Bhagavad-Gita 1-2

Then Sanjaya responds:

DrushTvaatu panDavaaneekam YooDam duryodhanastada

aacharyamupasaMgamya raja vachanamabraveet ||2||

"Looking at the arrangement of the Pandavas army, King Duryodhana goes to his guru Dronacharya and spoke the following words."

The author of Bhagavad-Gita wants to tell us about the very important conversation between Krishna and Arjuna. But in that eagerness he did not jump to their conversation directly. He had to answer the question asked by Dhritarashtra. Sanjaya knows that Dhritarashtra is interested in none other than Duryodhana as he is the personification of his ego; his only means to achieve his dreams. He couldn’t have proceeded any further without answering this question. This is an important lesson in communication too- first one has to answer the question asked and can speak other things later whatever may be the importance one attaches to the other things in comparison with the question asked.

Other points which are interesting are:

A.    Sanjaya uses the title of King for Duryodhana though Dhritaraashtra was the King.

B.    Duryodhana looking at the Pandavas army discusses with Drona and not Bheeshma who was the Commander-in-Chief (CIC).

The possible explanations why the title King was used would be:

1.     It would bring happiness to King Dhritaraashtra

2.     It indicates that Duryodhana might win the war - which is what Dhritaraashtra wanted to hear.

3.     It indicates that Duryodhana was in control though Dhritaraashtra was the king

4.     It might mean that Duryodhana was the personification of Dhritaraashtra's ego and that both Dhritaraashtra and Duryodhana were one and the same.

Any of the above may be right or it is possible that there might be another valid explanation.

The reasons for talking to Drona and not Bheeshma may be:

1.     He had better rapport with Drona than with Bheeshma because:

a.     Drona was his guru and he interacted with him since childhood more often than Bheesma, who was away at war most of the times expanding and protecting the kingdom.

b.     Drona was the father of one of his best friends Ashwatthama.

2.     It shows diplomacy of Duryodhana. Many in this war had chosen their sides because of many political and personal compulsions and not by choice. Drona was on Kauravas side because of his loyalty to Dhritaraashtra whereas Bhishma was there because of his vow to protect the king of Hastinapur. Again, Bhishma was made the CIC because of political compulsions and not by choice. Duryodhana needed to speak to others and keep them in the loop, especially Drona who was next in line to become CIC. These great warriors were reluctant warriors in this Great War. This highlights the fragility within the mighty Kaurava army.

            With this background I was trying to reason out the compulsions of Dronacharya to fight for Kauravas rather than Pandavas.

1.     His loyalty towards Dhritarashtra because he was his employee.

2.     His personal fight against Drupada. Drupada was his childhood friend turned foe. He was father-in-law of Arjuna and hence was fighting on Pandavas' side. He could not be on the same side as his foe. Kurukshetra war was also his personal war against Drupada.

3.     Third and the main reason was his blind affection towards his son Ashwatthama. Ashwattama was a close friend of Duryodhana. He was very sure in his mind that he would fight for Duryodhana come what may. If Drona had chosen Dharma he would have been in a situation where he would be pitched against his own son. Similar to Dhritaraashtra, Drona was probably blinded by his attachment to his son. It was this weakness that Lord Krishna utilizes later in the war to emotionally perturb and distract Dronacharya.