Verse 1.1
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच |
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः |
मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ||1||
धृतराष्ट्रः =
धृत =
√धृ (= to hold, sustain, support) +
क्त प्रत्ययः (form adjectives and nouns with past tense and passive voice meanings)
∴ धृत = held , borne , maintained , supported, kept , possessed
राष्ट्रः
राज् (To rule, govern; To direct, regulate - from Apte dictionary)
+ ष्ट्रन् प्रत्यय
An औणादिक प्रत्यय, which means it is not given in the list of general Sanskrit suffixes, but is used with certain specific dhatus, in this case, राज्
Adds त्र to the root
∴ राष्ट्र = a kingdom, realm, empire, dominion, country
Its पुल्लिङ्गी प्रथमा एकवचन form
धृतराष्ट्रः
उवाच
√वच् +
लिट् लकार कर्तरि प्रयोग परस्मैपद प्रथम पुरुष एकवचन
∴ उवाच = (he) said
धर्मक्षेत्रे
√धृ +
मन् +
क्षेत्र |
Its नपुंसकलिङ्ग सप्तमी एकवचन form
∴ धर्मक्षेत्रे = in the field (battlefield) of Dharma (where Dharma was to be fought for)
कुरुक्षेत्रे
कुरु
√कृ + कर्तरि प्रयोग लोट् लकार (आज्ञार्थक) परस्मैपद मध्यम पुरुष एकवचन
∴ (you) do (indicating order, or request, or permission)
क्षेत्र
Its नपुंसकलिङ्ग सप्तमी एकवचन form
in the field of Kurus
Alternate meaning - In the land where people were ordered 'to do' (to fight)
∴ कुरुक्षेत्रे = In the field of action/ in the land of Kuru clan
समवेताः
सम्
'वि-' Prefix ⇒ differentiating, here 'especially'
√इ = to go
Its पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा बहुवचन form
∴ समवेताः = assembled
युयुत्सवः
√युध् = to fight+ सन् प्रत्यय (expresses the meaning of desire or wish)
युयुत्सु = desiring to fight
Its उकारान्त पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा बहुवचन form
∴ युयुत्सवः = (Warriors) desirous of a battle
मामकाः
मामक related to मम (अस्मद् सर्वनाम 'I' its षष्ठी एकवचन form)
Its पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा बहुवचन
∴ मामकाः = my people (or sons)
पाण्डवाः
पाण्डु + व patronymic प्रत्यय ⇒ progency of-
Its पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा बहुवचन form
∴ पाण्डवाः = Pandavas
च (अव्यय) = and
एव (अव्यय) = indeed, only
किम्
particle of interrogation
∴ किम् = what?
अकुर्वत
कृ = to do कर्तरि प्रयोग लङ् लकार (अनद्यतन भूतकाल) आत्मनेपद प्रथम पुरुष बहुवचन
∴ अकुर्वत = did (they) do
सञ्जय
सम् (completely, comprehensively)
+ √जि (to conquer)
+ भावे or अच् प्रत्यय
= सञ्जय
Its पुंलिङ्ग सम्बोधन एकवचन
∴ सञ्जय, here = O Sanjaya,
Literal Translation (Word-by-Word):
In the field of dharma (धर्मक्षेत्रे), in the field of the Kurus (कुरुक्षेत्रे), assembled together (समवेताः), desirous of battle (युयुत्सवः), my sons (मामकाः) and the sons of Pandu (पाण्डवाः च एव) — what (किम्) did they do (अकुर्वत), O Sanjaya (सञ्जय)?
Flowing Translation (Easy English):
O Sanjaya, in the holy land of Kurukshetra, where dharma is fought for, when my sons and the sons of Pandu had assembled, eager to fight — tell me, what did they do?
Notes:
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Multiple meanings of the word कुरुक्षेत्रे are possible. The verb root √कृ means to do or to make. Its Second Person Singular मध्यम पुरुष एकवचन Imperative Mood लोट् लकार (आज्ञार्थक) form leads to कुरु meaning “Do” indicating command or request. However, "कुरु" also refers to an ancient Indian people and their kingdom. Both the sides involved in the battle - the Pandavas & the Kauravas, were descendents of these Kurus. Therefore, here the word कुरुक्षेत्र could both mean - The field of action, or the field of Kuru people.
-
Dhritarashtra uses separate words for Kaurava (using मामकाः,i.e., my people) and पाण्डवाः (sons of Pandu). This shows his bias and tilt towards his sons, although, in the Mahabharata, he claims to be equal towards both his own sons and nephews.