Ravi stood at the window, his cup of coffee long gone cold. The city lights shimmered below, but his mind was elsewhere—caught in the web of his own thoughts. A night ago, he had stood at this very spot, questioning his future, torn between the security of his corporate job and the uncertain promise of his startup dream. He had found some comfort in the words of the ancient scripture, in the realization that every man faces his own battlefield. But tonight was different. Tonight, the battlefield was no longer just within him—it was playing out in the real world.
His phone buzzed. A message from an old college friend, Aman. Ravi unlocked his phone, only to feel his heart sink. Aman had just announced his new startup on LinkedIn—fully funded, backed by a well-known investor, and already making waves in the industry. It was eerily similar to what Ravi had envisioned for himself.
His stomach tightened. This was it. The thing he feared the most. The validation of his doubt. The proof that someone else had done what he only thought about doing.
Without realizing it, Ravi found himself scrolling through Aman’s post, reading every congratulatory comment, every excited reaction. His chest felt heavier with each passing second. It was as if the world had moved ahead, and he had stayed behind.
He closed his eyes and sighed. He needed to talk to someone. He needed reassurance. His mind raced through names—who could he turn to? His boss? A mentor? His father?
Then, almost instinctively, he opened the Bhagavad Gita app again. The verse that appeared on the screen seemed to speak directly to him.
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता 1.2
सञ्जय उवाच
दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा।
आचार्यमुपसंगम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत्।।
Transliteration:
Sañjaya uvācha
Dṛiṣṭvā tu Pāṇḍavānīkaṁ vyūḍhaṁ Duryodhanastadā
Āchāryamupasaṅgamya rājā vachanamabravīt
Translation:
Sanjaya said:
“Seeing the army of the Pandavas arranged in military formation, King Duryodhana approached his teacher, Dronacharya, and spoke the following words.”
Ravi frowned. Why did Duryodhana need to approach his teacher? He had a massive army. He had the strength, the resources, and the confidence—or so it seemed.
Then it hit him.
The Moment of Fear
Unlike the first verse, where Dhritarashtra simply asks what is happening, this verse introduces a critical shift—Duryodhana’s reaction. The battle hasn’t begun yet, but the sight of the Pandava army shakes Duryodhana. Instead of preparing for war, he rushes to his teacher, seeking validation.
For Ravi, Aman’s LinkedIn post was his Pandava army. Seeing his competitor succeed made his internal battle real. Just like Duryodhana, his immediate instinct was not to strategize or act—it was to seek reassurance.
But what was he really looking for? Did he want his mentor to tell him that he was still capable? That he still had time? Or was he simply looking for an excuse, a way to justify his inaction?
The Bhagavad Gita doesn’t just describe war—it describes the psychology of action and fear. And right now, Ravi was in Duryodhana’s shoes.
Fear and the Search for Validation
“Maybe I should talk to someone,” Ravi thought.
He pulled out his phone and opened WhatsApp, scrolling through his contacts. Should he message his old boss? Should he ask for advice from a mentor? But deep down, he knew—he wasn’t looking for guidance. He was looking for reassurance. Just like Duryodhana.
Instead of strategizing, he was seeking comfort. Instead of analyzing his own strengths, he was focusing on what others had.
This was fear disguised as planning.
The Illusion of Being Too Late
Duryodhana’s fear was not just about the Pandavas’ strength—it was about the fact that they were ready. The war had not yet started, but seeing their preparedness made him feel like he was already losing.
Ravi had the same fear.
There were already people ahead of him. Others had already raised funding. Others had already built audiences. Others had already taken the leap while he was still debating his options.
“Maybe I missed my chance,” he thought.
But had he?
He took a deep breath. No. This was an illusion. The battle had not even started yet. Just because someone else had a head start didn’t mean they had won.
Duryodhana saw the Pandavas’ formation and assumed their success. But success is not decided before the war—it is decided during the war.
Ravi closed WhatsApp. He didn’t need validation. He needed a plan.
Competition vs. Confidence
He thought back to a time in college when he had prepared for a national-level coding competition. He had worked for months, perfecting algorithms, practicing problems, refining his approach. He had felt confident—until the day of the event.
Walking into the hall, he saw teams from prestigious universities, competitors who had been featured in magazines, and students who had already interned at top companies.
His confidence shattered.
Instead of focusing on his preparation, he spent half the competition comparing himself to others. His mind was not in the game, and he performed poorly—not because he lacked skill, but because he had defeated himself before the competition even began.
He had been like Duryodhana—panicking at the sight of opposition instead of trusting his own strengths. He wasn’t going to make that mistake again.
The Shift in Mindset
The difference between winners and those who hesitate is not talent.
It is focus.
Duryodhana had power, but he lacked confidence in himself. He needed Dronacharya’s reassurance. But his greatest mistake was focusing more on the strength of his enemy than on his own army.
Ravi had done the same.
He had a strong skill set. He had a solid idea. He had the means to take action. But instead of looking at his strengths, he was getting distracted by the competition.
That needed to change.
He took a deep breath. The only way forward was to focus on what he could control.
The First Move
He pulled up his business plan and began outlining next steps.
Step 1: Validate his idea with real users, not assumptions.
Step 2: Reach out to potential customers, not competitors.
Step 3: Set short-term goals instead of thinking about the entire journey at once.
He felt the shift.
The weight of comparison was lifting. The illusion of defeat was breaking. The battlefield was no longer something to fear—it was something to conquer.
Conclusion: Your Battlefield, Your Focus
Every man faces a moment like Duryodhana—when he sees the competition and feels like he’s already lost.
But the battle is never lost before it begins.
The real question is: Will you let the presence of competitors make you doubt yourself, or will you focus on your own strengths and take action?
Ravi had found his answer.
He closed his laptop and finally allowed himself to rest. The war was not over—it hadn’t even begun.
But now, he was ready.
If you want to read more verses of Bhagavad Gita, you can also find other posts. The Full series is available here
Once you find yourself craving for more information, order a free book here. This is where I got the inspiration to write this blog.
Disclaimer
The explanation provided here is based on the author’s interpretation and personal understanding of the verse. The Bhagavad Gita has been studied and analyzed by scholars and spiritual leaders for centuries, and different perspectives may exist. Readers are encouraged to explore various interpretations and reflect on what resonates with them.
