Denial

Denial in the Bhagavad Gita — 3 verses across Chapter 1, including 1.1, 1.10, 1.23. Sanskrit, Hindi, English. One reel per verse.

v1.1· Dhritarashtra

The Gita opens with a question no one wanted answered.

A blind king asks what's happening on a battlefield he'll never see. His first word — "my sons" — reveals he already chose a side.

The hardest questions are the ones you already know the answer to.

— Krishna
v1.10· Duryodhan

Scholars have fought over this verse for 2,000 years. Both sides are right.

"Our army, protected by Bhishma, is aparyaptam — unlimited." Or "insufficient." The word means both. He said it out loud and meant one thing, but the truth leaked.

Your tongue says what your heart can't hide.

— Krishna
v1.23· Arjun

Arjun called Duryodhan 'evil-minded.' Then he saw who was fighting for him.

Let me see them — those who assembled here to please the evil-minded Duryodhan. Show me who chose his side. He had no idea what he was about to see.

It's easy to call the other side evil — until you see your own family standing there.

— Krishna

[ FAQ ]

What does the Bhagavad Gita say about denial?
The Bhagavad Gita addresses denial across 3 verses in Chapter 1. A blind king asks what's happening on a battlefield he'll never see. His first word — "my sons" — reveals he already chose a side. As Krishna puts it: "The hardest questions are the ones you already know the answer to."
Which verses of the Gita are about denial?
Verse 1.1, Verse 1.10, Verse 1.23 in Chapter 1 (Arjun Vishad Yoga) all engage with denial. Each is presented in Sanskrit, Hindi, and English at thegitauniverse.com.
Who speaks about denial in the Bhagavad Gita?
3 different speakers in Chapter 1 invoke denial: Dhritarashtra, Duryodhan, Arjun. The verses span the opening dialogue between Sanjaya, Dhritarashtra, Duryodhan, Bhishma, Arjun, and Krishna.

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