Gītārtha Saṃgraha verse 5

अस्थानस्नेहकारुण्यधर्माधर्मधियाकुलम् । पार्थं प्रपन्नमुद्दिश्य शास्त्रावतरणं कृतम् ॥ ५॥

asthāna-sneha-kāruṇya-dharma-adharma-dhiyā-ākulam ।
pārthaṃ prapannam-uddiśya śāstra-avataraṇaṃ kṛtam ॥

“The Bhagavad Gītā is addressed to those seekers
who are suffering because of lack of clarity with
regard to friendship, compassion and Dharma.”

asthāna - no place, a place where there is no firm footing, a bad or wrong placesneha - affection, kindness; filial love or affectionkaruṇā - compassion, pitydharma - essential qualities, according to the nature of anything; highest duty; customary observance or prescribed conduct; discharge of dutyadharma - unrighteousness; injustice; irreligion; what is not right or natural; or not in accordance to śāstrasdhiyā - intelligence; spirit, courage, boldness, braveryākula - confused, perplexedpārtha - a metronymic of Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīmasena, and Arjuna, especially of the lastprapanna - one who seeks for protection or takes refuge, a suppliantuddiśya - stipulating for, demanding; aiming at, in the direction of, with reference to; towards; with regard to, for, for the sake of, in the name ofśāstra - precept, rules, manual, compendium, book or treatiseavataraṇa - descending, alighting; rushing along, sudden disappearance; crossing; translatingkṛta - done; made; accomplished; performed
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Commentaries and Reflections

Commentary by TKV Desikachar:

“The Bhagavad Gītā is addressed to those seekers
who are suffering because of lack of clarity with
regard to friendship, compassion and Dharma.”
– TKV Desikachar on Gītārtha Saṃgraha of Śrī Yāmunācārya Śloka Five
(Yāmunācārya’s commentary on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter One)

Commentary by Paul Harvey: