Choose guidance that is beside you, rather than a military force.

The Bhagavad Gita does not begin in a quiet meditation room, but rather on a battlefield where two armies are facing each other. Furthermore, Arjuna, the one receiving the teachings, is not an unwavering hero. Faced with the reality that relatives, teachers, and friends are divided into opposing sides, he becomes paralyzed by emotions, ethics, responsibility, and fear.

On the battlefield, Krishna is serving as Arjuna's charioteer. When preparations for war began, both Duryodhana and Arjuna sought Krishna's help. The options presented were a powerful army or Krishna himself, who would not take up arms and fight.

Duryodhana chooses the army, and Arjuna chooses Krishna. This is not simply a comparison of strength. It's a scene where one must choose between selecting external power that can be seen, or choosing guidance that will be with them and show them the way forward.

Because Arjuna chose Krishna himself, he asked questions while on the chariot, and in response to his confusion, the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita were spoken. The first chapter begins not from a place where someone knows the answer, but from a place where someone doesn't know what to do.

Japanese Translation from the Gita Press Edition - Chapter 1: The Entrance and Until Krishna Becomes the Charioteer

From here, we will enter Chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita text.

However, before directly entering the poem itself, there is a title for Chapter 1, a summary of the entire work, and a narrative introduction.

Here, what is important is: why Krishna became Arjuna's charioteer, and why Sanjaya can describe the scene of the battlefield.

The teachings of Geeta do not begin with abstract lectures.

Before the war, Arjuna is in doubt, and on his chariot, he is guided by Krishna. This begins with a specific scene.

Chapter 1 is an introduction to the teachings of the Gita.

Here, first, the main warriors of both armies are mentioned, and then, Arjuna is depicted as falling into deep despair.

This feeling of disappointment, is not simply being treated as mere weakness.

If you come into contact with an advanced soul, it can also be an opportunity to detach from attachments to worldly pleasures.

Therefore, Chapter 1 is titled: "The Yoga of Arjuna's Despair."

Chapter 1 begins with Dhritarashtra asking Sanjay about the situation of the war.

Sanjay describes how Duryodhana went to Drona's place and looked out at the enemy army.

After that, the names of the main warriors on both sides are mentioned, and the sound of the conch shell, a large sound echoing across the battlefield, is described.

Arjuna asked Krishna to place the chariot between the two armies.

There, he sees his relatives lined up on both sides, enemies and allies, as well as his teacher and friends.

And he fell into deep sorrow and confusion, thinking of the sin of fighting, the breaking of family and tradition, and the chaos of society. Finally, he put down his bow and sank into the chariot.

This is the overall flow of Chapter 1.

After that, as a prelude to the story, the reasons why this war occurred are explained.

The Pandavas, lost their property and kingdom through gambling, and were exiled to the forest for twelve years, followed by a year of incognito.

After that period, I will demand the return of the kingdom, but Duryodhana refuses this request.

Negotiations failed, and both sides began preparations for war.

At that time, Duryodhana and Arjuna both visited Dwarka on the same day to seek Krishna's help.

Because Krishna was sleeping, Duryodhana sat beside his head, and Arjuna stood near his feet, with hands pressed together.

Krishna woke up, first saw Arjuna, and then noticed Duryodhana.

When Krishna learned that two people had come seeking help, he presented them with two options.

On one side, a powerful Narayani army.

On the other hand, Krishna himself did not participate in the battle, and he did not take up any weapons.

Normally, if you think about it, a military force appears to have greater power.

Duryodhana, selects his powerful army, and happily returns.

However, Arjuna chooses Krishna himself, who does not fight.

And, as a long-held wish in my heart, I ask Krishna to become my charioteer.

Krishna gladly accepted this request, and became the driver of Arjuna's chariot.

Here, the scene for Githa is prepared.

The Gita does not begin simply with God imparting teachings from a distance.

Krishna gets into Arjuna's chariot, and begins to guide him from beside him.

After that, Krishna went to Hastinapura as an envoy for the Pandava side in order to avoid war.

However, Duryodhana refuses to give up even a piece of land that is smaller than the tip of a needle.

Thus, the war becomes something that cannot be avoided.

Another important point is Sanjaya's position.

Just before the battle, the sage Vyasa offered to Dhritarashtra the power to see the battlefield with his own eyes.

However, Dritharashtra did not want to see his own clan being killed directly, and he said that he wanted to hear the details of the battle.

There, Vyasa gave Sanjaya divine sight.

Therefore, Sanjaya was able to know about events happening on the battlefield directly and could tell them to Dhritarashtra.

Knowing this structure will make it easier to understand the format of Chapter 1, Section 1.

The Gita begins with Dritharashtra questioning Sanjaya.

On the battlefield, what did my children and the Pandavas do?

In response to that question, Sanjaya begins to speak.

This is the end of the preface that comes before Chapter 1.