealous with Paandav. He tried to even kill them several times but could not succeed. When they grew up Yudhishthir was declared the Crown Prince. This was just unacceptable to Duryodhan. Arjun won Draupadee in Swayamvar but she was married to all five Paandav later at the order of Kuntee. Duryodhan was not happy with this marriage also.

But after the marriage of Draupadee, Duryodhan clearly refused to live with Paandav in the same kingdom, so Dhritraashtra had to divide the kingdom. Duryodhan lived in Hastinaapur, and Paandav were given Khaandavprasth. They inhabited Indraprasth for themselves at the place of Khaandavprasth. Still Duryodhan was not satisfied. He was jealous of everything of Paandav. So he conspired with his Maamaa Shakuni and invited Paandav for dice game, for which they came. There he cheated them, so Yudhishthir lost the game. He lost everything including his kingdom and riches, even Draupadee. Duryodhan was looking for this opportunity. He asked Dushaasan to bring Draupadee in the court. He did so by pulling her hair. Duryodhan ordered him to take off her all the clothes also in the court. Dushaasan tried but Krishn helped her and he could not do so. Later Draupadee could succeed to get everything back for Yudhishthir from Dhritraashtra. Duryodhan was not at all happy with this. He thought of another plan and played the dice game second time. This time also Yudhishthir lost the game and they had to go to forest for 12 years and one year of Agyaatvaas, along with Draupadee, according to the condition.

When they had successfully completed their term of banishment, they asked Dhritraashtra as what did he want. Did he want to give their rights peacefully, or give them by fight. Duryodhan point blankly refused to give them the land even equal to point of a needle. This resulted in war. 

Kurukshetra field was decided for fighting. Both armies gathered in the field the day war was to start. Bheeshm declared the war by blowing his conch, and after that all others, including Paandav's army, also blew their conches. Then Arjun asked Krishn, his Saarathee, to take his chariot in the middle of both the armies so that he could see those people with whom he was going to fight, so Krishn did. There when he saw his elders, brothers, friends, relatives, well-wishers standing opposite to him with the desire to fight with him, seeing them all he trembled with emotions, he kept his bow down, he sat down in the back of his chariot with sorrow and said to Krishn - "Hey Krishn, Are these the people I am going to fight? They are all my elders, brothers, friends, relatives etc. I cannot be happy after killing them. What is the use of that kingdom in which our own people are not there. I cannot fight with them." 

Then whatever Krishn told him to encourage him to fight, that is known and famous as Geetaa. The same dialog is given here. Ved Vyaas Jee gave Sanjay, Dhritraashtra's Saarathee, the Divine eyes to see the war scenes and report them to Dhritraashtra as he was blind, so this Geetaa starts with Dhritraashtra's question - "Hey Sanjay, Tell me what Paandav and my sons did in battlefield?"