In this opening verse, the blind king Dhritarashtra addresses his charioteer and advisor, Sanjaya. The dialogue takes place just before the Kurukshetra War is about to begin. Dhritarashtra, blind both physically and metaphorically, lacks the ability to see the battlefield. Therefore, he relies on Sanjaya to provide him with a detailed account of the events transpiring on the sacred grounds of Kurukshetra.

The term "Dharmakshetra" refers to the field of righteousness or virtue, and "Kurukshetra" is the geographical location where the great war is to unfold. The juxtaposition of these two names carries profound symbolic significance. Kurukshetra, beyond being a physical battleground, represents the moral and ethical arena where the conflict between right and wrong, justice and injustice, will play out.

The word "Samaveta" indicates the gathering or assembly of warriors on both sides, ready and eager to engage in battle ("Yuyutsavah" – desiring to fight). The two groups are identified as "Mamakaha" (my sons, referring to the Kauravas, Dhritarashtra's offspring) and "Pandavashchaiva" (the sons of Pandu, referring to the Pandavas).

Dhritarashtra's question to Sanjaya, "Kimakurvata Sanjaya?" (What did they do, Sanjaya?), reflects his deep concern and anxiety about the fate of his sons and the unfolding war. It also sets the stage for Sanjaya to narrate the events of the battlefield in the subsequent chapters of the Bhagavad Gita.

This verse establishes the central theme of the Bhagavad Gita – the moral and philosophical discourse between Lord Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. The battlefield becomes a metaphor for the challenges and dilemmas faced by individuals in the journey of life, where the choices made have profound consequences. The Bhagavad Gita, through its timeless teachings, addresses the eternal principles of duty, righteousness, and the path to spiritual realization.