Gita 1.3
Arjuna Vishada Yoga
पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् । व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ॥३॥
paśyaitāṁ pāṇḍu-putrāṇām āchārya mahatīṁ chamūm vyūḍhāṁ drupada-putreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā
In essence: When we teach others, we arm them—sometimes against ourselves; the master's gift becomes the student's weapon.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "Guruji, I'm confused. Duryodhana is about to fight a war, yet he starts by pointing out that the enemy commander is Drona's own student. Why bring this up now?"
Guru: "What do you think he's really trying to do?"
Sadhak: "Maybe... reminding Drona that he trained the enemy? But that seems counterproductive. Wouldn't that demoralize him?"
Guru: "Or bind him more tightly. Think—if I remind you that someone you trusted is now against you, what emotion arises?"
Sadhak: "Anger. Maybe even a desire to prove myself. To show I'm still superior."
Guru: "Exactly. Duryodhana is not making an observation. He is pulling strings. He wants Drona angry, committed, personally invested in defeating Dhrishtadyumna. He's converting a military duty into a personal vendetta."
Sadhak: "That's... quite manipulative. But Drona must have seen through it?"
Guru: "Perhaps. Great souls often see manipulation but remain bound by their own commitments. Drona had already chosen his side. Seeing the game doesn't mean you can leave the board."
Sadhak: "There's something else troubling me. Drona knew Dhrishtadyumna was born to kill him. Why did he still teach him?"
Guru: "Ah, now you touch the heart of the verse. What would you have done?"
Sadhak: "Honestly? I would have refused. Why train your own executioner?"
Guru: "And if a child comes to your door seeking knowledge—should you ask first, 'Will you one day use this against me?' Is that the dharma of a teacher?"
Sadhak: "No... I suppose real teaching means giving freely, without calculating returns."
Guru: "Drona understood that knowledge belongs to no one. Once you truly become a teacher, you accept that your gift may become another's weapon. The sun doesn't ask whether its light will nurture a garden or a poison plant. It simply shines."
Sadhak: "But isn't that foolish? To knowingly empower your enemy?"
Guru: "Only if you believe self-preservation is the highest value. Drona chose dharma over survival. He chose to be a true Acharya rather than a calculating strategist. Whether this was wisdom or tragedy—that is for each of us to decide."
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